The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) today announced the recipients of its 2026 industry awards, recognizing outstanding leadership and impact across the agricultural marketing profession. This year’s honorees are Brian Knifong, Nutrien Ag Solutions; Tom Posta, Bader Rutter; and Emily Metz, American Egg Board.
“These leaders represent the innovation, strategic thinking and commitment that continue to move agriculture forward,” said Jennifer Pickett, CEO of the National Agri-Marketing Association. “Brian, Tom and Emily are strengthening agribusiness and advancing the agri-marketing profession while inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders.”
Brian Knifong Named 2026 Agribusiness Leader of the Year
Brian Knifong, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience for Nutrien Ag Solutions, has been named NAMA’s 2026 Agribusiness Leader of the Year, the association’s most prestigious honor recognizing exceptional leadership across the private, public and academic sectors.
Knifong leads a 30-person organization supporting one of North America’s largest agricultural retail networks. Known for his people-first leadership style, he has built a culture focused on mentorship, collaboration and growth while strengthening connections across sales, agronomy, retail operations and marketing.
Over the past year, he led a restructuring of Nutrien’s retail marketing organization to improve alignment and efficiency. His field-first mindset ensures marketing strategies reflect real grower needs while positioning marketing as a strategic driver of business growth.
Throughout his career, Knifong has delivered measurable results, including overseeing the launch of 55 products at Loveland Products Inc., contributing to revenue growth exceeding $1 billion. He also actively mentors future agricultural leaders through university programs, the Windsor FFA Chapter, and organizations including AFA and RAMP.
Tom Posta Named 2026 NAMA Marketer of the Year
Tom Posta, President and COO of Bader Rutter, has been named the 2026 NAMA Marketer of the Year, the association’s highest honor for an active member. The award is sponsored by Agri Marketing magazine.
With nearly three decades at Bader Rutter and deep Wisconsin dairy roots, Posta has helped guide the nation’s largest agricultural marketing agency through significant industry change. Recently, he has led efforts to modernize the agency’s operations and innovation capabilities while maintaining its strong focus on producers and agribusiness clients.
Under his leadership, Bader Rutter has expanded into adjacent sectors such as food and beverage and pet care while investing in artificial intelligence capabilities to enhance client insights and marketing performance.
A longtime NAMA member, Posta has served the association for more than 30 years in leadership roles including conference chair and national executive committee member, helping advance the agri-marketing profession.
Emily Metz Named 2026 Ag Association Leader of the Year
Emily Metz, President and CEO of the American Egg Board, has been named the 2026 Ag Association Leader of the Year, which recognizes senior executives who demonstrate exceptional leadership through their organization or association.
Metz has transformed the American Egg Board through a modern, data-driven strategy that integrates advanced analytics, consumer insights and marketing performance. Under her leadership, the organization delivers more than $10 in industry revenue for every dollar invested on behalf of U.S. egg farmers.
She has also strengthened the industry’s ability to respond to disruption, guiding the egg sector through challenges such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) while launching the industry’s first national crisis communications program.
Metz has also driven innovation through initiatives including the Eggcelerator Lab™, the egg industry’s first innovation center, and the Anticipatory Issues Management (AIM) program, which helps the industry proactively address emerging risks.