Co-Op Conference 2026

August 2-3, 2026

 Hilton Garden Inn Downtown (Catlin Inn) ~ Sioux Falls, SD

Sunday, August 2

  5:30 p.m.          Welcome Reception | Heavy Hors d'oeuvres | Hilton Garden Inn

Monday, August 3   

  7:00 a.m.           Breakfast

  8:00 a.m.           SDAC Annual Business Meeting and Director Elections

  9:30 a.m.           Networking Break

  9:45 a.m.           Government Affairs Update: NCFC President and CEO Duane Simpson

10:45 a.m.          Managing Our Energy Supply: East River Electric Chief Member & Public Relations Officer Chris Studer; SDN Ceo Ryan Punt

12:15 p.m.          Cooperative Leader Luncheon with Keynote:  CHS CEO Jay Debertin

  1:30 p.m.           Grain and Biofuel Economic Update: CoBank Agricultural Commodities Economist Abbi Groves

  2:15 p.m.          Status of the Railways: BNSF Railway Director of Corn Brandon Mortensen

  3:00 p.m.           Networking Break                         

  3:20 p.m.          Managing vs. Governing: The Mindset of High-Functioning Cooperative Boards: University of Missouri Associate Professor Ag and Applied Economics Kari Jacobs

  4:30 p.m.          Breakout Sessions: Roundtable discussions for CEOs/GMs and Co-op Directors

  6:00 p.m.           SD Co-op Hall of Fame Reception

  6:30 p.m.           SD Co-op Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Honoring Jeff Lakner, Todd Oster, Ken Schlimgen, and Donna Sharp