Rockwell City, Iowa, strip-tiller James Hepp went from a career as a crop insurance adjuster to full-time farmer after crafting an arrangement with a retiring neighbor. The first-generation farmer is a rarity in the Hawkeye State. A self-proclaimed “underdog” in the farming world, Hepp went “all in” on no-till, strip-till and cover crops, despite limited experience and modest machinery.

The recipient of Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Leadership Award discusses what you can expect in the first few years of a strip-till system, shares on-farm data to show how conservation impacts real-world budgets and details ways to boost your ROI.

You’ll Learn: Surprising ways to make soil health pay, how to flatten your rookie learning curve & why the reallocation of resources is “low-hanging fruit” in boosting ROI.

View the full speaker agenda and topics here.

A proven & practical “think tank” for success-minded strip-tillers, planned by strip-tillers seeking the best income-expanding strategies & guidance …

• 6 thought-provoking general sessions
• 13 expert-led classrooms on specific topics
• 14 interactive farmer-to-farmer roundtables
• Meals & networking events
• Pre-conference workshop
• Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits
• 5 high-impact attendee bonuses to further build your knowledge … AND MORE!

For more information about the 2025 National Strip-Tillage Conference, to register for the event and to book your hotel room visit StripTillFarmer.com/NSTC