FARMCON 2026 once again proved why this event has become a must-attend for people shaping the future of agriculture. Hosted by the Van Trump family, FARMCON isn’t just a conference. It’s a collision of business strategy, culture, and real-world farm experience. It’s where hard conversations happen, bold ideas surface, and the ag industry takes a hard look at where it’s headed next. 

With farmers, founders, executives, and innovators all in one room, the energy was high, and the takeaways were clear. Below are some of the biggest themes we walked away with. These ideas challenge how we lead, how we tell our story, and how we show up every day in agriculture. 

1. Authenticity Always Wins 

One of the strongest messages from the week came from Erika Ayers Badan, CEO of Food52, and it was refreshingly simple: authenticity isn’t optional. It’s everything. 

If you’re not who you say you are, or not what you appear to be, people eventually notice. And when they do, trust erodes fast. Erika laid out a few principles that hit home for a lot of us: 

• Love your customers genuinely. 

• Super-serve them and their teams on their timeline and in the places they live. 

• Be spontaneous and consistent. 

• Stop pretending to be perfect. 

• Don’t apologize for what you’re not. 

• Build for who you actually are, not who you think you should be. 

The bottom line? Authenticity has to be 24/7. In a world where people are constantly marketed to, the brands and leaders who win are the ones who show up real, human, and honest every single time. 

2. Building and Scaling Businesses in Agriculture 

One of the most meaningful moments of FARMCON came during the Building and Scaling Businesses in Agriculture panel. 

Jordan Van Trump, founder of AgSwag, shared a reflection that resonated deeply. What he has built isn’t just a swag company. It is a business centered on celebrating the American farmer. Just as importantly, it is something he built with his family. That reminder that success does not have to come at the expense of values or relationships landed hard. 

The conversation naturally expanded into the importance of culture and core values. Barrett Ersek shared a candid moment from his own leadership journey, explaining that just 14 months ago, his leadership team could not clearly articulate the company’s core values. That realization forced a reset, and that is okay. What matters is not ignoring the problem. By facing it head-on, realignment happened, and today those values are actively lived out, not just written down. 

Check out this 14-minute video by Holganix CEO Barrett Ersek on flow, leadership, and building a values-driven culture. Reading this blog via email, click here for the video link. 

Cam Camfield, CEO of Stratovation Group, added another powerful layer to the discussion by making the case that farmers need to do more to market themselves and tell their story. He emphasized the hard, heroic work that often goes unseen. Barrett built on this by sharing his “Bloody Billionaire” story, illustrating that people outside of agriculture are craving authentic farmer stories. They want something real, not polished perfection. 

Culture, values, and storytelling were not side topics this year. They were front and center. 

3. The Farmer Is the Hero

This theme kept surfacing across sessions and conversations: the farmer is the hero. 

It’s something we talk about often, but FARMCON 2026 reinforced how important it is and how aligned the industry is becoming around this idea. Any opportunity to put farmers in front of people and let them tell their story should be taken. 

That doesn’t mean farmers have to do it alone. Ag companies play a critical role as connection points by helping amplify those stories, creating platforms, and serving as bridges between farmers and audiences who need to hear what agriculture is really about. Whether through video, social content, events, or partnerships, telling the farmer’s story authentically matters more than ever. 

Conclusion: Be Real. Build with Purpose. Tell the Story. 

If FARMCON 2026 made one thing clear, it’s that success in agriculture today goes beyond yields, technology, or scale. Authenticity, culture, values, and storytelling are no longer optional; they are essential. 

The ag industry doesn’t need to pretend to be something it’s not. The real stories, real people, and real work happening every day on farms across the country are powerful enough on their own. When we lead with honesty and put farmers at the center, people listen. 

And that’s where real impact begins.