Crystal Valley Winter Conference
Register for the Winter Conference below!
A Day to Learn, Connect, and Get Inspired
Make plans to join us for the 2026 Crystal Valley Winter Conference, our biggest educational and networking event of the year. Held in Mankato, Minnesota, this one-day conference brings together farmers, ag professionals, and Crystal Valley team members for valuable insights, conversations, and community.
Whether you’re focused on crop planning, grain marketing, livestock nutrition, or energy solutions, the Winter Conference is your opportunity to hear the latest updates, ask questions, and prepare for the season ahead.
January 14, 2026
Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center
Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, MN 56001
Agenda
9:30 AM – Coffee and Registration
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM – General Session:
Agronomic Research Results – Presented by Jason Leary
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM – Breakout Session 1
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM – Breakout Session 2
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM – Lunch
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM – Keynote Speaker - Jim Morris
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM – Breakout Session 3
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM – Global Market Outlook - Mike North
3:30 PM – Happy Hour Reception
Featured Keynote
Jim "The Rookie" Morris
Jim "The Rookie" Morris is a remarkable individual whose journey from high school science teacher and coach in West Texas to Major League Baseball pitcher is nothing short of inspiring. At the age of 35, Jim defied the odds and made it to the big leagues, a story that captured the world's attention and was immortalized in the Disney movie The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid.
Jim spent two seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, reaching speeds up to 102 mph, but he chose to retire to focus on raising his children. Since then, Jim has been a motivational speaker, traveling around the globe to inspire audiences to follow their dreams and never give up. He shares his story and lessons learned in his book, Dream Makers: Surround Yourself with the Best to Be Your Best, where he highlights the people who helped him along his journey—his Dream Makers.
In addition to his career as a motivational speaker, Jim has earned numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation and a CAMIE Award for Character and Morality in Entertainment for The Rookie. His philanthropic work includes involvement with organizations such as BCFS, Arms of Hope, and the Texas Youth Commission, as well as the creation of his own foundation in 2015 to support underserved communities and children.
Jim and his wife, Shawna, have raised five children and live near San Antonio, continuing to lead lives filled with inspiration, service, and dedication to helping others.
Breakout Sessions
| Breakout | Room 241 | Room 243 | Room 245 | Room 247 | Grand Hall |
| Session 1
11:00 – 11:30 am |
Land and Equipment Appraisals | *Spray Performance – Adjuvants, Tank Mixes, Droplets* | *Fungicide Insights* | Soil pH Management | *Grain Markets* |
| Session 2
11:45 – 12:15 pm |
Energy Problems? Options on how to avoid them | *Spray Performance – Adjuvants, Tank Mixes, Droplets* | Crystal Decisions Overview and Intro | *Sulfur’s Impact on Yield* | *Grain Markets* |
| Session 3
2:00 – 2:30 pm |
Retro Fit Sprayer Technology | Crop Insurance Strategies for 2026 | *Fungicide Insights* | *Sulfur’s Impact on Yield* | *Grain Markets* |
| Topic | Speaker | Company | Description |
| Crop Insurance Strategies for 2026 | Allison Strei
Rob Moline |
Compeer | Using your crop insurance guarantees to sustain profitability |
| Crystal Decisions Introduction | Taylor Ulrich
Isaac Sowers |
Crystal Valley | An introduction to Crystal Valley's Precision Ag program. An overview of what it is and how your farm could benefit from it |
| Energy Problems? Options on how to avoid them | Crystal Valley Energy Sales Staff | Crystal Valley | Tank Maintenance, Right Sizing of storage, Monitoring for storage and the benefits of Wintermaster and Fieldmaster Fuels |
| Fungicide Insights | Mark Glady | Winfield | Fungicide Performance Insights, Disease Persistence, Applications, Timing, ROI in 2025 and the future |
| Grain Market Update* | Ben Peters | Advance Trading | Update on current corn & soybean markets |
| Land and Equipment Appraisals | Leah & Dustyn Hartung | Land Services Appraisals | Current market trends for farm equipment and land based on recent sales and appraisals |
| Retro Fit Sprayer Technology | Ben Youngerberg
David Robran |
Crystal Valley
Precision Planting |
How to convert your existing sprayer with Precision Planting’s nozzle and camera technology |
| Soil pH Management | Dr. Andrew Hoiberg | Calcium Products | Protect your fertilizer investment and maximize yield by managing soil pH. Learn how soil becomes acidified, how to evaluate soil tests, and understand various liming materials |
| Spray Performance – Adjuvants, Tank Mixes, Droplets | Randy Anderson
Marcus Juhl |
Nutrien | How to kill more weeds! Spray quality, mixing order, droplet sizes, why you need adjuvants, what they do. |
| Sulfur’s Impact on Yield | Dr. Andrew Hoiberg | Calcium Products | Why is a micronutrient having a macro effect on yield |
What to Expect
Informative sessions led by Crystal Valley experts and industry partners
Timely updates on agronomy, grain, energy, and feed
Opportunities to connect with fellow producers and Crystal Valley staff
A keynote address that will inspire and energize
Complimentary refreshments and lunch
Premium Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
