Kansas Landowners Conference

REGISTER - November 10-11, 2026

Join K-State Agricultural Economics for the 4th Annual Kansas Landowner Conference, designed for Kansas agricultural landowners whether you live on the land, across the state or across the country. Connect with fellow landowners and K-State experts while gaining practical information to help you make informed decisions about your land.

2026 topics include: What Trade, Tariffs and World Conflict Mean to U.S. Agriculture • U.S. Economic Outlook • Kansas Land Values and Land as an Investment • Farm Estate Planning Considerations • and more!

Veteran’s Day Discount: In recognition of Veterans Day, U.S. military veterans are eligible for a special registration discount. Email Robin Reid at robinreid@ksu.edu or call 785-532-0964 for a discount code before registering.

Want more information about this conference or to sign up to receive notices of future events like this? Register HERE for our Kansas Landowners Listserv!

Dates & Location

November 10 - 11, 2026

Manhattan

K-State Alumni Center

1720 Anderson Ave.

Manhattan , KS

Questions: Robin Reid - robinreid@ksu.edu or 785.532.0964

Hotel Information

While many hotels are available in Manhattan, KS, this hotel is across the street from the K-State Alumni Center and participants can easily walk to the conference and back:

Holiday Inn - Campus
1641 Anderson
Manhattan, KS 66502
785.539.7531

Group Rate is $120 per night, available Monday Nov. 9th through Wednesday, Nov. 11th. Reservations must be made by Oct. 10th to receive the group discounted rate.

Reservations Instructions: Reservations can be made in any of the methods listed below:

Call Hotel directly at (785) 539-7531 and mention group code KLC (Kansas Landowners Conference)

or for online booking:

Direct Link: Kansas Landowners Conference - Holiday Inn KSU Campus
To use the direct link, copy and paste to your preferred browser. Your discounted rate and dates will populate automatically. You can adjust the dates to fit your needs as long as you stay within the group block dates.

Schedule

Tuesday, November 10th, 2026

8:00 am Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Visit Vendors

9:00 am Welcome - Dr. Allen Featherstone, Dept. Head

9:15 am - Keynote Presentation- What Trade, Tariffs and World Conflict Mean to U.S. Agriculture - Dr. Allen Featherstone
The U.S. agricultural economy is reliant on events that occur in remote locations across the globe. The historical pattern of trade has been disrupted during the last few years. This discussion will examine how those disruptions are affecting and will affect global commodity prices.

10:00 am - Keynote Presentation - U.S. Economic Outlook - Dr. Brian Briggeman
The U.S. economy continues to show resilience in the face of higher borrowing costs, inflation, and challenges facing labor markets. The implications for U.S. agriculture really rest on the future path of interest rates. During this session, Dr. Brian Briggeman will discuss the U.S. economic outlook and what that means for future interest rate movements.

10:45 am Break

11:10 am - Keynote Presentation - Kansas Land Values and Land as an Investment - Dr. Megan Hughes
Agricultural land is viewed as a stable, tangible asset with the potential to build and preserve wealth over time. Understanding what drives land value, where opportunities exist, and what risks to consider can help landowners make informed decisions about their land management decisions.

12:00 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Breakout Session #1

2:20 pm Break

2:30 pm Breakout Session #2

3:20 pm Vendor Break

3:40 pm Breakout Session #3

4:30 pm Networking Cocktail Hour- Visit with Speakers & Vendors

5:30 pm End

Wednesday, November 11th, 2026

7:30 am Breakfast and Visit Vendors

8:30 am Breakout Session #4

9:20 am Break

9:35 am Breakout Session #5

10:25 am Break

10:40 am Breakout Session #6

11:30 am Vendor Break

12:00 pm - Keynote Presentation - Food, Fiber, Fuel...Electrons, Phontons, and Bits: Managing Non-Ag Uses of Agricultural Lands
- Dr. Shannon Ferrell

In the 2020s, we've seen competition for agricultural land that goes far beyond the row crop and pasture lease. While agricultural landowners have been managing non-ag uses of farmland for over a century in the oil and gas realm, they now face opportunities not only in fossil fuel production, but also renewables, energy storage, and even data centers. What questions do landowners need to ask when presented with these opportunities? This session will explore the impacts of these uses on agricultural operations and how to negotiate win-wind agreements between landowners and project developers.

