For Indiana’s corn and soybean producers, the horizon of agriculture extends far beyond the edges of the family farm. Every bushel hauled to the elevator, every gallon of high-blend biofuel pumped at the station, and every megawatt drawing power from the state’s electrical grid is directly tied to decisions made in boardrooms, statehouses, and Washington, D.C.
To bridge the gap between the field and the policy arena, the Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership and Policy Committee (M&P) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) are issuing a strong call to action for farmers across the state: Get involved, make your voice heard, and attend the upcoming Indiana Ag Policy Summit.
The annual event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Commons in downtown Columbus, Indiana. Registration is free for guests and includes lunch.
A Heavy-Hitting Agenda Focused on Energy and Biofuels
This year’s summit zeroes in on a critical theme: Energy and Biofuels. As expanding economic development, advanced manufacturing, and a surge in data centers strain Indiana’s electrical grid, the dialogue around power generation and utility regulation directly impacts rural communities.
“Often times as farmers, our thought can end when we deliver that load of corn to the ethanol plant and drive back home,” said ICGA President Alan Dunn, a corn and soybean grower from Michigantown, Ind. “But that’s where the process just starts. We want to give the opportunity and encourage our grower members to educate themselves on—issues that face our partners on the biofuels side, because if they have difficulty, that difficulty flows down to us as the grower of their primary input.”
The day’s program features an impressive lineup of state and national leaders:
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Opening Remarks: U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Dist. 6) will address attendees on national biofuel perspectives from Congress.
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Regulatory Insights: ICGA CEO Courtney Kingery will moderate a fireside chat with Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski and Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Bob Deig.
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State Policy Panels: State Sen. Gary Byrne and State Rep. Kendell Culp will lead discussions on state-level energy and agricultural policies alongside industry experts.
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USDA Update: Dr. Scott Hutchins, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, will provide key federal updates.
- Master of Ceremonies: Hoosier Ag Today’s Eric Pfeiffer will serve as emcee for this event.
The Power of Grassroots Advocacy
While panels and keynote speakers provide invaluable insights, the core mission of the summit is to empower grassroots agricultural advocacy. Shaping policy in Indianapolis and Washington doesn’t happen by accident—it requires a unified, active membership base.
ICGA and M&P rely heavily on membership dollars and active producer engagement to lobby for critical legislative victories, such as pushing for year-round E15 sales and establishing state-level tax credits and retail incentives for higher biofuel blends.
“One of the goals of as an organization is to first encourage our farmers to be aware of the challenges that our industry partners face, but then also to have the confidence with that knowledge to become involved and attempt to influence policy,” Dunn emphasized.
M&P Chair David Hardin, a farmer from Avon, Ind., echoes that sentiment, noting that the summit serves as a vital networking hub for agricultural stakeholders to unite. “Whether you join as a farmer, an industry partner or policymaker—please join us and bring your unique perspective to the conversations taking place in the room,” Hardin said.
Kick the Tires and Get Involved
Even for producers who are not yet card-carrying members of ICGA or ISA, Dunn stresses that the summit is an open invitation to “kick the tires” and see firsthand what organizational advocacy accomplishes for Indiana agriculture.
“We represent all of Indiana’s corn growers, members or not, and we would encourage those non-member growers to attend the meeting,” Dunn said. “There is strength in numbers, and it does increase the efficacy of our efforts when we have a larger membership base.”
Event Details:
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What: Indiana Ag Policy Summit
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When: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 (Registration at 8 a.m., program begins at 8:30 a.m.)
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Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus, Ind.
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Cost: Free (Includes lunch).
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Registration: Visit bit.ly/26IndianaAgPolicySummit.
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