The Southwest Ag Summit has become an example of strong partnerships within the agriculture industry. The success of the summit has always been a by product of side by side collaboration among agriculture industry leaders, university research, teaching and extension. 2011 marks the 5th year of success.

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Presenting Keynote Speakers

2012 Southwest Agriculture Summit will have pertinent information by nationally and internationally recognized speakers in the field of agriculture.

Howard G. Buffett

Howard G. Buffett grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has been active in agriculture, business, conservation, philanthropy, photography and politics. He currently spends the majority of his time managing the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, a private charitable foundation. Mr. Buffett operates a 1,400-acre family farm in central Illinois and oversees three foundation-operated research farms: 600 acres in Arizona, 2,546 acres in Illinois, and 9,200 acres in South Africa. Mr. Buffett has served in a number of public positions. He currently serves on the corporate boards of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., an investment holding company, The Coca Cola Company, Lindsay Corporation, a world-wide leader in the manufacturing of agricultural irrigation products, and Sloan Implement, a privately owned distributor of John Deere agricultural equipment. In 1997, Mr. Buffett became a member of the Commission on Presidential Debates; he received the Aztec Eagle Award from the President of Mexico in 2000, the highest honor bestowed on a foreign citizen by the Government of Mexico; and in 2002, he was recognized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture as one of the most distinguished individuals in the field of agriculture. In the process, he has authored seven books on conservation, wildlife, and the human condition. His writing has been published in periodicals including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Mike McCarty

Mike McCarty has been president and chief executive officer of Helena Chemical Company since 1996. Mr. McCarty has been chairman of Helena Industries Incorporated since February 2008. He serves as vice chairman of CropLife America Inc. Mr. McCarty is a strong supporter of the CropLife Ambassador Network program. Mr. McCarty is credited with hiring the first Midwest salesman in 1986. He won CropLife Association's Industry Vision Award. Mr. McCarty has also chaired the Stewardship Alliance Committee. He graduated from Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., in 1977 with a degree in Agricultural Economics.

Max Armstrong

Max Armstrong has been the director of broadcasting for Farm Progress since 2009. Armstrong has been an agribusiness reporter at WGN-AM 720 for over 30 years and is one of the most widely recognized and highly regarded agriculture journalists in America. In addition, Armstrong co-hosts WGN Radio's agriculture program, The Morning Show, heard Saturdays at 5a.m. in addition to his duties at Farm Progress.

Monte B. Lake

Monte B. Lake is a partner in the law firm CJ Lake, LLC in Washington, D.C. He has represented clients in the areas of employment and immigration law in Washington, D.C. for over 30 years. Mr. Lake represents agricultural organizations on federal legislative and regulatory matters. Mr. Lake has authored a number of books and articles on employment and immigration-related topics.