The South Dakota Corn Growers Association is holding their 38^th Annual South Dakota Corn Conference on January 20, 2024 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The event includes educational sessions led by nationally recognized agricultural experts in weather and market trends.

All morning and afternoon sessions are free and include lunch. The evening banquet features awards including this year’s Corn Yield Contest winners as well as a silent CornPAC Auction.

Mike Pearson | Daytime Moderator

Mike Pearson was born and raised in South Central Iowa, where he grew to love agriculture on his family’s hog and cattle farm. After graduating from Simpson College, Mike moved to Grinnell, Iowa where he had the chance to build his own cow herd in addition to working as an agricultural lender.

Over the next 10 years, Mike left the world of finance and entered the world of media. He’s previously hosted “Market to Market” on Public Television, the Ag News Daily podcast, and currently, viewers can find him behind the anchor desk on “This Week in Agribusiness” on RFD-TV and listeners can hear him every day as the host of Agriculture of America, a daily ag-focused radio show carried by affiliate stations across the country.

Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg | Ethanol

Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg is lead industry analyst for the farm supply, biofuels and agriculture technology sectors in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange research division. He brings more than 30 years of diverse experience spanning securities analysis, investment management and commercial banking.

Prior to joining CoBank, Mr. Zuckerberg served as a senior vice president and sector research manager for Wells Fargo in the firm’s Food and Agribusiness Industry Advisors Group, and previously held a similar role at Rabobank U.A. Before that, he conceived and founded Carlan Advisors LLC, an independent research, advisory and expert witness consulting firm. Earlier in his career, Mr. Zuckerberg was a senior equity analyst at Lazard Asset Management, Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, Inc., and Smith Barney, Inc. (now Morgan Stanley).

Mr. Zuckerberg earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of South Florida and is a graduate of the Wharton’s General Management Program (GMP). He is also an Accredited Investment Fiduciary AIF® and is in the process of completing a masters in law degree at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Eric Snodgrass | Weather

Eric Snodgrass is the Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions, where he develops predictive, analytical software solutions to manage weather risk for global production agriculture. He provides frequent weather updates that focus on how high-impact weather events influence global agriculture productivity. His current research uses machine learning to better understand field-level weather impacts on yields in the US and to increase confidence in long-range weather prediction. He presents his research as a featured speaker at over 50 conferences annually where he provides logistical guidance and solutions to weather sensitive financial institutions, farmers, commodity traders, and other stakeholders.

Tommy Grisafi | Markets

Tommy Grisafi is a Risk Advisor and Commodity Broker for Advance Trading, Inc. He has held a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade for over 25 years and is an independent trader at the CME. Tommy is the owner of Ag Bull Media and the host of the Ag Bull Podcast. He and his wife Gina are the proud parents of two daughters. They enjoy traveling, cheering on their girls in sports, and spending time with family and friends.

The evening event will feature keynote speaker, Rob Sharkey, legislative guests, awards program, silent PAC auction, networking, and a plated meal.

Vernon Brown | Evening Moderator

Vernon Brown is South Dakota State University's first-ever associate vice president of external affairs. His Sioux Falls-based position bridges the gap between the state's largest university and the state's largest city by building business, government, and non-profit partnerships and focusing on recruiting more Jackrabbits.

Previously, Vernon worked 20 years as marketing vice president at SDN Communications, he served eight years on the Sioux Falls City Council and a dozen years reporting for KELO-LAND TV. He and his wife, Tami, own The Spice & Tea Exchange in Downtown Sioux Falls. They have a sophomore daughter, Emma, who is following in her parents' footsteps as a Jackrabbit.

Rob Sharkey | Keynote Speaker

The SDCGA is pleased to announce Rob Sharkey, the SharkFarmer, as the keynote speaker.

Rob Sharkey is a risk taker and out-of-the-box thinker. Better known by his digital alias, The SharkFarmer, Rob is an Illinois grain farmer, owner of a whitetail deer hunting outfitter, podcast & radio show host, and host of multiple TV shows on RFD-TV and PBS.

Rob has been on Sirius XM Rural Radio channel 147 for four years, hosting a daily and special weekend shows focusing on agriculture, farming, and rural life.

Sponsorship

If you or your company wishes to sponsor the 38th Annual South Dakota Corn Conference and/or provide a PAC Auction item, please contact the SD Corn office at 605-334-0100.