The 41st National Sunflower Association Summer Seminar took place on June 24-26 in Bismarck, N.D. These photos feature some of the speakers and social events at this year’s gathering. Attendees included growers, industry representatives, university personnel and spouses. The 2026 NSA Summer Seminar is scheduled for June 23-25 in Deadwood, S.D.
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Steve Kent (at left) was this year’s recipient of the NSA Gold Award, presented to an individual who has contributed extraordinarily to the sunflower industry. He is shown here with his wife, Nancy, and Jane and Gary Fick. Fick, who delivered a testimonial affirming Kent’s many contributions, is a widely known, longtime sunflower breeder and former business colleague of Kent.
A North Dakota State University graduate, Kent first joined SIGCO Research in its production department, initiating a 40-year seed industry career. He held sales and management posts with SIGCO Research/Agrigenetics/Mycogen Seeds during the first half of that career. He was hired as president of Seeds 2000, Breckenridge, Minn., in 1999, a post he held until the company was sold to Nuseed in 2012. He remained as an advisor until retiring in 2018.
Kent’s service to the NSA included various fundraising activities, serving as chairman of the NSA Research Committee, and being on the selection committee for the annual Curt Stern Memorial Scholarship. |
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Participants in the NSA Summer Seminar’s popular Young Farmer Panel included, left to right: Travis Iglehart of Garrison, N.D., Joe Ridl from Dickinson, N.D., Clint Coleman from Baldwin, N.D., and Bo Beer of Keldron, S.D.
The four fielded a variety of questions pertaining to their farming operations and sunflower production and marketing specifically. They agreed that kochia is their leading weed issue in sunflower fields (all are no-till producers). When marketing, freight is a big consideration, given their typical distance from buyers. Also, ‘Act of God’ clauses are very important when committing to sunflower acreage.
All four consider sunflower to be a key component in their standard rotation, emphasizing that it is often the most profitable crop grown on their farms. |
| The annual Curt Stern Memorial Scholarship fundraiser once again raised several thousand dollars to aid graduate students pursuing research on important sunflower topics. Nearly $61,000 has been raised since its initiation in 2007 (See this issue’s “Sunflower Briefs” for more on this year’s recipient, Senta Kyzer.) |
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Dr. Frayne Olson, crop economist/marketing specialist with North Dakota State University, provided the Summer Seminar audience with an overview of the 2025 crop market and trade outlook.
Olson discussed the status of trade negotiations, impacts of war (i.e., Ukraine and Gaza), plantings and production levels of major U.S. crops (including sunflower) and other key factors impacting current markets and price outlooks across the spectrum. His commentary also included a comparison of recent years’ trends of sunflower oil, canola and canola futures prices. |
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Sara Otte Coleman, director of the North Dakota Tourism Division, updated Summer Seminar attendees on the department’s work to promote AgriTourism across the state, including locations and activities relating specifically to sunflower. She highlighted the “Sunflower Trail” of field locations, strong media response to programs such as the “Sunflower Map Digital Campaign” and the “National Sunflower Day,” which occurs in early August.
“AgriTourism” is the joining of agriculture and tourism for guests to visit a farm, ranch, winery, corn maze and more for outdoor activities, education, shopping and dining. |
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