2026 MTGA Summer Summit Registration

Wednesday 6/24 

5:00 – 8:00 – Social hour at Carlos Creek 

Thursday 6/25 

8:00-11:00 Registration 

8:00-9:00 MTGA and MTPRC Committee Meetings 

9:15-10:00 Interactive Learning - Varv Semenova, DVM, DACVP, Veterinary Pathologist and Poultry Diagnostician – University of Minnesota 

• Join us for an interactive, case-based session with the University of Minnesota’s newest poultry pathologist, built to sharpen how you evaluate real-world flock health challenges.  Expect practical takeaways and a rare opportunity to work directly through turkey diagnostic cases with the industry’s newest diagnostic expert. 

10:00:11:00 Networking with Vendors, fellow Growers, and U of M Researchers 

• Poultry Research Contest (NEW) 

Introducing a brand-new Summit feature: the University of Minnesota Research Poster Contest! This interactive session is a fresh way to learn about new and ongoing U of M poultry research—straight from the researchers themselves. Attendees will have time to visit posters, ask questions, and hear how each project connects to real-world turkey production. Then, you’ll receive voting tokens to support the project you believe will deliver the greatest benefit to Minnesota’s turkey industry. Best of all, the winning prize is shared by both the researcher and the participating attendees.  

11:00-11:45 Interactive Learning – Donna Moenning and Roxie Beck – Look East 

Join us for an interactive learning session with Look East, Minnesota Turkey’s consumer research partner, focused specifically on turkey and turkey products. Expect real data, practical insights, and discussion that better positions Minnesota turkey with the consumers we rely on. 

12:00-12:30 Lunch  

12:30-1:30 Keynote Speaker – Jason DeRusha  

1:30 -2:00 MTGA and MTRPC Annual Meetings 

2:00-2:30 Networking with Vendors, fellow Growers, and Poultry Researchers 

• Poultry Research Contest (NEW) 

2:30-4:30 Turkey 101   

• 2:30-3:15 – Farm Management and Input Information and Strategies 

• 3:15-4:00 – Dr. Natalie Urie – Barnwell Bio 

• Could Biosurveillance predict HPAI or aMPV in poultry?  

• 4:00 – 4:30 – aMPV Happy Hour Headstart (NEW) 

•  Grab a drink, connect with fellow growers, and help continue an important industry conversation before the evening networking activities begin with the BVS Social Hour. (This session is closed to the media to encourage open conversation among participants.) 

5:00-9:00 BVS Social Hour! 

6:00-7:00 Turkey Taste off  

6:00-Dark Turkey Toss Corn Hole Tournament  

Friday 6/26 

7:00 – 9:00 MTGA and MTRPC Board Meetings 

8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast Briefing  

9:00-9:45 State Legislative Update and NTF Update 

9:45 - 10:00 Networking with Vendors and Growers  

10:00 to 12:30 – Closing Session and Awards Lunch (NEW)   

Join us for an exciting new Friday addition to the MTGA Summer Summit: a high-profile, high-impact, high-energy keynote speaker to round out your Summit experience. We’re freshening up Friday with more energy, more inspiration, and a program that will make you want to stay in your seats until the very end! Expect timely insights, a few laughs, and the kind of perspective that sticks with you long after you head home. You’ll leave feeling proud, motivated, and reminded why it matters to be part of Minnesota’s turkey industry. This speaker will be announced at a later date!