The Hoosier Farmer

Keynote speeches by former NFL player Dallas Clark and ag influencer Mary Pat Sass, breakout sessions on timely topics and industry tours are among the highlights of the 2026 Innovate and Grow Conference, presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ag Professionals.

The conference will be held Feb. 20-22 at the Sheraton Hotel at Keystone at the Crossing in Indianapolis.

Clark played tight end in the NFL for 11 seasons and was inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor in 2024. He created the Dallas Clark Foundation, which gives back to the community through educational scholarships, teaching students how and why to recycle, helping fund local town improvements and teaching youth about football and physical fitness.

Prior to working full-time on her husband’s family farm, Sass worked in agriculture technology but chose to make a change to focus on being a mom. She created a role for herself by sharing their family’s story as a social media influencer. Now Sass focuses on educating the public about agriculture and helping other farm women to find their own roles and recognize their contributions.

A networking event will take place on Friday evening, Saturday includes dinner and a fun night out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. In addition to educational breakout sessions, the conference has a variety of industry tours including Pizza & Painting, Four Day Ray Brewing, Smoking Goose Meatery, Beck’s Hybrids and Homestead Kitchen Basics: Canning + Sourdough.

To register for the 2026 Innovate and Grow Conference, visit www.infb.org/events.

Contact Editor

Robert Herrington

(317) 692-7871

RHerrington@infb.org