Autonomous Nation returns on September 17th for a full day focused on how autonomous systems are reshaping the future of agriculture. If you work in autonomy, robotics, policy, transportation, or modern farm operations, this is the place to see where the industry is headed and who is building it.
Grand Farm’s Autonomous Nation conference brings together policymakers, industry leaders, startup teams, researchers, and innovators who are exploring how autonomy can reduce workforce shortages, eliminate inefficiencies, and close technology gaps across agriculture and related sectors. Conversations will highlight the latest advancements in robotics, sensing, autonomous equipment, and the systems that make automation safer and more reliable.
The morning sessions will dig into policy frameworks, deployment barriers, workforce readiness, and the practical applications that matter most to growers and industry teams. In the afternoon, the event moves outside for live autonomous demonstrations where attendees will see real machines, real systems, and real data at work in field conditions.


Farmer
8:00 am | Coffee and Registration, sponsored by KWS
9:00 am | Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:05 am | Keynote Speaker – Jahmy Hindman, CTO of John Deere
9:25 am | Representative Mike Nathe
9:35 am | Grand Farm Innovation Campus Phase II Announcement
9:45 am | Panel: Solving the Labor Crisis through Autonomy
10:10 am | Mainstage Speaker: John Olhoft, Lulzbot
10:15 am | Mel Torrie, Autonomous Systems Inc.
10:30 am | Break
10:40 am | Keynote Speaker: Praveen Penmetsa, Cofounder and CEO of Monarch Tractors
11:00 am | Lightning Announcement – Danny Bernstein, RESERVOIR
11:05 am | Panel: The Evolving Regulatory Landscape for Autonomy in Agriculture
11:25 am | Startup Pitches
11:50 am | Panel: How Startups and Corporates Can Build Meaningful Partnerships in Ag Autonomy
12:15 pm | Lunch, sponsored by TÜV Rheinland
1:15 pm | Mainstage Speakers: Andrew Nelson and Prashant Mishra, Agripilot.ai
1:25 pm | Startup Pitches
1:45 pm | Mainstage Speaker: Travis Frey, Pivot Bio
1:50 pm | Panel: The Future of On-the-Go Soil Intelligence
2:15 pm | Keynote Speaker: Robert Ambrose, Texas A&M University and retired NASA executive
2:30 pm | Live Flight with Pyka and Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems
2:45 pm – 4:30 pm | Live Autonomous Demonstrations from Greenline Autonomy, RDO Equipment Co., Frontier Precision, Bobcat Company, Poultry Patrol, Greenfield Robotics, Naïo Technologies, and NDSU
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Happy Hour, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch
Host: UND Center for Innovation
Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Grand Farm Innovation Campus
Host: Grand Farm
Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
5:00 am – 8:00 pm
Grand Farm Innovation Campus
Host: IEEE-USA
Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
University of North Dakota Memorial Union
Host: Steve Olson Consulting
Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
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