1:30 pm End

Breakout Sessions

For a full list of Breakout Session Descriptions, click HERE

Tuesday, November 10^th

Room	Banquet Room A	Banquet Room B	Purple Pride Room	Tadtman Boardroom
BREAKOUT #1 1:30 – 2:20 PM	Beef Cattle Market Outlook - Dr. Glynn Tonsor, KSU Ag Economics	Conservation Reserve Program: Opportunites for Kansas Landowners - Nicole Welborn, Farm Service Agency	Dryland Farming Basics - Jared Petersilie, KSU Extension	Government Payments for Row Crops in 2026 -Dr. Jenny Ifft & Robin Reid, KSU Ag Economics
BREAKOUT #2 2:30 – 3:20 PM	Crop Market Outlook - Dr. Dan O'Brien, KSU Ag Economics	Liquid Assets: Understanding the Value of Water in Kansas - Dr. Micah Cameron Harp, KSU Ag Economics	Beef Cattle Production Basics - Brian Rees & Robin Reid, KSU Extension	Tax Reporting of Rental Income - Mark Dikeman, Kansas Farm Management Asso.
BREAKOUT #3 3:40 – 4:30 PM	Farm Income Outlook - Dr. Brady Brewer, KSU Ag Economics	Utilizing Cover Crops and Crop Residue on Rented Farm Ground - Dr. Deann Presley & Robin Reid, KSU Extension	Pasture Leases - Jared Petersilie & Brian Rees, KSU Extension	1031 Land Exchanges: Beyond the Basics - Greg Schowe & Julia Fritzlen, Industry Professionals

Wednesday, November 11^th

	Banquet Room A	Banquet Room B	Purple Pride Room	Tadtman Boardroom
BREAKOUT #4 8:30-9:20 AM	Row Crop Production Costs and the Effect on Rental Rates - Dr. Gregg Ibendahl, KSU Ag Economics	Managing Native Grasslands for Livestock and Wildlife - Molly Reichenborn, KSU Agronomy	How to Talk to a Farmer: Building Better Landowner-Tenant Relationships - Ashlee Westerhold, KSU Ag Economics	Government Payments for Row Crops in 2026 -Dr. Jenny Ifft & Robin Reid, KSU Ag Economics
BREAKOUT #5 9:35 – 10:25 AM	Estate Planning for Kansas Landowners - Shannon Ferrell, OSU Ag Economics	Crop Insurance Basics - LaVell Winsor, KSU Ag Economics	K-State Resources for Landowners - Luke Byers, KSU Ag Economics	Negotiating a Farm Lease - Dr. Megan Hughes, KSU Ag Economics
BREAKOUT #6 10:40 – 11:30 AM	Row Crop Production Costs and the Effect on Rental Rates - Dr. Gregg Ibendahl, KSU Ag Economics	Crop Insurance Basics - LaVell Winsor, KSU Ag Economics	Planning for Long-Term Care: Protecting Your Land, Family, and Legacy - Ashlee Westerhold, KSU Ag Economics	Soil Health 101 for Landowners - Dr. Jenny Ifft, KSU Ag Economics

Directions

To Manhattan, Kansas and the K-State Alumni Center (17th & Anderson):

From the east: I-70 to exit 313. North on Hwy 177 to Ft. Riley Blvd then west to 17th Street. North (right) on 17th to Anderson Ave.

From the west: I-70 to exit 303. North on Hwy K114/K18 (Ft. Riley Blvd) to 17th St. North (left) on 17th to Anderson.

From the north: Hwy 77 south to Seth Child Rd (Hwy 113). South on Seth Child to Anderson Ave. East (left) on Anderson to 17th St.

Parking

There is limited parking available at the Alumni Center. If spots are available, you can park there. You will need an Alumni Center pass, which will be available as you arrive.

Conference parking is included in the registration fee, for either the lot west of Old Stadium, or for the parking garage. You may park in either location, then bring your tag number (write it down or take a picture of it) to the registration table and we will take care of it for you.

Limited parking is available in the Alumni parking lot for those arriving early.
Additional parking is available in the lot west of Old Stadium (across Denison Avenue), north of the Catholic Church, or in the parking garage.
Parking is permitted only in areas designated for parking. Parking is not permitted on campus streets or drives
Please observe HANDICAP, RESERVED and NO PARKING zones; these are TOW ZONES and violators will be towed.

Speaker Bios

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

What Trade, Tariffs and World Conflict Mean to U.S. Agriculture

Allen Featherstone – University Distinguished Professor, Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University

He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue University. He also holds a B.S. in agricultural economics and economics from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Professor Featherstone is recognized as a leading scholar in agricultural finance. His work has resulted in teaching and research awards and quotation in the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, and other publications. He served as Associate Editor for the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and on the editorial board of Choices. He has more than 150 articles published in a variety of journals. He has experience lecturing and researching in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

U.S. Economic Outlook

Brian C. Briggeman - Professor

Director, Arthur Capper Cooperative Center

Brian Briggeman is a Professor and Director of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. Dr. Briggeman’s research and extension program focuses on agricultural finance, cooperative management, and macroeconomics. As Capper Center Director, he leads and delivers educational programs for farmer cooperative CEOs, CFOs, employees, and directors. Dr. Briggeman also teaches agricultural finance and cooperative management and advises a number of graduate students.

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Kansas Land Values and Land as an Investment

Negotiating a Farm Lease (breakout)

Megan Hughes – Assistant Professor

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Megan Hughes is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in land and crop markets. Her research interests include agricultural finance, farm management, and production. Megan’s research has included work on agricultural credit markets, producer sentiment, and the adoption of conservation practices. Megan was raised on a seventh-generation independent seed farm in Northern Illinois and is passionate about running an integrated research and extension program to deliver insights back to the farm.

Farm Estate Planning Considerations

Mineral and Oil Leases (breakout)

Dr. Shannon Ferrell

Agricultural Economics Department at Oklahoma State University

Shannon grew up on a cattle and wheat operation in Western Oklahoma, and obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Agricultural Economics from OSU before obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law with endorsements in Estate Planning and Business and Financial Services Law. Shannon spent a number of years in full-time private practice before joining OSU in 2007. As an educator and speaker, Shannon helps audiences all over North America understand the fundamental legal elements of farm business management and farm transition planning. He has provided presentations and workshops to a cumulative audience of over 30,000 across the U.S. and Canada while authoring over fifty publications, including serving as lead author on the Farm Transition Workbook. In private practice, he helps farm families with both the conversations involved in forming the best transition planning approach and creating the mechanisms to make their transitions successful.

BREAKOUT SESSION SPEAKERS

Glynn Tonsor

Beef Cattle Market Outlook

Dr. Glynn Tonsor - Professor

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Glynn Tonsor joined the K-State Agricultural Economics faculty as an Assistant Professor in March 2010. Tonsor’s current efforts are primarily devoted to a range of integrated research and extension activities with particular focus on the cattle/beef and swine/pork industries. His broader interests cover aspects throughout the meat supply chain ranging from production level supply issues to end-user consumer demand issues.

Robin Reid

Government Payments for Row Crops in 2026; Beef Cattle Production Basics; Utilizing Cover Crops and Crop Residue on Rented Farm Ground

Robin Reid - Extension Farm Economist

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Robin Reid is an Extension Farm Economist with the Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University. Robin works on a variety of economic topics including farm policy, farm financial management, land values, Women in Ag. programming, and much more. Robin grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and earned a B.S. in Agricultural Business from UW-River Falls. She also holds an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from K-State.

How to Talk to a Farmer; Planning for Long-term Care

Ashlee Westerhold - Director of AgKansitions

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Ashlee earned her Bachelors and Masters in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Westerhold served as an Area Extension Educator at the University of Idaho where she created, delivered and collaborated on major risk management programs. Westerhold has always been passionate about Succession Planning because of her advisor, Dr. Ron Hanson. Her main objective is to keep families in farming and ranching.

Crop Insurance Basics; Dryland Farming Basics

LaVell Winsor – Farm Analyst

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

LaVell Winsor is a Farm Analyst with the Agricultural Economics Department of Kansas State University. LaVell primarily works directly with farm clients to assist them with their finances – whether that be evaluating a farm expansion, an annual financial check-up, or addressing a difficult creditor situation. She also helps farm families with succession planning. Over the past 27 years, LaVell’s professional work has been focused on risk management and farm financial management.

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Conservation Reserve Program: Opportunites for Kansas Landowners

Nicole Welborn - Agricultural Program Specialist

Conservation and Price Support Division of the Kansas Farm Service Agency

Nicole Welborn is an Agricultural Program Specialist in the Conservation and Price Support Division of the Kansas Farm Service Agency State Office in Manhattan, Kansas. Nicole came to the FSA State Office in 2018 after serving in the Shawnee County FSA Office in Topeka as an Agricultural Program Technician working with Shawnee County farmers and ranchers. Nicole has worked with conservation her entire career with FSA and has a strong passion for the mission.

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Farm Income Outlook

Dr. Brady Brewer - Associate Professor and Director of the Masters of Agribusiness (MAB) Program

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Brady’s research agenda includes the broader topics of agribusiness and profitability, agricultural finance, and production/supply chain issues. His extension program includes education on credit and lending to both farmers and bankers as well as working with agribusinesses on a variety of financial management topics. Brady grew up on a family farm in Oklahoma that raised wheat, soybeans, alfalfa, and cattle. He received a B.S. in agricultural economics and accounting from Oklahoma State University and later earned both his M.S. and Ph.D. from Kansas State University in Agricultural Economics.

