The 2026 Together We Grow Connect Conference will be hosted in beautiful Denver, CO, Sept. 8-10, 2026!
The TWG Connect Conference is more than a meeting; it is the primary engine for cross-sector innovation in the food and agriculture workforce. The power of this conference will build on the priorities outlined in the Together We Grow Strategic Plan “Growing with Intention,” focusing on how stakeholders can work together to implement the plan and ensure the sector has the skilled and broadened workforce needed to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global environment. Review the conference agenda.
About Connect
Through industry insights, collaborative dialogue, and expert panels, attendees will explore practical strategies to address labor shortages, accelerate skills development, support workforce access, navigate changes to organizational culture, and prepare for the impact of emerging technologies. It is our belief that by working together with our members and partners, we can transform our industry to create a broad, talented, and engaged workforce with the experience and capabilities to meet our evolving food and agricultural needs into the next century.
Who attends
- K-12 educators and administrators
- Higher education faculty
- University career service staff
- HR business partners and talent acquisition specialists
- Corporate executives and managers
- Corporate social responsibility teams
- State Department of Agriculture leaders
- Trade association heads
- Youth development organization directors
- Community development organizations
Why we need you
The Together We Grow consortium is made up of companies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and government agencies with a stake in American food and agriculture and a commitment to building a modern workforce that reflects the communities in which we live and work. We are focused on attracting the best and brightest talent to our increasingly high-tech industry, which we will accomplish through sharing resources, combining our efforts, and ultimately expanding opportunities to more communities. In doing so, we hope to awaken more people to the incredible value they can bring to the evolving food and agriculture industry.
Event location
Hotel accommodations
Speakers
Kate Greenberg
Commissioner of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Dr. Tony Frank
Chancellor, CSU System
Dr. Antoine Alston
Professor and Associate Dean, Academic Studies College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, NC A&T State University
Mary Kaul-Hottinger
EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, CHS Inc.
Margaret Fogarty
Founding Partner, Corkboard Communications
Leigh Picchetti
Founding Partner, Corkboard Communications
Derek Mulhern
Executive Director, Cultivating Change
Dr. Theressa Cooper
Assistant Dean, Iowa State University
Chef Jill Overdorf
Founder and President, The Produce Ambassador LLC
Renee Bouldin
Program Manager, Soil and Water Conservation Society
Stephanie Wedryk
Vice President of Product, ZymeCo
Jennifer Wright
Executive Director, Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council
Thank you to our 2026 partners
Interested in sponsoring the Connect Conference? Download the sponsorship packet.
