June 17-18, 2025| Deadwood Mountain Grand in historic Deadwood, SD
Register Now! Agenda Event Program
June 17-18, 2025| Deadwood Mountain Grand in historic Deadwood, SD
Register Now! Agenda Event Program2025 Governor's Ag Summit Speakers
Governor Rhoden is a lifelong West River rancher, a dedicated husband and father, and a proven leader with a record of service for South Dakota. He serves as the 34th Governor, and will deliver remarks, and present the 2025 Governor’s Ag Ambassador Award.
Full Biography
Ted serves as the Chief Executive Officer of NASDA, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He will speak on his time at USDA as the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, provide a federal policy update, and how NASDA plays a role in impacting policy.
Secretary Roberts serves as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). Roberts resides in Pierre with his wife and two children. With his family, he owns and operates a farm and ranch southeast of Ft. Pierre. He will deliver welcoming remarks.
Brett L. Kaysen, Ph.D., serves as senior vice president of producer and state engagement for the National Pork Board (NPB), where he leads grassroots efforts to empower state associations and drive long-term success for the U.S. pork industry. Dr. Kaysen will provide insights into consumer trends and behaviors within the meat industry.
Bernt Nelson, economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation will lay out the current trends in cattle inventory, why it matters, and how family farms can lead their business through this “hypercycle” in the cattle industry.
Jack Hubbard from Berman & Company will present “Animal Agriculture is Under Attack,” which will address current challenges facing animal agriculture, focusing on the threats to the livestock industry and the actionable steps necessary to protect its future.
Alan Hojer from the South Dakota Ag Foundation will present an overview of their "Keep Farmers Farming" program, offering essential estate and transition planning support for South Dakota’s agricultural producers, along with a producer panel.
Marcus Warnke is the State Forester for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Marcus has been with the Department since May 2012 and was promoted to his current role in June of 2022. He will help lead the Forestry Roundtable.
Jeremy has worked with the Wyoming State Forestry Division since 2008, overseeing forest management across 54,000 acres of state trust lands, leading timber sales, and implementing forest improvement projects. He will help lead the Forestry Roundtable.
Glenn Muller of Davis, South Dakota, has been selected as the 2025 Governor’s Ag Ambassador for his lifelong contributions to the pork industry and South Dakota agriculture.
“Ag is king in South Dakota, and I am incredibly proud of the dedicated individuals like Glenn who keep our number one industry thriving,” said Governor Rhoden. “Glenn represents the very best of our ag community - someone who is thoughtful, hard-working, and deeply rooted in service to others. His decades of commitment to the pork industry and South Dakota agriculture have made a lasting impact across our state.”
Glenn grew up on a farrow-to-finish swine operation near Davis, South Dakota, where he and his family still reside. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from South Dakota State University and held multiple agriculture education roles before joining Smithfield Foods.
Glenn has long been involved with the South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) serving on the board and as board president from 1991-92. Since 2010, he has served as their Executive Director, playing a key role in supporting agricultural growth, advocating for responsible and practical regulations, and developing industry-wide collaboration.
Governor Rhoden will present Glenn with his award at the 2025 Governor’s Ag Summit in historic Deadwood, South Dakota, at the Deadwood Mountain Grand on June 17 and 18. In addition, attendees can hear from Bernt Nelson with American Farm Bureau, Jack Hubbard with Berman & Co, Dr. Brett Kaysen with National Pork Board, Alan Hojer with South Dakota Ag Foundation and a Forestry Roundtable. The following day will feature industry tours.