The fifth annual Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo wrapped up another hugely successful event this week, ensuring they will be back again next year in Des Moines.

The exhibit hall was packed this year with the latest and greatest in ag technology, including an impressive group of companies who were honored for being there all five years: AgVend, DTN, EarthDaily, Ever.Ag Agribusiness, Growers Edge, AgWorks/FieldReveal by McGregor Technologies, Midwest Laboraties, Praxidyn, Ranch Systems, Inc., Razor Tracking, SoilView, LLC, Software Solutions Integrated, Taranis, Inc., TELUS, and Waypoint Analytical.

One of the newer exhibitors this year, and the biggest on the floor, was Emergent Connex, creating wireless solutions for the ag industry. “If your entire farm isn’t covered, then your technology doesn’t work,” said CEO Mike Roudi. “We make the internet access that tech solutions require to be effective.”

Roudi says they had a very small presence last year at THL but went really big this year to highlight some of their partners at the show and tell their story and they had a very good response.
Mike Roudi, CEO, Emergent Connex (4:09)

AI was a topic that came up in nearly every session and breakout at the conference. The final general session on Tuesday, retailers weighed in on what’s working, what’s missing, and what still needs to be built when it comes to AI for agriculture. Aman Anand with Nutrien Ag Solutions is very optimistic about the three A approach that AI brings to farming. “Acquisition of data, analysis of that data, and finally creating actionable insights,” said Anand, who received the new Emerging Leader Ag Tech Excellence Award this year. “I will change farmers’ lives.”

Anand serves on the advisory board for Tech Hub LIVE and says the conference is needed for all aspects of the agtech industry. “It should be applicable to everyone,” he said. “Our goal is that everyone in the ag value chain will get benefit from it.”
2025 Ag Tech Award winner Aman Anand (6:16)

Tech Hub LIVE was pleased to have the generous sponsorship of a variety of industry partners, many of whom have provided support for many years. Scott Cogdill is currently Director of Business Development for AgWorld, which was registration sponsor this year, but Scott has been supporting Tech Hub LIVE since the beginning and helped to form the direction of the conference. “I think it’s done a really good job keeping it to what is commercially viable,” said Cogdill. “It is one of the best opportunities to truly get together as an industry.”
Scott Cogdill, AgWorld (8:08)

Thanks to all of the partners and sponsors, including: The Greater Des Moines Partnership, Agri-Access, Agri Spray Drones, Agworld, BioConnect Iowa, Ever.Ag, Solentra, Carlton Fields, EarthDaily, Faegre Drinker, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Farm4Profit, People of Ag, Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI), Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), Iowa Ag Expo.

There were over 110 exhibitors, five general sessions, 9 breakout sessions, 21 Tech Talks and 15 Fireside Chats at THL this year, plus the Women in Ag Tech pre-event conference and the post-conference Spray Drones and Ag Retail workshop. It was a busy and very successful conference for all.