Keynote Speakers
2026 Keynotes
Learn from the Experts at the AgroExpo Keynote Sessions
AgroExpo’s keynote speakers represent the forefront of modern agriculture. These industry leaders share practical, actionable insights designed to help farmers make informed decisions and strengthen their operations.
Join us August 11–12, 2026, in St. Johns, Michigan, for keynote sessions that will elevate the way you approach today’s ag challenges.
Jack Uldrich
Global Futurist, Speaker, and Author
Date | Time: August 11th • 10:00 AM
Location: Speaker | Dining Tent
The Future of Farming: 2026-2030
Agriculture is entering a period of rapid and transformative change. In this keynote, futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich explores how emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, automation, and precision agriculture—are converging with shifts in economics, geopolitics, and consumer behavior to reshape farming between 2026 and 2030. Attendees will leave with practical insights and concrete actions to help their operations adapt, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly complex future.
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Jack Uldrich is a well-recognized global futurist, speaker, and the author of 14 books, including award-winning best sellers. He is a frequent speaker on technology, change management, and leadership and has addressed hundreds of corporations, associations, and not-for-profit organizations on five continents.
He regularly makes appearances on major media outlets and is an ongoing contributor to The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Wired Magazine, and Inc. on emerging technologies and future trends.
Jack is a former naval intelligence officer and Defense Department official. He served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning under Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. His book, Business as Unusual: A Futurist’s Unorthodox, Unconventional, and Uncomfortable Guide to Doing Business, has helped many navigate trends that emerged and converged over the past five years. His most recent book is A Smarter Farm: How AI is Revolutionizing the Future of Agriculture.
Austin Pearson
Climatologist, Midwestern Regional Climate Center, and Indiana State Climate Office Assistant Climatologist
Date | Time: August 12th • 10:00 AM
Location: Speaker | Dining Tent
Weather Considerations for Effective Agricultural Management
Weather is one of the most critical factors influencing agricultural decision-making. This presentation will focus on the Midwestern Regional Climate Center’s United Soybean Board–funded Ag Climate Dashboard, which brings together weather, climate, and agronomic information to support on-farm decisions throughout the growing season. We will highlight key decision-support tools for planting, pesticide timing, disease monitoring, and harvest planning, as well as the importance of local weather observations from mesonet stations. The presentation will conclude with a fall climate outlook and its implications for late-season field operations and preparation for the next growing season.
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Austin Pearson is a climatologist with the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) and Indiana State Climate Office (IN-SCO), where he serves as Assistant State Climatologist and leads the development of climate products and decision-support tools for agriculture, natural resources, and public stakeholders across Indiana and the Midwest. He co-coordinates Indiana CoCoRaHS, co-manages the Purdue Mesonet, and co-leads Indiana’s weekly contributions to the U.S. Drought Monitor, focusing on translating complex climate data into actionable insights. Austin holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Applied Meteorology and Climatology from Purdue University and has experience with Purdue Extension