North Dakota Farmers Union Hosts Evolution Ag Summit

Conference focuses on opportunities for farmers to capture more value in the modern food chain

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:00am

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The North Dakota Farmers Union hosted its fourth annual Evolution Ag Summit in Jamestown, bringing together experts from across North America to discuss topics related to "Linking Soil to Supper." The conference covered insights on consumer trends, policy changes, and ways for farmers to generate more value from their products.

Why it matters

The Evolution Ag Summit provides a platform for farmers, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore innovative strategies for strengthening rural food systems and empowering farmers to thrive in the modern agricultural landscape.

The details

The one-day conference featured presentations and panel discussions on a range of topics, including what consumers are prioritizing in their grocery purchases, emerging food market trends, and policy changes related to the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement and its impact on rural food systems, school lunches, SNAP, care facilities, and rural grocery stores. Sponsors and vendors were also on hand to connect with attendees.

  • The Evolution Ag Summit was held on February 17, 2026 in Jamestown, North Dakota.
  • The 100th anniversary banquet for Scout Troop 213 in West Fargo took place on February 21, 2026.

The players

North Dakota Farmers Union

A statewide organization that advocates for family farmers and ranchers in North Dakota.

Joanna Larson

An attendee of the Evolution Ag Summit and the Scout Troop 213 anniversary banquet.

Samuel Jonckowski

The Operations Supervisor for West Fargo Public Schools, who spoke about his experience procuring food from local growers and makers for the district's schools.

Amanda Olson

The Farm to Child Nutrition Specialist with the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, who emphasized the need for more support to build up farm-to-school infrastructure across the state.

Troy Heald

A farmer at Country Blossom Farm, who shared a producer's perspective on what it takes to scale and grow into making farm-to-school markets work.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The Evolution Ag Summit highlights the growing emphasis on connecting farmers directly with consumers and school systems, as well as the need for greater policy and infrastructure support to facilitate these farm-to-table initiatives and strengthen rural food systems across North Dakota.