Polk Soil and water conservation district

Dr. Toby Adjuik is a Research Scientist in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University with expertise in soil science, agroecological modeling, and sustainable agriculture. He holds a Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Kentucky, where he developed lignin-based hydrogels for soil water retention and microbial immobilization. His research blends lab and field experimentation, environmental modeling, and machine learning to address greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient cycling, and soil health in bioenergy and regenerative cropping systems. Dr. Adjuik has authored over a dozen peer-reviewed publications and has mentored students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He actively contributes to the scientific community through professional service, including roles as a journal reviewer and guest editor. With a strong foundation in digital agriculture and bioproducts, he is committed to developing data-driven and nature-based solutions for resilient agroecosystem.

Hillary Olson was raised on a family grain and farrow-to-finish hog farm in Central Iowa. She received a BS in Animal Science and an MS in Soil Science at Iowa State University. She has worked for Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) as a Soil Conservationist in various field offices across the state of Iowa. She and her husband farm in Central Iowa. She has been in the State Soil Health Specialist role for Iowa NRCS since 2020.

Jim Ristau brings decades of experience as a biologist, conservationist, and regenerative agriculture advocate to his role as Crop Advisor and Education Specialist with ElevateAg. A South Dakota native with a deep-rooted background in habitat management, soil biology, and agricultural education, Jim has served in key roles with Pheasants Forever, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, and the South Dakota Corn Growers Association. His career has focused on empowering farmers with practical tools and knowledge to enhance soil functionality, crop health, and long-term land stewardship. At ElevateAg, Jim supports producers at every stage of their regenerative journey by teaching the strategic use of biological amendments that revitalize soil and reduce input dependency. A husband and father of five, Jim finds joy in hunting, fishing, composting, and malting grain—and sees his work as a calling to fulfill a greater purpose: “God instructs us to be stewards of His garden. At ElevateAg, we strive to help producers do just that.”

Kelly Garrett is a sixth-generation Iowa farmer and nationally recognized leader in regenerative agriculture. Operating 7,000 acres of no-till corn, soybeans, and winter wheat in western Iowa, Garrett has earned top honors from the National Corn Growers Association and was named Field to Market’s 2022 Farmer of the Year. As a pioneer in carbon markets, Kelly was the first farmer in the U.S. to sell carbon credits to a corporate buyer. His operation integrates cover crops, drip irrigation, precision nutrient management, and upcycled organic byproducts to reduce synthetic inputs, enhance water quality, and build soil health. Through Garrett Land & Cattle and as co-founder of XtremeAg, Kelly advances a vision of agriculture rooted in innovation, sustainability, and profitability. His latest initiative—the XtremeAg Soil Health Initiative—continues his commitment to helping farmers across the country improve their ROI through biologically driven systems. “There are many environmental benefits from the sustainable practices that we do, and it all relates back to carbon. The more carbon I put into the soil, the healthier my microbial system becomes, the more plant available nutrition I have, and the better my yields are.”

Steve Shivvers, co-founder of Midwest Soil Restore along with Kari Noble, combines an engineering mind with a farmer’s heart to advance the regenerative agriculture movement across the Midwest. A southern Iowa native and Northwestern University-graduate mechanical engineer, Steve spent decades leading Shivvers Manufacturing as Chief Engineer and CEO before turning his focus to restoring soil health. His experience as an organic sweet corn grower and his passion for open-source, biologically driven soil solutions now fuel his work promoting technologies that reestablish vital microbial-plant partnerships. Through practices like multi-species cover cropping and the use of fungal-rich Johnson-Su compost inoculants, Steve helps producers reduce input costs, increase resilience, and unlock the full potential of living soils.