THE BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT

Dr. Kris Nichols is the Principal Scientist / Research Director at MyLand. Dr. Kris Nichols is a leader in the movement to regenerate soils for healthy crops, food, people, and the planet.  She is also the founder and principal scientist of Knowledge for Regeneration and Innovation in Soils Systems Education & Consultation; soil microbiology research advisor with the Food Water Wellness Foundation in Olds, Alberta; research director with Carbon Sync in Freemantle, Western Australia; and research advisor with Canadian Organic Growers. Kris received bachelor’s degrees in plant biology and in genetics and cell biology from the University of Minnesota in 1995, a master’s in environmental microbiology from West Virginia University in 1999, and a doctorate in soil science from the University of Maryland in 2003. In recognition of her work, Kris has received several awards including the 2012 Conservation Research Award from the International Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Ray Archuleta is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist with the Soil Science Society of America and has over 30 years of experience as a Soil Conservationist, Water Quality Specialist, and Conservation Agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). During his tenure with the NRCS, Ray served in New Mexico, Missouri, Oregon, and North Carolina. He served in the Peace Corps for two years as a Livestock Specialist in Guatemala.

After his retirement from the NRCS in 2017, Ray founded Understanding Ag, LLC, and Soil Health Academy, LLC, to teach Biomimicry strategies and Agroecology principles for improving soil function on a national scale. Ray also owns and operates a 150-acre farm near Seymour, Missouri, that he operates along with his wife and family.

As a long time Conservationist growing up in the Dakota’s on a small grain and livestock farm, Jay Fuhrer built a career taking care of the soil. Working at the Natural Resources Conservation Service/USDA from 1980 – 2020 out of Bismarck, North Dakota, Jay particularly enjoyed working from the pickup end gate on the field edge, with a spade and the client. Conservation planning one field at a time. Currently, Jay spends his time supporting soil health efforts through the Menoken Farm. The Menoken Farm is a conservation demonstration farm and is Jay’s favorite place to work. Here, the 5 Soil Health Principles can be applied while monitoring plants, animals, and soils. Jay continues to share the soil health principles and how healthy soil serves as a foundation for cropping systems, grazing systems, cover crops, wildlife, gardening, pollinators, insects, soil food web, and quality of life. His work in this field allows him - and others - to farm forever. 

Dr. Hatfield received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1975 in the area of Agricultural Climatology and Statistics a M.S. in Agronomy from the University of Kentucky in 1972, and B.S. from Kansas State University in Agronomy in 1971.  He served on the faculty of the University of California-Davis as a biometeorologist from 1975 through 1983 and then joined USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Lubbock, Texas, as the Research Leader of the Plant Stress and Water Conservation Research Unit from 1983 through 1989. He was appointed Laboratory Director of the National Soil Tilth Laboratory in 1989 (renamed the Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in October 2009).  

John Kempf is an entrepreneur, speaker, podcast host and teacher. He is passionate about the potential of well managed agriculture ecosystems to reverse ecological degradation.

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It is John’s mission to have these regenerative models of agriculture management become the mainstream globally by 2040. In addition to being a grower, John is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, Crop Health Labs, Ozadia, and the Regenerative Agriculture Academy. He hosts the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, where he interviews top growers and scientists about the principles and practice of implementing regenerative agriculture on a large scale.

Darin and Nancy Williams live in Waverly, KS. Their 2,000-acre operation includes a complex rotation of non-GMO corn and soybeans, grain sorghum, cereal crops such as wheat, triticale, rye and barley, and cover crops that include sudangrass, millet and sunflowers. 

Darin is an avid wildlife enthusiast and expert hunter.

Roy Pfaltzgraff and his parents operate a 2200 acre dryland family farm, Pfaltzgraff Farms, LLC, south of Haxtun, CO, where he was born and raised. Roy's father has always had a pioneering vision and spirit, but he could never imagine the farm as it is now. Roy’s dad planted crops with no-till practices in the 80’s, but when Roy returned to take over operation six years ago, the changes really took root. The farm has evolved from raising two to three crops a year to sixteen crops this last year and the current count is at least twelve for 2023. He has also created a diverse cropping rotation that minimizes these inputs at the same time maximizing the benefits from inter-cropping, increased soil health and biodiversity. Roy has integrated new techniques from seeding through harvest that minimizes specialty equipment while doing everything possible to increase soil health, while conserving residue and moisture. The efforts have started to reap rewards, the farm is producing average yields in drought years with no loss in quality and is able to handle the extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent. Their inputs have dropped over seventy five percent which has a major impact to both bottom line and the farm's carbon footprint. Roy has been able to see improvements in the soil, the most notable is raising organic matter in the top ten inches of his fields from the area's average of less than 1% to a farm average of 2.5%. He has started direct marketing of some of the farm's products sold under Pfz Farms which are found on line and in farmer's markets along the Front Range of Colorado.

Chris Teachout is the fifth generation on his family farm, established in 1876. He gained an understanding and appreciation for soil conservation from his grandfather. He farms 1,850 acres with his wife, Kay. Chris believes cover crops can have a powerful impact beneath the soil surface. Over the years, in rebuilding the soil through cover crops, earthworms return as does the activation and enrichment of bacteria and protozoa through the stretching roots of the living plants growing within the bean stubble or decaying corn stalks. Erosion and nutrient runoff is curtailed because of the existing vegetation, along with increasing water infiltration as the soil is held in place through the strength of the plant’s root structure. As a part of the entire system, Teachout also implements modern terraces and practices no-till planting.

