‘Thrive through every Season’: The 2026 Southern Agronomy Summit in Nashville is well attended
Mar 02, 2026
Story and photos by Page Haynes
The 2026 Southern Agronomy Summit drew a strong turnout January 12–14 in Nashville, as approximately 250 growers and 600 retailers and vendors gathered for the fifth annual event hosted by GreenPoint Ag. Attendees were provided with insights from industry experts, details about emerging technologies and practices shaping the future of farming, and new opportunities for growth and innovation.
Held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, the summit featured a full slate of educational sessions, panels, and networking opportunities. From successful farmers sharing real-world experiences to agronomy and academic leaders leading breakout sessions, the second floor of the hotel buzzed with agriculturalists exchanging ideas and building connections.
The theme of the event, “Thrive Through Every Season,” was emphasized in opening remarks by GreenPoint Ag President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Blair. He distinguished between simply surviving challenges and truly thriving, describing survival as a short-term, defensive mindset and thriving as a proactive approach focused on opportunity, planning, and growth.
“In these tough times, I’ve heard some say, ‘Hey, we’ve just got to survive this thing,’ but the goal is to thrive,” said Blair. “It’s the ability to look past what is happening in the immediate moment and find the opportunity that the storm is going to create. It’s proactive. It allows you to look up and do a little bit of planning and see the opportunities that the challenges present. Our goal is to help you think about thriving. It’s more of a mindset than anything. In fact, it’s a state of being.”
Keynote speaker and best-selling author Damon West reinforced that message with a powerful and personal presentation centered on his “coffee bean” metaphor. West, a former inmate who served seven years in a Texas maximum-security prison, shared how a mentor taught him that just as a coffee bean transforms boiling water rather than being destroyed by it, individuals can choose to change their circumstances rather than be defined by them.
“Maintaining internal power and a positive mindset allows you to thrive rather than merely survive adversity,” West told the audience. He outlined three rules for becoming a coffee bean: maintaining positive body language and energy; working on oneself spiritually, mentally, and physically; and practicing servant leadership. “Help other people reach their goals in life. When we help people grow, we grow.”
West also emphasized that past mistakes should be viewed as lessons rather than definitions and encouraged persistence through rejection and hardship.
Following the keynote address, an onstage grower panel featured farmers and agricultural leaders who shared practical insights on managing operations and identifying opportunities for growth. Panelists discussed the strategies they are using to strengthen their businesses and fielded questions from the audience, offering perspectives shaped by their own agricultural journeys.
Attendees were also able to choose from numerous breakout sessions covering a wide range of timely topics. Among the most popular were sessions on family farm succession planning, mental health awareness, government affairs updates, and soybean considerations during down markets.
Kelly Russell of Auburn University led the farm succession planning session, encouraging producers without a plan in place to seek guidance early, communicate openly with family members, and work with financial and legal professionals. Russell also noted that land trust programs can be a useful tool in preserving farm operations.
“Look for someone who can share their story and give advice to you – like a peer mentor,” Russell said. “Just connect with people and network. Like you, we want those family farms to stay in business. They are the fabric of our rural communities. Helping steward those farms to the next generation — whether that’s with a family member or with a different successor — is a risk management piece for both the farm and the farming industry as a whole.”
Mental health was another key focus of the summit. Jolie Foreman, accompanied by her father-in-law, Brent Foreman, addressed suicide prevention and the emotional toll farming can take on individuals and families. Brent Foreman shared his personal experience of losing three family members to suicide, while Jolie Foreman discussed warning signs to watch for and how to approach conversations with those who may be struggling. She emphasized the importance of using resources such as the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline.
To support suicide prevention efforts, GreenPoint Ag presented a $10,000 donation to Foreman’s nonprofit organization, Shelby County Cares, following the session.
Toward the end of the program, fourth-generation farmer Ryan Jenkins of Jay, Florida, encouraged attendees to become advocates for agriculture by sharing their stories and educating the public.
“There are several ways you can ‘be the voice,’” Jenkins said, offering examples of agriculture-related facts that resonate with non-farm audiences. “It’s simple; have fun and get others interested. Be proud of what you do! Agriculture is one of the oldest occupations in the world, and one of the most important.”
“Be creative, tell your story,” Jenkins added. “Put what you do on Facebook. Talk about what you do with others. Get active in your community. And people will want to hear it.”
GreenPoint Ag is a farmer-owned joint venture formed in 2020 and is primarily owned by Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, and WinField United, along with Tipton Farmers Cooperative, Farmers, Inc., and Tri-County Farmers Association. The company is headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, and serves as a major agricultural input supplier across the Southern United States.
The next Southern Agronomy Summit is scheduled for January 12-14, 2027, in Montgomery, Alabama.