MOA Annual Conference 2026

Ray Archuleta is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (Soil Science Society of America) and a respected authority in soil health and regenerative agriculture. With over 30 years of experience in soil conservation, water quality, and agronomy, he brings a unique wealth of knowledge to the table. In his talks and field-work, Ray emphasizes that soil is a living, complex ecosystem, and that by mimicking nature (through practices such as cover crops, minimal disturbance, diversity, and integrating livestock) farms can reduce dependency on external inputs and improve resilience. We will look at creating a full farm assessment to practically implement profitable regenerative practices to your production.

Greg and Jan Judy of Clark, Missouri, run a regenerative grazing operation on 2,200 acres of owned and leased land. After facing near bankruptcy in 1999, they paid off their 200-acre farm and home in just three years through custom grazing—and have remained debt-free since. Their diverse operation includes South Poll cattle, St. Croix hair sheep, guardian dogs, and Shiitake mushrooms. Greg has authored three books—No Risk Ranching, Comeback Farms, and How to Think Like a Grazier—sharing proven methods for soil regeneration, multi-species grazing, and profitable land management. Greg’s YouTube channel, Greg Judy Regenerative Rancher, has over 132,000 subscribers and provides practical insights into regenerative agriculture. The Judys host spring and fall grazing schools and offer internships to teach others how to build successful, land-healing operations.

Greg and Jan Judy of Clark, Missouri, run a regenerative grazing operation on 2,200 acres of owned and leased land. After facing near bankruptcy in 1999, they paid off their 200-acre farm and home in just three years through custom grazing—and have remained debt-free since. Their diverse operation includes South Poll cattle, St. Croix hair sheep, guardian dogs, and Shiitake mushrooms. The Judys host spring and fall grazing schools and offer internships to teach others how to build successful, land-healing operations.

Dr. Leo Sharashkin will be preventing twice during this conference. He is founder of HorizontalHive.com and editor of Keeping Bees With a Smile, a comprehensive resource on keeping bees naturally in horizontal hives. He contributes to American Bee Journal, Bee Culture, The Beekeepers Quarterly (UK), and many other publications, and speaks internationally on sustainable beekeeping, organic growing, and Earth-friendly living. He holds a PhD in Forestry from the University of Missouri and a Master’s in Natural Resources from Indiana University. Author of world-renowned research in sustainable agriculture, he lives on a forest homestead in the Ozarks in southern Missouri raising bees in a variety of low-maintenance, easy-to-build horizontal hives.

Her experience growing flowers at Millsap Farms for the last 8 years, selling through a collective for the last 3 years and starting her own flower farm this year, Kimby brings practical knowledge and experience to the table.

Mallory Rahe is an Associate Extension Professor at the University of Missouri who focuses on building stronger farm and food businesses. She leads the Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center which provides no-cost technical assistance to value-added agricultural farms. She has developed a number of resources to aid producers who are making on-farm decisions about how to start and scale their operations including specialty crop enterprise budgets, product pricing calculators, direct marketing educational resources, and broader industry studies.

Dr. Arbindra Rimal is a professor in the William H. Darr College of Agriculture at Missouri State University (MSU), located in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Rimal’s expertise encompasses marketing of agricultural products, sustainable agriculture, agribusiness management & agricultural economics, and economic impact analysis of agricultural systems. His on-going research projects focus on locally-grown produce and food hubs, with a goal of connecting small producers to institutional buyers and improving local food systems. He has published over 35 peer-reviewed papers and secured over $1 million in external grants for research and teaching.

Del Ficke, co-founder of the Graze Master Group will discuss the following topics: “Administrators vs. Specialists,”Seeking out the right skills in your financial partners and advisors. “Controlling your own destiny,” Flipping the current farm and ranch management process on its ear to improve your operation, gain your independence, and become more profitable. “Unlearning and Learning,” Del is a huge proponent of learning but didn’t always embrace conventional academic models. He will outline the educational resources producers need to seek out, books to read, and experiences to embrace. Del is known nationwide for, “calling a spade a spade.”

