Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Cultivating Change Summit
Expand your network, grow leadership skills and help advance a more inclusive future for food, agriculture and natural resources at the Cultivating Change Summit. Hosted annually by the Cultivating Change Foundation, this event brings together professionals from across the U.S. for connection and growth. The 2026 Summit will take place October 4-6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Whether you’re early in your career or leading teams, the Cultivating Change Summit offers opportunities to learn alongside peers, hear from respected voices and build connections that last beyond the event itself. Here are five reasons you should attend this year.
1. Connect with a community of agriculture professionals
Known for its welcoming, relationship-driven environment, the Cultivating Change Summit brings together professionals driven to elevate LGBTQ+ voices in agriculture. Attendees come with diverse perspectives and a range of professional roles, creating meaningful dialogue across sectors. Many are also engaged in employee resource groups (ERGs) and work to strengthen workplace culture within their organizations.
The summit also connects attendees with agricultural brands, companies and organizations that actively support LGBTQ+ professionals across the industry. Networking with sponsoring organizations gives attendees the chance to learn how companies across agriculture are approaching inclusion and community in thoughtful ways.
2. Grow through leadership development workshops
Leadership development is a core pillar of the Cultivating Change Summit. Through workshops and facilitated discussions, attendees will hear from industry leaders and engage in conversations that go beyond the day-to-day and focus on leadership and career growth.
With themes including authenticity, confidence, professional identity and communication, sessions are designed to help you grow as a leader. Attendees will leave with practical tools and real-world insights they can apply within their teams, employee resource groups and organizations.
3. Learn from keynote speaker Kiah Twisselman
The 2026 Cultivating Change Summit will feature keynote speaker Kiah Twisselman Burchett, also known as Coach Kiah. Kiah is a multigenerational farmer turned speaker and coach who brings energy, honesty and heart to conversations about leadership, purpose and growth. Rooted in her agricultural background, Kiah’s message centers on honoring where you come from while giving yourself permission to evolve.
4. Get up-to-date on the latest ag trends
Agriculture is constantly evolving, and the Cultivating Change Summit gives attendees the opportunity to step back and explore trends impacting the industry. A state of agriculture session at this year’s summit will take a wide-angle look at the forces shaping food and agriculture today, from economic and market dynamics to public policy and emerging technologies. The session will provide context across sectors, helping attendees better understand how change is impacting the industry and what those shifts may mean for their work, organizations and communities.
5. Experience Minnesota agriculture with an arboretum tour
Step out of the traditional conference setting and immerse yourself into Minnesota agriculture at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Located on 1,200 acres, the arboretum is part of the University of Minnesota and serves as a national resource for horticultural research, education and conservation.
Best known for its display gardens, plant collections and research programs, the arboretum plays an important role in advancing agriculture and plant science. This tour offers an educational outing that connects research, stewardship and agriculture.
Ready to go? How to attend this year’s summit
The 2026 Cultivating Change Summit is designed for professionals who want to learn, connect and be part of thoughtful conversations shaping inclusivity in agriculture. Registration for Summit is open now; we hope to see you there!
Learn more and register for Summit 2026 at thecultivatingchangefoundation.org/ccfsummit2026.