EMDC Consortium Meeting and 4th Annual Symposium | Sustainable Land Stewardship
The Ecosystem Modeling and Data Consortium is hosting the Consortium Meeting (members only) and the 2026 4th Annual Symposium.
Directions: Both Thursday and Friday events will be in Canvas Stadium on CSU’s Campus.
Thursday's Consortium Meeting is taking place at the Indoor Club on the west side of Canvas Stadium. To find the Indoor Club, enter through the West Premium Entrance. Follow signage to the 6th floor. Parking is available in lot #240, directly across the street from the west side of Canvas Stadium, at 816 W. Pitkin St., Fort Collins.
Friday’s Symposium will be at the Iris and Michael Smith Alumni Center in the northeast corner of Canvas Stadium located at 701 W Pitkin St, Fort Collins, CO 80523.
Thursday, October 8th Members Only Meeting
The Consortium Meeting is an exclusive member event that combines updates on our activities and plans for the year ahead with a direct opportunity to share feedback that helps shape our priorities.
Thursday Agenda
9:00 - 10:30 Optional Tour of CSU Agricultural Research Facility, ARDEC or EMDC Office Hours
11:00 - Welcome and 2027 Vision
12:00 Lunch
1:00-1:45 DayCent and MEMS 3.0 Updates, Model Developer Q+A with Dr. Stephen Ogle and Dr. Yao Zhang
1:45-2:15 Member Spotlights
2:30-3:30 Working Group Sessions
3:30-4:00 Member Feedback Session
4:00 Happy Hour and Networking
6:30 Dinner at Cafe Vino: 1200 South College Avenue Fort Collins, CO
Friday, October 9th Annual Symposium
Our Annual Symposium is an invite-only event exploring the state of land stewardship, along with its challenges and solutions, as we chart a path toward thriving and healthy agroecosystems.
Join scientists, investors, philanthropists, agricultural leaders, tech founders, and policymakers for a day of collaborative learning, networking, and forward-looking conversation as we explore the science, tools, and decision-support systems that set the foundation for sustainable land stewardship and a more resilient future for our working lands.
Friday Agenda
8:30 - 9:00 Coffee + Chats in the Atrium
9:00 Keynote Speaker
Tom Vilsack, Former USDA Secretary of Agriculture
The survival of small farms and current farm economics
10:00 Producer Perspectives Conversation
Roy Pfaltzgraff, Pfaltzgraff Farms
Cheyenne McEndaffer, McEndaffer Beef Genetics
Morgan Neely, Rye Resurgence Project
Zachary Thode, Lehi Ranch
Learn about the new EMDC Model Runner for DayCent and MEMS
12:00 Lunch provided, table discussions, and student poster sessions
12:50 Adaptive Grazing Panel Moderated by Dr. Greg Thoma, CSU AgNext
Dr. Justin Derner, USDA-ARS
Dr. Anna Claire Molenzun, Graze LLC, The Rangeland Living Laboratory, Cultivo
Ashley McDonald, National Grazing Lands Coalition
Dr. Paige Stanley, Colorado State University
1:50 Short Talks
GHG Emission Mitigation Policy Support for the 45z Program, Dr. Stephen Ogle, CSU
Model Development, Dr. Annette Heinemeyer, Chico State
Practices Pay: What the 45Z PTC means for Regen Ag, Brad Justice
3:00 Sustainability across the agricultural supply chain moderated by Dana Dufresne, Grassroots Carbon
Billy Gascoigne, Ducks Unlimited
Adam Hardie, Mars Pet Nutrition
Alexandre Leite, NaturAll Carbon
Susan Scow, Eileen Fisher
4:00 Emergent Solutions Discussion: Biochar, agrivoltaics, ERW
4:30 - 6:00 Happy Hour