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Russell is a first-generation farmer in the foothills of Hickory, North Carolina, where he farms JRH Grain Farms, LLC. Russell is known as one of the most progressive young farmers in the country. Russell has been a featured producer in Top Producer Magazine, Furrow Magazine, and on RFD TV, Ag PhD, and National No-till Farmer for profitably farming by reducing fertilizer inputs and using soil health practices on cash crops. In 2017 he won the North Carolina Corn Yield contest, the first person to win in the state using regenerative practices.  Russell's operation focuses on maximizing profits and direct consumer marketing for all their products, including corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, pastures beef and pork. He is the co-founder of Regen Mills and Heritage Ground with Liz, owner of Soil Regen, LLC, and has partnered with Foothills Distillery producing the first bourbon in North Carolina since prohibition. Russell is also the founder of Farmers Reserve Distillery, a farmer owned and operated distillery using regenerative grains to make the finest bourbons, whiskeys and other liquors in the land.

 A fifth-generation Illinois farmer, Monte owns and operates Bottens Family Farm, Grateful Graze, and is the Founder and CEO of Ag Solutions Network, Inc. He hosts the AgEmerge podcast and is a regenerative AgTech investor. Through the development and distribution of POWER2GRO crop nutrition, Monte puts soil health principles into action with a systems approach. He practices long term no-till, cover crops, and has integrated livestock on 2,800 acres. He grows non-GMO and food grade corn and soybeans along with small grains, specialty crops, hay, and grazing crops while selling pastured proteins direct to consumers. Monte's businesses demonstrate how we can improve soil health and water quality, leave the land better than we found it, and foster the health of thriving communities.

Established by his Great Grandfather Shambaugh in 1848, Seth Watkins is the fourth generation of his family to care for Pinhook Farm, located near Clarinda, IA. Today, Pinhook Farm is home to a herd of Angus cattle, several hives of honey bees, a small flock of Katahdin sheep, and five laying hens. Seth attributes the generational success of Pinhook Farm to prioritizing stewardship over production by striving to build systems that work with nature. In addition to caring for livestock, Seth is a TedX Speaker, serves as a United Nations Food Systems Champion, and serves on the Iowa USDA Farm Service Agency State Committee.

As the daughter of a fourth gen farmer, Sarah brings knowledge and respect for farming into building scalable, technology solutions for agri-food stakeholders.  As the CEO and co-founder of Transparency Wise, she is on a mission to drive transparency and value throughout the agri-food value chain and help producers track, verify, and improve upon their production practices, while providing consumers with comprehensive and verified product information at the point of purchase.

She leverages her previous 12 years of experience as a tax and business law attorney and regulatory compliance specialist in forging technology solutions centered around traceability, in murky areas within the agri-food industry, such as the tracking, quantifying, and verifying sustainability and climate related impacts, and carbon programs.

Taylor started her work in the healthy soil movement at Chico State, where she earned a B.S. in Agriculture and M.S. in Regenerative Agricultural Systems. Post degree she was integral in establishing what is now the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the university and building a regional grower network focused on building soil health in the north state. Currently, she is the Farm Program Specialist for the Soil Carbon Initiative, a farmer focused commitment and verification program that works in close collaboration with Soil Regen to scale the number of acres under regenerative management. In addition to this, Taylor operates a small fruit and vegetable farm on the central coast of California. 

Cameron Mills and his wife, Cara, own Mills Family Farm in Walton, Indiana. Cameron Mills’ great-grandparents purchased the farm in 1919 with financial assistance from his great-great-grandparents, according to Cara Mills. His great-grandfather, grandfather and father all farmed there and his grandfather was born in the farmhouse. His parents lived in the farmhouse as well, and he said he grew up on the farm and fell in love with it. Cara said she was hands off agriculture growing up, but she was absorbed into the farm when she married Cameron.

Mills grows corn, soybeans, triticale, grain sorghum, buckwheat and soybeans, along with different forages and hays. “But I like the diversity of what we do with our triticale and buckwheat and the diversity of our cover crops,” he said. “I really like that [be]cause we put cover crops on everything and we graze some of our cover crops, so with the cattle side of things, so I really like all of that. That’s kind of my favorite part.” With meat, they also raise grass-fed beef, pasture pork and pasture poultry. 

Liz is a soil and ecosystem scientist with experience in soil testing and analyses, carbon and conservation practice modeling, and is the co-developer of the Haney soil health test.  Liz’s purpose, drive and passion are helping to improve producer profitability, environmental sustainability, and human health through regenerative practices and soil health.  Throughout her career she has developed an expansive network of scientists, thought leaders, consultants, farmers and ranchers within the sustainable agriculture space. Liz loves nothing more than creating community and is skilled at coordinating and conducting educational events, workshops and conferences bringing together today’s leading innovators in regenerative agriculture.  Liz is also a co-founder of Regen Mills and Heritage Ground with Russell. Liz is proud to also be a part of farmer owned Farmers Reserve Distillery.