In this interview-style session, Grace Ames will sit down with Glenda DeShon to discuss the growing world of agritourism—what it means, how to get started, and how to make it work for your farm. Together, they’ll explore how offering on-farm experiences can build stronger community connections, diversify farm income, and showcase the heart of agriculture in engaging and meaningful ways.

Glenda and her husband Jeff live on their fourth-generation family farm in eastern Boone County, Missouri. Their children, Justin and Jessica, along with their families, also live on the farm and play an active role in its daily operations. The DeShons have made it their mission to strengthen and sustain the health of their farmland while creating opportunities for others to experience life on the farm firsthand. Four Oaks Farm is a year-round agritourism destination featuring U-pick sunflowers, pumpkins, and mums; a farm maze; hayrides; friendly farm animals; and seasonal activities from summer through fall. In spring, the farm offers barnyard snuggles, art and craft classes, and in winter, festive hayrides and wreath-making events where guests gather their own materials.

Susan Jaster is a Farm Outreach Worker for Lincoln University's Innovative Small Farm Outreach Program. In the West-Central region of Missouri, she provides research-based agricultural information to small, non-traditional, woman-centric, specialty, and underserved farmers and ranchers. She assists producers with adaptive grazing, high tunnels, small ruminants, poultry, soil health, regenerative agricultural practices, and the Missouri AgrAbility Program. She is a regenerative sheep rancher.

Sabrina and Harry Cope, a daughter-and-father team from a 4th and 5th generation family farm in Truxton, Missouri, will explore the role of regenerative products in today’s agricultural marketplace and why informed consumers matter more than ever. Farming regeneratively since 1999, the Copes will share how their livestock grazing operation is designed to support land health, guide pricing decisions, and build trust with customers. Drawing on their experience selling directly to consumers in the St. Louis area—and as long-time vendors at the Lake St. Louis Farmers & Artisans Market—they will discuss how transparency, intentional grazing, and clear communication influence purchasing decisions. In 2023, the Cope family farm received the Leopold Conservation Award, recognizing their leadership in conservation and regenerative agriculture.

Sabrina and Harry Cope, a daughter-and-father team from a 4th and 5th generation family farm in Truxton, Missouri, will explore the role of regenerative products in today’s agricultural marketplace and why informed consumers matter more than ever. Farming regeneratively since 1999, the Copes will share how their livestock grazing operation is designed to support land health, guide pricing decisions, and build trust with customers. Drawing on their experience selling directly to consumers in the St. Louis area—and as long-time vendors at the Lake St. Louis Farmers & Artisans Market—they will discuss how transparency, intentional grazing, and clear communication influence purchasing decisions. In 2023, the Cope family farm received the Leopold Conservation Award, recognizing their leadership in conservation and regenerative agriculture.

In his current role as the Client Services Coordinator at MOSA Certified Organic, Mark Geistlinger assists organic farmers and food handlers as they transition to organic production, apply for organic certification, or address concerns in their organic operations. Mark originally joined the organic foods movement as a worker on organic vegetable farms before beginning a wonderfully hectic 20-year stint as an organic inspector. He champions organic farming as our best way to care for animals, protect soil, and feed people.

At a past Missouri Organic Association conference, a simple conversation during a meal led Steve McKaskle to a connection that would reshape the future of his farm. That chance meeting sparked a partnership with a national burrito chain seeking regenerative ingredients, opening the door to premium markets for his organic rice and redefining what was possible for his operation. Since then, Steve has continued to grow his reach and impact, demonstrating how strong relationships, aligned values, and regenerative practices can create long-term opportunity and resilience. In “Let’s Change Farming for the Better,” Steve will share his journey of market development, relationship-building, and staying rooted in regenerative principles while scaling his business. Attendees will gain insight into how meaningful connections can lead to premium opportunities—and how farmers can position themselves for success without compromising their values.

Dr. Chetan Hans is a farmer, scientist, and founder of Raw Roots Turmeric. His work bridges turmeric farming and human health, with a focus on mineral-dense soils and medicinal crop production. He works hands-on with turmeric cultivation in the Midwest, helping farmers grow crops that heal both the land and the people.