Can’t Miss Events

Hit some golf balls at TopGolf to benefit the Kansas Agri Business Council, your association’s political fundraising entity.

Check out the kick-off party, our thank you to your generous support of this year’s Kansas Agri Business Expo.

Mark Waschek joined Ag1Source in 2006, joined the board of directors in 2013, and became president of Ag1Source in 2022. Mark’s talent management expertise extends to a wide range of companies including family businesses, cooperatives, trade associations, and other organizations up to Fortune 100 companies. Although most of his focus has been working with boards and executive teams to fill senior leadership roles, he helps organizations with needs ranging from sales positions to CEO. Within this sector, he has successfully assisted businesses in finding talent for critical positions or consulted with organizations to help them improve their hiring practices and talent management strategies.

Join Kansas Grain and Feed Association Chairman, Andrew Fullerton, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association Chairman, Scott Morris, and Association President and CEO, Ron Seeber, as we cut the ribbon to officially open the 2025 Kansas Agri Business Expo.

Panelists discussing the repercussions of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

Jeff Blackwood – CropLife America

Jeff Blackwood joined CropLife America on May 28, 2025 after more than a decade as the policy lead for the agricultural solutions business of BASF Corporation. He brings years of expertise working with Congress, associations, coalitions, and other stakeholder groups on pesticide issues. Prior to BASF, Jeff spent time working in government relations with associations and as a staffer for two senators and a member of Congress.

Dr. Berit Linnehan Foss – National Grain and Feed Association

Dr. Berit leads NGFA’s efforts in feed policy, regulatory advocacy, industry best practices, and sustainability, furthering the association’s mission to advance a safe, sustainable, and innovative feed and grain industry. She is the principal staff contact with federal and state departments and agencies that affect animal food regulatory and industry sustainability issues. She leads the selected NGFA committees, including the Feed Committee and Sustainability Committee.

Dave Spears – Agricultural Retailers Association

David D. Spears recently formed a consulting company with a focus on Agriculture policy and business strategies upon his retirement from his role as Executive Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer of MKC (Mid Kansas Cooperative Association). He was a member of the executive management team guiding strategic vision, direction and growth of a $1.2 Billion agribusiness providing grain, agronomy, energy, feed and risk management products and services. He served in that role from 2009 – 2024. Mr. Spears has a lifelong background and career in Agriculture with a mix of both private sector and public service experience. His professional career encompasses 10 years in the banking industry, 12 years of policy and regulatory work in Washington, D.C. including Senior Ag Staff Director for Senator Bob Dole and Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, followed by 23 years of executive management of two agribusinesses.

A delicious selection of home-cooked style food.

Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association partner to award deserving Kansas students more than $30,000 annually in scholarships. This is the only fundraiser for the scholarships, so keep the future of agribusiness strong by bidding high and bidding often.

Kansas Grain and Feed Association Chairman, Andrew Fullerton, and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association Chairman, Scott Morris, invite you to attend a formal reception celebrating the 2025 Kansas Agri Business Expo.

Lieutenant Colonel Darling retired from the United States Marine Corps with just over twenty years of active duty service in October 2007. He flew Cobra attack helicopters in Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the first Gulf War and in Somalia, Africa in support of Operation Restore Hope. In June 1998, he was selected to fly as a presidential pilot with Marine Helicopter Squadron One and in October 2000, he was selected to work for The White House Military Office, Airlift Operations Department. It was in that capacity that, then Major Darling supported the President, Vice President and National Security Advisor in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) on September 11, 2001.

Bob graduated from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY with a BA in Economics in 1987. Upon graduation he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant aboard the USS Intrepid. In 2002 Bob attended the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA where he earned his MBA in Financial Management.

At the urging of family, friends, and colleagues to share his witness to American history, Bob wrote his memoir, “24 Hours Inside the President’s Bunker, 9/11/01: The White House.He continues to share his personal experience and knowledge of crisis leadership with many military, corporate, and university audiences nationwide. He is the President of Flash Emergency Management, LLC, a crisis leadership training and technology company located in Stafford, Virginia.

After you’ve listened to a great speaker, go ahead and cruise the tradeshow floor again. You never know what kind of good deals you may get…