Agricultural producers across Oklahoma will once again have the opportunity to gather, learn, and connect this summer as the Oklahoma Conservation Commission prepares for the fourth annual Crossroads Conference, returning to Enid after a year on the road.
Associate Farm Reporter Carli Davenport recently spoke with Meg Greski of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission about the event, which Greski said is designed to serve a wide range of agricultural producers through targeted educational tracks and producer-led conversations. “The Crossroads Conference will be in Enid at Autry Technology Center on July 22,” Greski said. “It’s a one-day event, and it is the fourth time that we have put on a Crossroads branded event in July.”
After taking the conference on the road in 2025 with a statewide bus tour, organizers are bringing the event back to its original setting. “So, the first two years we had this conference in Enid at Autry Tech, and then last year we took it on the road, and we had a bus tour around Oklahoma,” Greski explained. “So, this year we are back at Autry Tech.”
Three Educational Tracks for Different Types of Producers
The conference is designed to serve different types of agricultural producers. Greski said organizers have intentionally built the conference around three educational tracks to appeal to a broad audience. “We have three tracks at this conference, because we want it to appeal to ranchers, to crop producers, and also urban and small acreage agricultural producers,” Greski said. “So, those are our three tracks.”
The ranching track will feature Kit Pharo of Pharaoh Cattle Company, whose work in low-input cattle systems has attracted attention nationally and internationally. “Heading up the ranch track will be Kit Pharo from Colorado, the owner of Pharaoh Cattle Company, and he is known across the U.S. and around the world for low input grass-based genetics and for having an alternative approach to the cattle industry,” Greski said.
Urban and small-scale growers will hear from Shaffer Ridgeway of Southern Goods, who Greski described as an experienced vegetable producer. “We have on the urban and small farm track Shaffer Ridgeway from Southern Goods,” Greski said. “He is from the Midwest, and he is a large-scale vegetable grower, so he will be leading our urban growing track.”
For crop producers, Brett Peshek of Fusion Ag will guide discussions focused on production systems and seed expertise. “We have also Brett Peshek from Fusion Ag, and he is out of Mountain View, Oklahoma,” Greski said. “He will be heading the crop production track, and Brett has a lot of experience in growing annual plants, whether it’s forages or grain crops, and he also runs a seed-producing business.”
Producer Panels Bring Real-World Perspectives
In addition to keynote speakers and educational sessions, Greski said the conference will again include producer panels — a feature that has become especially popular with attendees. “We are also going to have farmer and rancher producer panels at the end of the conference,” Greski said. “That’s been a very popular session in the past, so we wanted to make sure that we brought that back again this year.”
The goal, she said, is to create an environment where producers can learn directly from one another and exchange practical experiences. “So that real farmers and ranchers around Oklahoma can share their experiences with one another,” Greski added.
Registration Open as Organizers Expect Strong Turnout
With past events reaching capacity, Greski encouraged attendees not to delay registration. “The registration is open now, and the deadline to register will be a couple of days before the conference,” Greski said. “You probably don’t want to wait any longer than Sunday, July 19, to get registered, because we need to have a meal count.”
Although organizers may still accommodate walk-in attendees if plans change, Greski warned against assuming there will be room available. “If your plans change, I think that we will be able to still take people at the door, but don’t take the chance of it selling out,” she said. “It has sold out the last couple years.”
Greski also noted that sponsorship opportunities remain available for businesses and organizations interested in participating in the conference through trade show booths and event support.
“Registration is open now, and we are also interested in finding sponsors for the conference,” Greski said. “If you would like to sponsor and set up a trade show booth and attend as a sponsor, you can also look at those details on the Eventbrite website.”
