2026 TopSoil® Summit Speakers & Panelists

Meet Geoff Cooper

We’re excited to welcome Geoff Cooper, President & CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, back to the TopSoil® Summit!

His keynote, “Building the Industry. Building the Opportunity.”, will explore the critical and evolving role of biofuels in agriculture. Geoff will deliver expert insights straight from the front lines of the biofuel industry, offering:

✅ An overview of the state of renewable fuels
✅ Key intel from Washington, D.C. on policy, including Section 45Z
✅ Market updates on the Renewable Fuel Standard, trade deals, and global opportunities

With decades of leadership and advocacy in renewable fuels, Geoff brings unmatched perspective to this timely conversation.

🎓 From his work with the National Corn Growers Association to his current role at RFA—representing the heart of America’s ethanol industry—Geoff has shaped policy, markets, and public understanding around sustainable fuel solutions. He’s a decorated U.S. Army veteran and a widely respected voice in national energy policy.

Don’t miss the chance to hear from one of the most influential figures in the bioeconomy.

🎟️ Sign up now for the TopSoil® Summit and be part of the conversation at the intersection of agriculture, energy, and innovation.

Meet Tom Vilsack

As former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and a longtime champion for rural America and renewable fuels, Tom Vilsack will share insights on the foundation that helped pave the way for today’s 45Z opportunities. His keynote, “Building the 45Z Foundation,” will explore the policies, partnerships, and long-term vision behind climate-smart agriculture, low-carbon fuels, and the growing role farmers play in the future of energy.

Currently serving as CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation, Vilsack previously served 12 years as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and eight years as Governor of Iowa. Throughout his public service career, he helped position Iowa and the United States as leaders in biofuels, renewable energy, climate-smart commodities, and rural economic development. His leadership at USDA focused on creating new market opportunities for farmers through renewable fuel production, environmental markets, exports, and bio-based manufacturing — many of the same conversations shaping the future of Carbon Intensity and 45Z today.

🎟️ Sign up now for the TopSoil® Summit and be part of the conversation at the intersection of agriculture, energy, and innovation.

Meet Mike Naig

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will help kick off the TopSoil Summit by welcoming attendees and providing an update on Iowa agriculture, emerging opportunities for farmers, and the latest developments impacting the industry. As conversations around Carbon Intensity, renewable fuels, and 45Z continue to evolve, Secretary Naig brings a valuable statewide perspective on the future of agriculture and Iowa’s leadership in biofuels and conservation.

Raised on a family farm near Cylinder, Iowa, Secretary Naig remains actively involved in the operation today. Since being elected as Iowa’s 15th Secretary of Agriculture in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, he has focused on expanding trade opportunities, growing markets for Iowa agriculture, protecting natural resources, and strengthening rural communities across the state. Throughout his career in agriculture and public service, Secretary Naig has been a strong advocate for Iowa farmers and the continued growth of the state’s agricultural economy.

Meet the Farmer Panel

Built for This — Real Farmers. Real Decisions. Real Opportunity.

Hear directly from farmers who are navigating the changing landscape of agriculture, Carbon Intensity, and profitability in real time. This panel brings together producers from across the Midwest and beyond who are implementing regenerative practices, testing new opportunities, and building resilient operations for the future. From sustainability programs and low-CI grain markets to no-till systems, diversified rotations, global agriculture, and bioenergy opportunities, these farmers are living the conversations shaping agriculture today.

Featured Panelists:

Hans Riensche
A sixth-generation farmer from Northeast Iowa, Hans and his wife manage their family’s row crop operation while leading sustainability initiatives, cost-share participation, and enrollment in private credit and inset markets. Hans also works with ag startups, investors, researchers, and legacy ag companies conducting on-farm trials and product development. A graduate of Iowa State University and former agriculture & food business research analyst, Hans currently serves as part of the 2024 cohort of Nuffield International Farming Scholars, traveling globally to study the future of agriculture and sustainability.

Nick Sennert
Nick and his wife Mary, along with their four children, farm near Linn Grove, Iowa in collaboration with two other families. Their operation raises corn, soybeans, oats, buckwheat, and other small grains while utilizing regenerative farming practices focused on long-term soil and farm health. In addition to farming, Nick works with area growers providing regenerative agronomy consulting along with corn, soybean, and cover crop seed expertise.

Andy Bensend
A fourth-generation farmer from Barron County, Wisconsin, Andy’s journey through the 1980s farm crisis shaped his commitment to innovation, conservation, and resilience. After rebuilding from bankruptcy, he developed a diversified operation centered around no-till, strip-till, cover crops, variable-rate nutrient management, and identity-preserved grain production. Today, his farm spans 3,500 acres producing corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and alfalfa while also providing custom farming services. Andy has served in numerous leadership roles across the soybean, renewable energy, and conservation industries and was nationally recognized with the American Soybean Association Conservation Legacy Award.

John Carroll
John graduated from Western Illinois University in 2003 with a degree in Agribusiness and later earned an MBA with a finance emphasis. John and his wife Kelly moved to Brazil to manage farmland recently acquired by the Carroll family, where they spent 10 years growing the operation into a 40,000-acre owned and leased row crop business. During that time, the business expanded to include an ag service company providing farm management, brokerage consulting, accounting, and compliance services, along with an agricultural lending company. Today, John oversees long-term strategic planning for the Brazil operation while also managing the family’s sow farms in Illinois and Missouri.

This panel will provide practical, real-world insights from farmers and ag leaders who are actively adapting their operations, evaluating emerging markets, and positioning themselves for the future of agriculture.

Meet the 45Z Strength & Structure Panel

Jack Sodak is a Compliance Auditor and Lead Verifier at EcoEngineers, with deep expertise in greenhouse gas emissions verification and renewable fuel compliance. Jack has conducted over 100 quarterly desk audits under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and supported more than 60 verification projects across the LCFS and IRA programs. His focus areas include Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, 45V Clean Hydrogen Credit, and regulatory programs such as California’s LCFS, Canada’s CFR, and the USEPA’s RFS. At the Summit, Jack will provide insights on verification, compliance, and what farmers and biofuel producers need to know to participate in low-carbon fuel markets.

Molly Stevens is an Analyst at Mickelson & Company, where she focuses on federal tax incentives for renewable energy, including the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. With a background in economic development, ethanol, and tax-driven financing, Molly helps ethanol producers and ag-based businesses understand and leverage tax credits. At the Summit, she will walk through the process of monetizing 45Z and explore its potential impact on biofuel producers and farmers.

Jonathan Sherrill currently serves as Senior Vice President, National Business Development at Aon. His career spans business development, strategic sourcing, and risk management across agriculture, food & beverage, supply chain, manufacturing, real estate, and technology sectors.

He brings over 20 years of experience across agriculture, food systems, technology platforms, and supply chain strategy, with a strong focus on regenerative and sustainable agriculture solutions.

Jamey Cline provides more than 20 years of experience in the agriculture and bioenergy industries, focusing on adding value to agricultural commodities and project development. Prior positions include Director of Sales for Edeniq, a biomaterials company that efficiently and cost-effectively breaks down plant materials into sustainable fuels and industrial materials, and Director of Biofuels and Business Development for the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), a producer-directed trade association representing the interests of more than 300,000 farmers. Cline specializes in the development and management of direct accounts and new business in the renewable fuel and agricultural industries. He also valuates channels, assesses new opportunities, creates proposals, and negotiates terms for a wide range of financial services and consulting products.