Organic production can be both an opportunity and a challenge to farmers. Farmers who are transitioning to organic or considering it need ag advisors and consultants who can help them leverage those opportunities and navigate the challenges. This one-day workshop is designed to help you help your farmers!

What: A workshop for ag advisors and consultants discussing the USDA National Organic Program and organic production practices in the Northern Great Plains

When: March 19th, 2024 - 9:30am - 3pm CT

Where: Ramada Inn, 3333 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103

Speakers

Sam Oschwald Tilton, OATS

Sam's passion for organic agriculture has led him through many fields and around the world. Through it all he enjoyed working with machinery and took night welding classes at the local technical college. Those machinery skills led to a Master's degree in Horticulture at Michigan State University, where Sam specialized in researching and building mechanical weeding tools. He worked as the Midwest Sales Representative for the German company KULT-Kress, for which he traveled around Europe and the US visiting farms of many scales, crops, and production systems. For the past 5 years Sam has coordinated the Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day, the nation's premier event to educate growers about mechanical weeding tools.

Tessa Tripp, OCIA

Tessa joined OCIA in 2020 and is based in central North Dakota. Tessa and her husband have three children, three dogs, and two rabbits. She enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering in her small rural community as an EMT and firefighter. She enjoys the positive and supportive atmosphere at OCIA and appreciates the wide range and complexity of the organic operations. Tessa grew up on a family farm, raising grains and various livestock, and as a result of her upbringing, she could be considered a subject matter expert on the most effective way to wrestle a goat off of a school bus.

Nic Podoll, Rodale Institute

Nic is a lifelong organic farmer, having grown up and farmed with his family on their certified organic farm in southeast North Dakota, raising small grains and vegetable seed. Prior to working at Rodale Institute, he worked in Extension for the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. He also served several years on the NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Review Committee. Nic is IOIA certified in crops and holds a Master’s in Agricultural & Extension Education from North Carolina State University.

Mark Askegaard, certified organic farmer

A fifth generation farmer and graduate of North Dakota State University, Mark Askegaard has a passion for preserving the land and promoting the health of communities through organic agriculture and local foods. He transitioned his farm to organic in 1995, with his primary crops being wheat, soybeans and flaxseed. Mark is proud to serve on several committees that aim to promote local foods including the Minnesota Grown Advisory Committee, and the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Developmental Partnership. In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with his family - his wife, Barb, and two daughters, Claire and Beth. 

Lynn Brakke, certified organic farmer

Owner and operator of Lynn Brakke Organic Farms in Moorhead, MN.

Scott Sinner, SB&B Foods

Scott Sinner is a Partner/Owner of SB&B Foods, LLC and Procurement Manager for the Company, where he manages over 75,000 acres of contracted soybean production across the Upper Midwest with a focus on North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Scott also administers SB&B's proprietary genetics program as well as assisting the Company's food soybean sales team. Scott joined SB&B Foods, LLC in 2003. Scott also serves on the Agronomy Action Team for Specialty Soya & Grains Alliance and has previously served on the Organic Advisory Council for the ND Dept. of Agriculture. Scott represents SB&B on the Board of Directors of the Sinner Bresnahan Healthy Kids Initiative, volunteers for the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and is current president of the Board of Directors for the Moorhead Country Club. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a BA in Secondary Education. Scott lives in Fargo, ND with his wife Stephanie. In his spare time, Scott enjoys golf, travel, movies and is a sports enthusiast.

Kyle Scherweit, conventional and certified organic farmer

Owner and Operator of Scherweit Farms near Casselton, ND. Kyle is a 4th generation farmer and graduated from North Dakota State University in 2005.  Kyle runs a "split" operation with both conventional and organic acres.  Primary crops currently include conventionally raised corn and soybeans, and organically raised corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa.