Speakers

Missouri Soybeans - Director of Conservation Agriculture and Farm Operations 

Currently, Clayton serves as the director of conservation agriculture and farm operations with Missouri Soybeans, managing the operation of the Bay Farm Research Facility, and working on conservation priorities for Missouri soybean farmers. 

Clayton grew up in the small town of Freeburg, MO; located just southeast of Jefferson City. He was raised in a family that loves the outdoors and that is what struck his interest in pursuing a career in conservation. Clayton graduated in 2009 from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management and a minor in Agronomy. He started his conservation career with the Missouri Department of Conservation, and for 13 years he gained experience working all over the state in many different roles. He spent the majority of his career as a Wildlife Management Biologist, where he managed the natural resources on public land. Clayton focused on wetland habitat and restoring the natural communities for woodlands, glades, and grasslands. 

Clayton is married to his wife Cindy, and they have two sons, Calvin and Cade. They own a house and some land in Osage County where they enjoy letting their boys explore nature. 

Missouri Soybeans - Conservation Programs Manager

Brady Lichtenberg currently works as the conservation programs manager with Missouri Soybeans. Brady grew up in the small town of Montgomery City, Missouri spending as much time as possible outside hunting, fishing and playing sports. He graduated in 2016 from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife sciences. 

Shortly after graduating, he started his career with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Throughout his 10 years there he held several positions within the Conservation Department and gained experience managing natural resources on public land. He spent most of his time as a wildlife biologist and focused on wetland habitat management, but also had opportunities to manage and restore woodland, glade and grassland natural communities. 

With Missouri Soybeans, Brady spends his time managing environmental programs and executing the conservation plan on the Bay Farm research facility. 

MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture - Cover Crop Education Specialist

Bethany is the Cover Crop Education Specialist at the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture. She has a M.S. in Agriculture with a concentration in Agriscience – Agronomy from Illinois State University. 

She grew up in rural Illinois and previously worked in an agricultural retail setting before returning for her graduate degree. Her graduate research involved the development of agronomic recommendations for the introduction of pennycress as a new cover crop.

wohrleyb@missouri.edu

Horstmann Cattle Company - Farmer 

  August Horstmann, and his wife Katelyn own and operate Horstmann Cattle Company, based in Central Missouri. Horstmann Cattle Co is Regenerative livestock business that direct markets grass finished beef, pork, chicken, and lamb to families all over Missouri. In addition to the grazing business, August is also the producer of Grazed in America Podcast. The podcast is focused on grazing livestock, direct marketing from the farm to consumer, and more. 

August believes it is critical to invest in small farms that will produce a diversity of nutrient dense food to feed our communities. He hopes that the Grazed in America Podcast will allow him to reach more people and share what he has learned along his regenerative farming journey.

ah@horstmanncattleco.com 

Carbon Yield - COO & Co-Founder

Claire is motivated to improve the agricultural and rural economy, Carbon Yield establishes a pillar of support behind growers so they can confidently transition to regenerative agriculture at scale. We operate the hub where farmers make regenerative decisions, sell their grains, source their inputs, and produce new revenue streams from carbon programs. 

Claire has focused her career on the development of mission-driven organizations by making sure they effectively track impact and secure resources to scale effective work. At social service agency Catholic Charities of Chicago, she raised more than $50M annually through government grants and built data to improve program reporting. She exceeds at strategic planning, relationship building, data management, and fundraising. 

A native Chicagoan, Claire graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis and with her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She lives in Chicago with her husband and is an enthusiastic gardener and lover of the outdoors.

Karr Family Farms and Farmers Elevator and Exchange Co.

Kody is a farmer and crop consultant in Monroe City, Missouri. He grew up on his family farm in Monroe City, MO before attending the University of Missouri where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Plant Science. 

Kody is focused on helping farmers transition and implement regenerative grazing and row crop practices in the Monroe City area.

Redbeard Farms and Boone County SWCD 

 Ethan farms two operations in central Missouri, one with his father where they raise row crops and livestock and one in partnership where they raise no-till row crops and organic specialty crops using regenerative practices. He also works as the District Manager for the Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District. 

Ethan is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a BS in Animal Science and is a Certified Forage and Grassland Professional and a Certified Crop Advisor. Ethan serves on the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council (and chairs the Membership Committee), the Missouri Sheep and Goat Conference, the Boone County Extension Council, the Missouri NRCS State Technical Committee, the Missouri Climate Smart Ag Working Group, and various other technical/advisory committees.   

Ethan was appointed to the board of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program by the Secretary of Agriculture in 2020 and was elected as its Secretary in 2022.