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 at the Canopy Ballroom in Sioux Falls, SD on August 12th, 2026.

Summit Agenda

8:00 AM — Doors Open

8:30 AM — Welcome Networking Breakfast Reception

• Please feel free to help yourself to the muffins & milk before you take your seats. Sponsored by: South Dakota Dairy Producers
   

9:00 AM — Welcome Remarks 

• Klaus Beckmann, Interim Dean, USD Beacom School of Business
• Joe Fiala, Interim President & CEO, South Dakota Trade
  
  

9:15 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
• Ms. Amy France, Chair, National Sorghum Producers
• Dr. Dusty Oedekoven, Chief Veterinarian, National Pork Board 
• Mr. Dan Halstrom, President & CEO, U.S. Meat Export Federation
  
  

10:05 AM — Trade Priorities In Washington

• Moderator: The Honorable Kimberly Reed, Former President & Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States
• Senator John Thune, U.S. Senate Majority Leader, South Dakota 
• Senator Mike Rounds, South Dakota
• Congressman Dusty Johnson, South Dakota
  
  

10:50 AM — Grown Here, Sold Globally: Meet the Producers  

• Moderator: Rebecca Blue, Founder & Project Coordinator, Women's Ag Network
• Les Shaw, Producer, Beef Logic & Shaw Ranch LLC
• Trent Kubik, Producer, South Dakota Corn Growers Association President & Co-Owner of Elevate Agronomics
• Tregg Cronin, Producer, Cronin Farms, Inc & East River Commissioner of Wheat Utilization Research and Marketing Commission 
• Tanner Hento, Producer, Hento Bros. & SD Soybean Association Board Member (Past President)

11:35 AM — Special Guest: Representative Alexander Yui of Taiwan

11:45 AM — Trade Mission 101

• Moderator: Matt Merritt, Director of Public Relations, Paulsen Marketing
• Secretary Hunter Roberts, South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Commissioner Bill Even, South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development
• Joe Fiala, Deputy Commissioner of Governor's Office of Economic Development, South Dakota Trade Board Member, and Interim President & CEO of South Dakota Trade
  
  

12:30 PM — Lunch & Networking Sponsored by: Marketbeat

12:57 PM — Video Message from Shipping Specialist: Bill Patterson, Vice President - Global Strategy, TMT USA 

1:00 PM — Special Guest: Ambassador Christopher Kirigua of Kenya

1:10 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
• Commissioner Thom Petersen, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Director Sherry Vinton, Nebraska Department of Agriculture

1:55 PM — Building New Markets Through Strategic Trade Alliances

• Moderator: Kallie Ruland, Trade Specialist, South Dakota Trade
• Consul General Beth Richardson, Canada
• Consul General Elad Strohmayer, Israel
• Acting Consul-General Naoya Kishi, Japan
• Head Consul Alejandra Bologna, Mexico
  
  

2:40 PM — Keynote: The Honorable Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary, Trade & Foreign Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture

3:00 PM — Fireside Chat: Increasing Capacity Through Value-Added Agriculture 

• Moderator: Kyle Peters, Partner, Harvest Group
• Mr. Joshua Shields, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, POET
• 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 — Brief Closing Remarks & Networking Social 

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. Dress code is business to business casual.