Michael Nestor, CCA is a Regenerative Ag Agronomist, husband, father, grandparent, systems innovator, and small business owner. He is a certified crop advisor and a soil food web graduate. His company, Sterling Valley Agronomy LLC operates across multiple states and is growing. He enjoys learning about operations and helping create systems that help to adopt a regenerative process for your farm.
Colby is a 5th-generation farmer on my dad's side and a 6th on my mom's. His wife and 3 sons farm with his parents. Their operation consists of roughly 4,000 dryland acres. The rotation consists of wheat and milo, as well as cover crops. The operation is just east of Dodge City, Kansas. They have been no-till for 25 years, but figured out that alone is not enough. Over the past 10 years, they have used manure, ag lime, and compost. Going through the last drought, they decided there had to be a better way. This is the 4th year of almost fully eliminating synthetic fertilizer on all acres.
Liz is a soil and ecosystem scientist with experience in soil testing and analyses, carbon and conservation practice modeling, and is the co-developer of the Haney soil health test. Liz’s purpose, drive and passion are helping to improve producer profitability, environmental sustainability, and human health through regenerative practices and soil health. Throughout her career she has developed an expansive network of scientists, thought leaders, consultants, farmers and ranchers within the sustainable agriculture space.
Shaffer Ridgeway is a conservationist with the USDA who has dedicated his career to helping farmers care for their land and build healthy, sustainable operations. A native of Alabama, he grew up on a small cow/calf operation owned by his father and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from Alabama A&M University.
