Join us for the 2025 Young Farmer Conference taking place January 17 - 18, 2025 at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Friday, January 17, 2025
12:30 p.m.
Tour Check-In (Pre-Registration Required)
1:00 p.m.
Industry Tours Depart
1. Big Grove Brewery (21+ only)
2. Corteva Agriscience
3. Foundry Distilling Co. (21+ only)
4. Meals from the Heartland (Volunteer Opportunity)
5. World Food Prize
6. Wyffels Hybrids
4:30 p.m.
Industry Tours Return
4:30 p.m.
Conference Check-In & Social Hour (Cashless Bar)
- Merchandise fundraiser for Seeds of Hope Foundation
- Photobooth: Bring your phone or camera and capture the perfect conference memory!
- Grip Strength Competition: Stop by to test your grip strength and see if you can make the leaderboard!
5:00 p.m.
All About Discussion Meet
Grab a drink and join this casual session to learn more about the competition’s structure and topics, and even see a mock Discussion Meet. After this session, you’ll be ready to compete on Saturday!
6:00 p.m.
Dinner (Seating by District)
Welcome from Young Farmer Advisory Committee Chair, Zac Preston, and IFBF President, Brent Johnson
7:00 p.m.
Evening Keynote: Jack Uldrich
No one can predict the future, but Jack Uldrich can help you prepare for it. Jack is a global futurist, speaker, and author, who helps people gain the crucial foresight they need to create a successful future. He argues that creativity and action are more powerful and versatile than knowledge. He professes the transformational principles of unlearning, or freeing yourself from obsolete knowledge and assumptions, as a strategy to survive and thrive in an era of unparalleled change. He’s joining us to share his energy, anecdotes, and thoughtful business and personal advice to educate, entertain, and inspire you.
8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Evening Entertainment: Comedy Hour, Caricatures, Yard Games & Door Prizes
Join us for an evening of laughter and fun with comedians Tyler Walsh and Cameron Logsdon. Enjoy personalized caricatures, a variety of yard games, and exciting door prizes. It’s a night full of fun and games with your fellow young farmers you won’t want to miss!
Saturday, January 18, 2025
6:30 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet – Sponsored by Farm Bureau Financial Services 
8:00 a.m.
Morning Welcome - Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Welcome from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, and 2024 Young Farmer Leadership Award Recognition
8:45 a.m.
District Gatherings facilitated by YFAC District Representatives
Meet your Young Farmer Advisory Committee representatives and expand your personal network of young farmer friends and contacts. Find out about young farmer events in the district and provide input into future activities.
10:15 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Breakout Sessions – Round 1
11:30 a.m.
Break, Roundtable Room & Discussion Meet Participant Orientation
New this year, following Breakout Sessions you can connect with speakers in the Roundtable Room. This space is designed to facilitate meaningful one-on-one conversations between attendees and conference speakers. Bring any questions you didn’t get to ask during the sessions and engage in productive and insightful discussions!
11:45 a.m.
Discussion Meet – Round 1
Join others interested in today’s critical issues for a free-wheeling discussion that helps you build communication skills, develop an understanding of important ag issues, and explore how to pool knowledge to solve problems. Spectators welcome!
12:30 p.m.
Lunch (Seating by Interests)
Grow Your Future Award Pitch-Off & Voting
1:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions – Round 2
Discussion Meet – Round 2
Contestants participate in two rounds, with a different question and competitors in the room. Spectators welcome!
2:45 p.m.
Break
3:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions – Round 3
4:00 p.m.
Break & Roundtable Room
New this year, following Breakout Sessions you can connect with speakers in the Roundtable Room. This space is designed to facilitate meaningful one-on-one conversations between attendees and conference speakers. Bring any questions you didn’t get to ask during the sessions and engage in productive and insightful discussions!
4:30 p.m.
Social Hour (Cashless Bar)
6:00 p.m.
Dinner
Discussion Meet & Grow Your Future Award Results, Grand Prize Drawings
7:00 p.m.
Evening Keynote: Rick Rigsby
We live in an era of astonishing technology, instant information and rampant social networking. Despite the epidemic advances that ushered in a new millennium, cultural critics argue that society has never been more shallow in communication and more superficial in appearance. In fact, Dr. Rigsby argues that for many organizations, appearance- or what he refers to as impression- has become the new corporate wardrobe. We invite you to rediscover what is really important and meaningful- not only in your professional career but in your personal life as well. Join Dr. Rigsby as he shares the wisdom of past generations- wisdom that will inspire, motivate and empower you to make an impact rather than an impression!
8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Evening Entertainment: Live Music by Cody Hicks, Yard Games & Card Games
Join us for an evening of live music by Cody Hicks. Enjoy a variety of yard games and don’t miss the chance to get your own deck of young farmer branded cards. It’s a night of music, games, and great company that you won’t want to miss!
