The sixth-annual Midwest Agricultural Export Summit is a unique opportunity to collaborate on export strategies that will enhance our region’s competitiveness in the global economy. The 2026 summit will focus on “Forging Forward: New Markets, More Sales” and include conversations featuring national, international, regional, and state agricultural and trade leaders.

The event is being held in Sioux Falls, SD on August 12th, 2026.

Summit Agenda

8:00 AM — Doors Open

8:30 AM — Welcome Networking Breakfast Reception Sponsored by: Marketbeat

9:15 AM — Welcome Remarks Please feel free to help yourself to the muffins at your table.

• Governor Larry Rhoden (awaiting confirmation)
• Joe Fiala, Interim President & CEO, South Dakota Trade
• Klaus Beckmann, Interim Dean, USD Beacom School of Business
  
  

9:30 AM — Expert Panel: Collaborating Across Agriculture for Global Growth 

• Moderator: Dr. William Snell, Extension Professor, Macro Farm Economy, Ag Policy, and Trade; Co-Director, Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Program, University of Kentucky
• The Honorable Krysta Harden, President & CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council
• Mr. Jim Sutter, President & CEO, US Soybean Export Council
• Dr. Dusty Oedekoven, Chief Veterinarian, National Pork Board 
• Mr. Dan Holstrom, President & CEO, U.S. Meat Export Federation
  
  

10:15 AM — Trade Priorities in Washington 

• Moderator: The Honorable Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary, Trade & Foreign Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Senator Mike Rounds, South Dakota  

11:00 AM — Special Guest: Representative Alexander Yui of Taiwan

11:10 AM — Community Leadership Driving Regional Success 

• Moderator: awaiting confirmation
• Commissioner Bill Even, South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development
  
  

11:45 AM — Lunch & Networking Sponsored by: awaiting confirmation

12:15 PM — Special Guest: Ambassador Christopher Kirigua of Kenya

12:25 PM — Building New Markets Through Strategic Trade Alliances 

• Moderator: awaiting confirmation
• Consul General Beth Richardson, Canada
• Consul General Prakash Gupta, India
• Acting Consul-General Naoya Kishi, Japan
• Head Consul Alejandra Bologna, Mexico
  
  

1:15 PM — Agricultural Leadership Driving the Next Era of Global Trade

• Moderator: Todd Menotti, Senior Director of International Government Relations, Tyson Foods
• Secretary Hunter Roberts, South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Deputy Commissioner Andres Vaubel, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Director Sherry Vinton, Nebraska Department of Agriculture
  
  

2:00 PM — Grown Here, Sold Globally: Meet the Producers  

• Moderator: Awaiting Confirmation
• Tanner Hento, Producer, Hento Bros. & SD Soybean Association Board Member (Past President) 

2:45 PM — Fireside Chat: Increasing Capacity through Value-Added Agriculture 

• Moderator: Kyle Peters, Partner, Harvest Group
• The Honorable Kimberly Reed, Former President & Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States
• The Honorable Kip Tom, Retired U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, and Chief of the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome
  
  

3:30 PM — Closing Remarks & Ice Cream Social Sponsored by: South Dakota Dairy Producers 

4:00 PM — Summit Concludes

Attendance at the summit is open to the public, and space is limited. Please contact Missy Sinner at missy.sinner@southdakotatrade.com for more information about attending or sponsoring the event.