Exploring AI's role in the next revolution of agriculture.

JULY 22ND, 2025 | 9 am - 4 pm
GRAND FARM INNOVATION CAMPUS

ABOUT

Elevate: An AI in Agriculture Summit explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping agriculture—from predictive analytics and automation to building more accessible, secure, and interoperable data systems. Through expert-led keynotes, panel discussions, and meaningful networking, this summit will address key barriers to adoption, ensure alignment with grower and industry needs, and spotlight AI’s potential to solve agriculture’s most urgent challenges.

Attendees will engage with thought leaders from government, academia, and private industry to shape the role of research, policy, and commercialization in the next wave of AgTech innovation.

Summit Goals

  1. Align AI Innovation with Agricultural Stakeholders: Ensure that AI development is grounded in the realities of farming, including grower needs and regional variability.
  2. Lower Barriers to Adoption: Address issues of cost, connectivity, technical support, and ROI to make AI accessible across farm sizes.
  3. Enable a Secure & Interoperable Data Ecosystem: Promote data privacy, transparency, and usability in AI-driven tools.
  4. Explore the Future of AI in Ag: Discuss emerging technologies and their role in tackling longstanding and emerging agricultural challenges.

2025 SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Deborah Golden

Chief Innovation Officer

Deloitte

Nipun Mehta
John Werner

Managing Director and Partner

Link Ventures

MAINSTAGE SPEAKERS + PANELISTS

Sara Boe

Digital Technology Lead, Agriculture and Trade

Cargill

Angie Cooper
Kyle Courtney

Grower, Courtney Farms, and CEO, RentEase

Laiken DeMorrett
Jeroen Hoogendoorn
Vice President, IT Business Partnering, Quality Assurance and Global Process Management

CHS Inc.
Jake Joraanstad
Cofounder and CEO

Bushel
Santosh Kumar Pitla

Assistant Professor – Machine Systems and Automation, Precision Agriculture

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Jeremy Lembeck

Director, Data and Analytics

Land O’Lakes, Inc.

Dr. Simone Ludwig

Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science

North Dakota State University

Jason Pant

Vice President and Chief Information Officer 

The Andersons, Inc.

Luan Pereira de Oliveira

Assistant Professor and Precision Agriculture Extension Specialist,

University of Georgia

Dave Shideler
Dr. Xin (Rex) Sun

Associate Professor / Uncrewed Autonomous Systems (UAS) Faculty Fellow, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

North Dakota State University

Jason Trainer

Vice President of Enrollment Management & Strategic Initiatives

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Jeff Van Pevenage
Ce Yang

Associate Professor, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

University of Minnesota

STARTUP PITCHES

Vikram Adve
Alexandre Chequim
Karen Fiester

Global Director

Google for Startups

Alex Edquist
Shane Emmons

President and CEO

Swept.AI

Tom Gauthier
Brian Kearney
Braydon Love

VP of Research and Development

701x

Scott Meyer
Prashant Mishra
Kris Poulson
Sharan Shirodkar

AGENDA

9:00 am | Registration + Coffee

10:00 am | Welcome with Dr. William Aderholdt, Grand Farm

10:05 am | Keynote: Why AI Matters

  • Deborah Golden, Chief Innovation Officer, Deloitte USA

10:20 am | CIO Panel: What Matters to a CIO?

  • Moderator: Jeroen Hoogendoorn, CHS
  • Sara Boe, Cargill
  • Jeremy Lembeck, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
  • Shane Wehkamp, Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, Koch Minerals & Trading

10:50 am | Why Research Matters

  • Angie Cooper, Heartland Forward 
  • Dave Shideler, Heartland Forward 

11:25 am | Special Announcement: MSUM AI Initiative

  • Jason Trainer, Minnesota State University Moorhead

11:30 am | Startup Pitches

  • Prashant Mishra, Agripilot
  • Dr. Simone Ludwig, North Dakota State University
  • Shane Emmons, Swept.AI
  • Sharan Shirodkar, Prediction Guard
  • Braydon Love, 701x

12:00 pm | Lunch

1:00 pm | Keynote: Landscape of Venture Funding in AI

  • John Werner, Managing Director and Partner, Link Ventures

1:20 pm | Panel: Aligning AI Innovation with Agricultural Stakeholders

  • Moderator: Jake Joraanstad, CEO of Bushel
  • Jeff Van Pevenage, Columbia Grain International

2:00 pm | Panel: AI in Motion – Robotics Transforming the Farm

  • Santosh Kumar Pitla, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • Dr. Xin (Rex) Sun, North Dakota State University
  • Luan Pereira de Oliveira, University of Georgia
  • Ce Yang, University of Minnesota

2:45 pm | Closing Panel: Farmer-Focused AI – Solving Real Problems on the Farm

  • Moderator: Dan Chrest, Vice President Innovation, AgCountry FCS, Farm Credit Services of America, and Frontier FC 
  • Kyle Courtney, Courtney Farms, RentEase
  • Eric Halvorson, Black Gold Farms
  • Chris Johnson

3:35 pm | Closing Keynote: AI for Good

  • Nipun Mehta, Founder, ServiceSpace

WHO SHOULD ATTEND ELEVATE?

  • Corporations & Ag Industry Leaders: Explore the AI tools that are revolutionizing ag operations.
  • Policymakers & Government Leaders: Understand how policy and funding can accelerate responsible AI adoption.
  • Startups & Entrepreneurs: Discover AI-enabled opportunities and connect with potential partners.
  • Investors: Engage with AI startups solving real Ag challenges and seeking growth opportunities.
  • Researchers & Educators: Learn how AI research is advancing from lab to field – and collaborate with innovators.
  • Growers: Gain insight into upcoming technologies and contribute your perspective on real-world challenges.

COMPANIES ATTENDING ELEVATE 2025

HOTEL + TRAVEL

Nearby Airports

Casselton Hotels

Downtown Fargo Hotels

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS