Interested in mailing in your registration?
If you prefer to download a form and mail it in to us, you may click here to access the form. Thank you!
Lodging at the Beautiful Lied Lodge
To make a reservation, simply to the Lied Lodge website and select your dates. Under “Special Codes” you can drop down to Group/Block. Under “Code” attendees can type in 2501NESUST.
Individual reservations can also be made by calling the reservations department at 800-546-5433. You will need to mention the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society block.
Keynote Speakers
Friday, January 31
JAY YOUNG
Young Red Angus
Jay Young practices regenerative agriculture on his Kansas ranch, raising cattle year-round on cover crops. He advocates for regenerative practices including drought tolerant agriculture, compost extracts, and rotational grazing to improve soil health.
Saturday, February 1
JIM KLEINSCHMIT
Other Half Processing
Jim partners with grass-fed, regenerative farmers to verify, trace, and buy hides and byproducts, selling them to apparel, food, and pet sectors. OHP ensures transparent, fair pricing, and traceable, verified materials for various sourcing needs.
Join Us in Showcasing Local Food at Our Annual Conference!
We need your help to make it a true celebration of local flavors!
We’re building our menus around fresh, locally-grown ingredients, and we’d love to feature your products.
Do you have food you'd like to donate, discount, or offer wholesale? Whether it's produce, meats, dairy, or something unique, we’re excited to spotlight the hard work of our members and supporters.
To get involved, please complete this Google Form with the product details, quantity, and pricing you expect to have available in late January. Or if you prefer to talk with a human, you may email Audrey at director@sustainablenebraska.org.
Help us turn this event into a showcase of the vibrant, sustainable food community we’re all building together. We can't wait to feature your farm on our table!
Conference Sessions
While most speakers are confirmed, this list is subject to change.
Christian Stephenson - Increasing Specialty Crop Sustainability through Plant Diversity
Ali Yahnke - Honor System Farm Stand & Creative Farm Marketing
Jeff Steffen - Starting the Soil Health Journey (Even When Plans Go Awry)
Dr. Stephanie Hartman MD - Food as Medicine: How Soil Health and Farming are Related
Kevin Knorr - Drones for Pasture Management, Animal Husbandry, Row Crop Production
Ted Hibbeler - Indigenous Relationships with the Natural World
Heather Byers - Native Trees for a Healthy Farm Ecosystem
Troy Gilmore - An Overview of Groundwater in Nebraska
Sara Brubacher - Medicinal Pollinator Plants for You and the Planet
Trent Bohling - Enhancing Soil Health and Grazing with Kernza
Rachel Leister - Lakota Earthsong: Sustainability Through Ethnobotany
Michael Shonka - Solar for Agriculture
Amy Tabor - The Power of the Cooperative Business Model
Alex McKiernan - Basic Ag Bookkeeping with Profit in Mind
Clint Watson - Transition Planning - NIFA/FSA Programs
Brach Johnson - Utilizing USDA Programs to Build and Sustain a Healthy Urban and Small-scale Farm
Matt Lance - Honeybees in Sustainability: Local Impact, Global Significance
Julia Kleinschmit and Ruth Chantry - How to Allow Change for Yourself with Your Operation
Tom Thomas - Soil Building with Weeds and Cover Crops
Gary Lesoing - Development of Sustainable Agriculture in Nebraska Over the Past 50 Years
Panel - Beginning Farmer Conservation Fellowship
Nicole Ragon - Heritage Turkey Red Wheat
Panel - Row Crop Producers Adopting Conservation Practices
Ed Reznicek - Organic Grain Marketing
Sam Wortman - Sustainable Soil & Mulch Advances for Specialty Crops
Gavin Myers - Unlocking the Potential of Regenerative Agriculture
A Twelve-Year Journey to Monetize Soil Health on a Farm in Southeastern NE
Regenerative Agriculture: Making Dollars and Sense
The Plant Health Pyramid
Mob Grazing + Prescribed Burns
Community Nutrition Program: Linking Farmers and Building Connections
2025 Rural Farmers Markets and Local Food Access in NE
Tribal Engagement in Food Sovereignty
Sustainable Vegetable Production: Insect & Disease Insights
Farmers & Climate Change: Interactive Discussion
Important Lessons from 35 years of Sustainable Farming
Mixed Livestock and/or Pastured Pigs, Farrow to Finish
"I learned a lot and met so many people that I will connect with in my current and future projects."
"We are always changing and this event allowed me to connect with lots of new producers and people who are building resilient food systems along with us."
"I truly appreciated the diversity of session topics."