NDSU President David Cook and Greg Lardy, the Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture at NDSU, each participated in panel discussions at “A Celebration of Ag and Energy in the Dakotas” at the University of Mary in Bismarck.
NDSU President David Cook and Greg Lardy, the Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture at NDSU, participated in panel discussions on the future of agriculture and energy in the Dakotas at the University of Mary in Bismarck.
The event, “A Celebration of Ag and Energy in the Dakotas,” brought together leaders from North Dakota and South Dakota to discuss the significant opportunities in value-added agriculture.
Leaders from farming, ethanol production, oil and gas and coal industries, along with elected officials and business leaders from the Bismarck-Mandan area, participated in the conversation.
Cook and Lardy each participated in panel discussions that emphasized the importance of collaboration across industries. The discussion explored how bringing together experts from different sectors could lead to innovative solutions and expanded markets for agricultural and energy products. The potential for North Dakota and South Dakota to lead in these areas was highlighted as a key takeaway from the event.
The event featured three key panels. The first panel featured a dialogue between North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong and President Cook.
The second panel included a discussion with Gov. Armstrong, Patrick Gruber, CEO of GEVO, Inc., Greg Lardy, Daniel Scholl, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at South Dakota State University, and Mike Appert, vice chairman of the Red Trail Energy Board of Governors, focusing on the integration of agriculture and energy industries.
The third panel was moderated by Scott Hennen and featured a discussion with Governor Kelly Armstrong, Sen. David Hogue, and Sen. Terry Wanzek highlighting legislative perspectives on the future of these industries.
The event marked the beginning of what is expected to be a series of discussions aimed at enhancing collaboration and advancing both agriculture and energy industries. With leadership from land-grant universities and strong partnerships across the Dakotas, the future looks promising. The University of Mary's role in making this conversation possible was widely appreciated and further discussions on these vital issues are anticipated.