Attend the Cultivating Change Summit
Summit is coming to Minneapolis, MN October 4-6, 2026!
The purpose of the Cultivating Change Summit is to bring together LGBTQ+ individuals connected to agriculture, natural resources, and food systems, along with employees, human resources and diversity and inclusion professionals, employee resource group leaders, executives, organizational leaders, allies, and others who are working toward creating an equitable industry environment for LGBTQ+ people.
Registering a group? Companies and organizations who wish to register 5 or more people should contact Tandy Kidd at Cultivating Change for a group discount.
Location
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
We recommend booking your room early to stay with the community. The room block closes on September 11th.
Cultivating Change Annual Award Nominations
The Cultivating Change Foundation’s annual awards recognize individuals, organizations, and students who are advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion across food and agriculture through leadership, advocacy, and community impact.
Nominations are open to anyone, including self-nominations, and may be supported with additional materials such as letters of recommendation or examples of impact.
Priority consideration will be given to submissions received by July 17, 2026, and we encourage you to take this opportunity to highlight those making a meaningful difference in our industry.
Speakers
Keynote: Kiah Twisselman Burchett
Kiah Twisselman Burchett—known as Coach Kiah—is a multigenerational California rancher turned Kentucky-based international motivational speaker who helps people reconnect with their roots and rise into their own legacy.
Raised on her family’s cattle ranch in California and now living on a small farm in Louisville, Kentucky, Kiah’s life reflects the heart of her message: that we can honor where we come from while courageously choosing how we move forward.
Her story has been featured on Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, People Magazine, and Women’s Health, and she’s been named Cowgirl Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30, the 2020 Beef Advocate of the Year, and a keynote speaker at the 2025 National FFA Convention.
With authentic vulnerability, humor, and contagious energy, Kiah invites you to celebrate your roots, release what no longer serves you, and step into the legacy only you can live.
Tours
Minneapolis Brewery Tour-Join us for a Minneapolis brewery tour that highlights local craft beer, the brewing process, and the educational foundations of brewing in the region. This experience blends hands-on learning with time to relax, connect, and explore the craft behind each stop. One beer at each location is included.
$50 Add-On Fee
University of Minnesota Arboretum Tour- Founded in 1958, the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a 1,200-acre public garden in Chaska, known for its display gardens, tree collections, and natural areas. Guests can explore paved routes and scenic trails while experiencing diverse plant species and sustainable landscapes. This optional tour highlights how these natural spaces support learning, reflection, and meaningful connection.
$50 Add-On Fee
Collegiate Personal Branding Workshop- The Collegiate Personal Branding Workshop is an interactive session designed to help college students define and communicate their unique professional identity. Participants explore their strengths, values, and experiences to build an authentic personal brand they can use in networking, interviews, and online platforms. The workshop equips students with practical tools to confidently present themselves and stand out in competitive career environments.
$25 Add-On Fee
These leaders and partners join together to share strategies and best practices to create a community inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions within the food, fiber, and natural resources industry through workshops, expert panels, networking mixers, and keynotes from prominent agriculture LGBTQ+ and ally industry leaders
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Farmers and Ranchers
Human Resources
Executives
Employee Resource Groups
Organizations and Societies
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Cooperative Extension Agents
State and Regional Agricultural Education professionals
Leaders in educational organizations and societies
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College of Agricultural and Life Sciences undergraduate and graduate students
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Food and Ag leaders who are allies of the LGBTQ+ community
Friends and family of LGBTQ+ people in food and agriculture
Unique and elevated professional development opportunities
Network with a purpose and expand your human capital
Collaborate and share best practices for solving problems facing the industry
Activate with tools and resources to take back and implement in your community
5 Reasons to Attend Summit – Explore the top reasons professionals from across food and agriculture attend the Cultivating Change Summit each year. Read now under our resources page!
Summit Employer Justification & Professional Development Request Guide – Download a customizable one-pager below to help communicate the value of attending Summit to your employer and request financial support.
Thank You To Our
2026 Partners
