Relive the highlights from last year’s Fireside Chats at Tech Hub LIVE, where leading voices across agriculture shared candid perspectives on the future of ag tech, digital tools, and sustainability. From Agricultural Retailers Association CEO Daren Coppock to Raven Industries’ Ben Sheldon, these conversations offered valuable insights into the strategies, innovations, and policy trends shaping modern farming — and helped set the stage for even more forward-looking discussions at Tech Hub LIVE 2026.
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ARA’s Daren Coppock
CropLife Editor Eric Sfiligoj sits down with ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock to unpack the current federal policy landscape and what major developments ag retailers should be tracking in Washington, D.C. to protect their businesses and prepare for future regulatory and legislative shifts. Read more.
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Mercer Landmark’s Adam Farmer
Mercer Landmark CTO Adam Farmer spoke with CropLife about how ag retailers can cut through the overload of tech solutions by focusing on a manageable tech stack, evaluating vendors rigorously, and avoiding “shiny object” syndrome. He shared practical lessons on deciding which tools to keep and how to ensure new technology truly serves growers’ needs. Read more.
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AEM’s Austin Gellings
AEM’s Senior Director of Agricultural Services Austin Gellings shared insights from newly completed industry roadmaps that clarify how levels of autonomy, data layers, and cybersecurity are being defined in the ag equipment sector. He discussed how these efforts aim to help the industry build a common language, secure connected systems, and guide future innovation in autonomous and data-driven machinery. Read more.
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AgOutcome’s Adam Kiel
AgOutcomes Executive Vice President Adam Kiel highlighted how outcomes-based agricultural programs are generating new revenue for farmers by stacking environmental benefits like carbon sequestration and improved water quality. He discussed how innovative partnerships are helping growers meet sustainability goals, reduce risk, and deliver measurable per-acre returns. Read more.
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Keystone Coop’s Makala Krieger
Keystone Cooperative’s Agronomy Internship Program Coordinator Makala Krieger explained how the co-op is transforming internships into meaningful, high-tech experiences where students lead projects, fly drones, and contribute to agronomic work rather than just observing. She highlighted how this approach is shaping a workforce pipeline and embedding innovation into Keystone’s long-term strategy. Read more.
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EarthDaily’s Dave Gebhardt
General Manager Dave Gebhardt discussed how the company’s launch of a next-generation Earth Observation satellite is ushering in a new era of daily, AI-ready imagery that can improve crop monitoring and decision-making across the ag value chain. He highlighted how consistent, high-frequency satellite data aims to make remote sensing more practical and actionable for agricultural stakeholders. Read more.
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Compeer Financial's Megan Roberts
Compeer Financial ag economist Megan Roberts joined CropLife for a fireside chat unpacking the complex economic forces shaping modern agriculture, including market dynamics, policy shifts, and the financial pressures influencing production decisions. She offered practical, grounded insights on how interest rates, technology adoption, and broader economic trends are impacting growers, ag tech innovators, and agribusiness leaders alike. Read more.
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Emergent Connext Mike Roudi
Emergent Connext CEO Mike Roudi discussed how his company is building a carrier-grade rural IoT network using LoRaWAN to deliver reliable connectivity that underpins smart farming and precision agriculture tools. He emphasized that without widespread rural internet, many agtech innovations can’t reach their full potential. Read more.
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Raven Industries' Ben Sheldon
Raven Industries Technology Sales Manager Ben Sheldon discussed how ag tech investment and adoption are being shaped by economic headwinds, with growers increasingly cautious and focused on tech that delivers clear ROI. He explained that Raven is prioritizing retrofit‑friendly automation solutions that work with existing equipment to help farmers improve efficiency and profitability without costly new purchases. Read more.
Be sure to check out the photo gallery above to see moments from these engaging conversations and get a glimpse of what made last year’s fireside chats so memorable.
Lauren Milligan is Content Specialist for the Agribusiness Group, including AgriBusinessGlobal, CropLife, and Women in Ag Tech. Before joining Meister Media Worldwide in 2022, she received a bachelor’s degree in English from Kent State University in 2017 and has worked on newspapers local to Portage and Summit Counties in Ohio. See all author stories here.
March 12, 2026 