Government Payments for Row Crops in 2026; Soil Health 101 for Landowners

Jennifer Ifft -Professor

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Jennifer Ifft has an integrated research and extension program that covers policy and regulatory issues that affect the viability of U.S. and Kansas agriculture. Before coming to Kansas State University, she was an assistant professor at the Cornell University Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and worked in the Farm Economy Branch of the USDA Economic Research Service. She has a PhD from the University of California - Berkeley, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and a BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She grew up on her family’s farm in central Illinois.

Crop Market Outlook

Dan O'Brien – Professor

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Daniel O’Brien was raised on a grain and livestock farm in south central Nebraska. He received bachelors and masters degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After completing his Ph.D. at Iowa State, he worked as the Extension Agricultural Economist at the Northwest Research and Extension Center in Colby. His ongoing extension and applied research interests and efforts are in the areas of a) grain market supply-demand analysis, bioenergy impacts and risk management strate gies; b) grain industry market structure, conduct and perfor mance; and c) economic analysis of irrigated and dryland cropping systems, and cropland leasing arrangements.

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K-State Resources for Landowners

Luke Byers - Extension Assistant

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Luke Byers has a B.S. in Agricultural Business & Economics from the University of Wyoming and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Agricultural Economics. He organizes extension conferences including the annual Risk and Profit Conference, Ag Lenders Conferences, Kansas Insurance Workshop, and Kansas Income Tax Institutes. He also maintains the AgManager.info website and provides extension outreach in farm management.

Row Crop Production Costs and the Effect on Rental Rates

Gregg Ibendahl – Associate Professor

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Dr Ibendahl is a farm management Extension faculty member. He grew up on a small grain/beef farm in southern Illinois. Dr. Ibendahl has experience in private industry and academia having worked several years at Dekalb Genetics in their production area. His current work includes estimating net farm income, predicting crop yields, and estimating farm expenses. He annually publishes estimates of county cash rental rates for the state.

Tax Reporting of Rental Income

Mark Dikeman – Director

Kansas Farm Management Association

Mark Dikeman is the Executive Director of the Kansas Farm Management Association. Mark is responsible for implement ing and maintaining an Extension educational farm business management program for commercial farms, resulting in the development of financial and production information to be used for comparable economic analysis by the farms as well as for research, policy and teaching. Mark received a B.S. degree in Animal Sciences and Industry and a M.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University.

Pasture Leases; Beef Cattle Production Basics

Brian Rees - Ag Agent, K-State Extension - Lyon County

Brian Rees is currently the Ag and Natural Resources Agent and Director for K-State Extension in Lyon County, based in Emporia. After growing up in Lyon County and graduating from K-State with degrees in Agronomy and Business Administration, Brian spent most of 20 years in ag industry working first with an international seed company and then a regional cooperative, before finding his way back home and into Extension. Brian and his wife Dixie live outside of Olpe and own and manage pastureland in Lyon County, have a small cow-calf operation, and run a few stocker cattle in the summer.

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Pasture Leases; Dryland Farming Basics

Jared Petersilie - Ag Agent, K-State Extension - Walnut Creek District

Jared Petersilie is an Ag Agent with K-State Research and Extension in the Walnut Creek District serving Lane, Ness, and Rush Counties. He was an Ag Teacher and FFA advisor in Smith Center and Deerfield for 11 years before moving to LaCrosse and in his current position in 2011. Jared grew up in Southern Ness County as the 6^th generation on the family farm/ranch. In 2016, Jared and his wife, Erin purchased their current farm and started EJ Livestock with children Ethan and Jadyn. Jared is a member of Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, Rush Co. Economic Development, a 4-H club leader, and serves on the Dist. 4 Volunteer Fire Dept. in Rush County.

Liquid Assets: Understanding the Value of Water in Kansas

Micah Cameron Harp - Assistant Professor

Agricultural Economics Department at Kansas State University

Micah Cameron-Harp is an Assistant Professor with a research and extension appointment. His research and extension efforts focus on the interplay between systems of agricultural production and the natural resource base they rely on. He has published on the impact of Kansas producers adopting more efficient irrigation technologies, targeting agricultural carbon sequestration programs using data on practice adoption and expected sequestration rates, and the effects of hurricanes on agricultural production risk. Much of his work focuses on the management of water resources in Kansas, especially in the western portion of the state where groundwater resources are under the greatest strain.

Utilizing Cover Crops and Crop Residue on Rented Farm Ground

DeAnn Presley - Professor
Agronomy Department at Kansas State University

Dr. Presley is a soil scientist who works on a range of projects spanning both agricultural and suburban environments. Her research and extension interests include soil and water conservation, erosion control in both agricultural systems and urban/suburban environments, tillage and residue management effects on soil properties, bioenergy and biofuels, composting and application of organic materials to soils, providing education for onsite wastewater treatment professionals, and basic soil science education for youth. Current research topics include the agronomic, soil-water relations, and environmental impacts of harvesting crop residue; agronomic and soil quality effects of vertical tillage on corn production; effects of tillage, crop rotation and/or nitrogen fertilizer rates on soil properties; and impacts of cover crops on both soil and grain quality.

Managing Native Grasslands for Livestock and Wildlife

Molly Reichenborn - Assistant Professor
Agronomy Department at Kansas State University

Molly Reichenborn is a K-State assistant professor and extension specialist focused on rangeland management. Her work focuses on researching and communicating effective land management practices on native rangeland and tame pastures in Kansas. Current topics in her research and extension program include invasive species reduction, tree and brush management, targeted grazing, prescribed fire use, and incorporating multiple land management strategies to achieve land use goals. Originally from Goddard, Kansas, Molly holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biological Sciences from Wichita State University and a Ph.D. from New Mexico State University.

Soil Health 101 for Landowners

Nick Detter - Extension Assistant
Agronomy Department at Kansas State University

Originally from Butler County, KS, he completed his undergraduate degree in Sustainability & Environmental Studies at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS and earned an M.S. in Agronomy at Kansas State University. His graduate research was on cropping systems in Western Kansas. Nick briefly worked at the NRCS before starting his current position at K-State. He is passionate about working with Kansas farmers to improve the profitability, sustainability, and resiliency of their operations while promoting agricultural practices that improve soil health.

1031 Exchanges: Beyond the Basics

Julia Fritzlen
Insight Investment Advisers

Julia Fritzlen, a Kansas City native, is an Investment Adviser specializing in alternative investments, including Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), oil and gas, Qualified Opportunity Zones and other tax advantaged strategies. She assists landowners, business owners and investors in developing tax-efficient exit strategies. With a strong analytical approach, Julia helps clients transition from active ownership to portfolios of passive real estate, focusing on income, diversification, liquidity and legacy planning for seamless generational wealth transfer.

1031 Exchanges: Beyond the Basics

Greg Schowe
Asset Preservation, Inc.

Greg Schowe brings over two decades of expertise in IRC §1031 tax-deferred exchanges and comprehensive real estate transactions to his role as Division Manager at Asset Preservation, Inc. His unwavering commitment to exceptional customer care and delivering the most current regulatory guidance defines his approach to every client relationship. As a subsidiary of Stewart Title Company, Asset Preservation stands as one of the nation's most respected qualified intermediaries. The company has successfully facilitated over 200,000 IRC §1031 exchanges nationwide, combining national title company resources with specialized exchange expertise.

Registration Information

Or: https://commerce.cashnet.com/KSUAGECON

Please register by November 2nd, 2026.

If you must cancel your registration, please do so by November 2nd, 2026, to receive a full refund. Any cancellations after November 2nd, 2026, will be refunded one half of the registration fee. There will be no refund given if cancelation is received 48 hours prior to November 10^th. To cancel or modify your registration, please send a written request to robinreid@ksu.edu.

Veteran’s Day Discount: In recognition of Veterans Day, U.S. military veterans are eligible for a special registration discount. Email Robin Reid at robinreid@ksu.edu or call 785-532-0964 for a discount code before registering.

Kansas State University may cancel or postpone this program because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If the program is canceled, registration fees will be refunded.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We invite you to consider being a sponsor for the 4th Annual Kansas Landowner Conference. As a sponsor of the conference, you will receive booth space for the two days, and networking opportunities during breaks and mealtimes. Additionally, details on the sponsorship levels can be found below.

We kindly ask for your commitment by September 15th, 2026. Please fill out the form on the following link to sign up for your preferred sponsor level: FORM HERE. Note that opportunities are first come, first serve with a limited number of spaces available.

Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability, contact Robin Reid, r obinreid@ksu.edu, or Director of Affirmative Action, Kansas State University, (TTY) 785.532.4807. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30,1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Gregg Hadley, Director of Extension.

For more information, contact Robin Reid at robinreid@ksu.edu or 785-532-0964