Brad Birch and Jamie Birch, agronomists and owners of MT Ag, will be sharing, “Fertilizers in the Soil” at the Montana’s Next Generation Conference January 31, 2026 in Shelby.
If you’ve every wondered why to fertilize, where to start, what to use, what do all the terms mean, how do I make the right decisions for my farm, this is the class for you! Extra bonus, it’s worth a pesticide point as well!
Read more about Jamie and Brad’s operation at https://agupdate.com/…/article_d1d0ca8c-ad95-11ee-a72f… that provides an overview of their Conrad, MT fertilizer plant. The article noted, “Jamie grew up on a farm near Chester, Mont., and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in plant sciences. Brad grew up around agriculture, too, but in a different way. His dad was an ag researcher at Washington State University, and he went to the same university, graduating with a degree in agronomy.
They both worked for other fertilizer and agronomy companies for many years. Brad has had 30 years of experience working for a fertilizer company, while Jamie has had about 20 years of experience.”
Korey and Wendy Fauque of KW Insurance, Inc. are incredible supporters of the conference, again sponsoring at the Diamond level! In addition, Korey will be sharing two workshops with producers at the Next Generation Conference January 31 in Shelby.
The first workshop will be, “Farming, Ranching, Ag Retail and Insurance – Lessons learned 20 years into building our business.” Korey and Wendy built several businesses from the ground up and made plenty of mistakes along the way. Korey will revisit their journey and the lessons they learned, from tax planning, life choices, business structures and taking time to enjoy the ride.
Korey and Wendy Fauque started KW Insurance in 2003 and also operate a farm and ranch together. Over the years they also ran an agronomy and chemical sales business, sold GPS equipment, rented construction equipment, started a meat market and DJ’d dances. They have insurance offices in Shelby and Sunburst with 7 agents focusing on crop, home and auto insurance.
Leoma Donsbach – Founder, Data Genie LLC Leoma Donsbach is the founder of Data Genie LLC, where she helps beef producers, breed associations, and industry organizations leverage genetics, genomics, and data management to make more informed breeding and management decisions. Her passion lies in translating complex genetic information into practical, easy to implement strategies that improve profitability and accelerate genetic progress.
A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Leoma has spent nearly two decades working in beef cattle genetics and data management. She began her career with the American Simmental Association, where she worked extensively in DNA services and total herd reporting before joining NEOGEN as a Strategic Account Manager. There, she partnered with numerous breed associations and organizations to develop research initiatives and implement genomic testing programs that strengthened genetic evaluations across the beef industry.
Today, through Data Genie LLC and collaborations with organizations such as Allied Genetic Resources, Leoma works with seedstock and commercial producers across the country on genomic testing, parentage, precision mating, data collection, and genetic evaluation. She is recognized for making complex topics understandable and helping producers confidently apply genomic technology in their ranching operations.
Leoma and her husband, Kirk, ranch in Roy, Montana, where they raise commercial cattle and remain actively involved in the day-to-day challenges and opportunities of the beef industry. Whether speaking at industry events or working directly with producers, her goal is simple: to help cattlemen and women turn data into better decisions. She believes that every operation, regardless of herd size, breed, or production environment can benefit from investing in practical, data driven solutions that make economic sense.
More speaker bios coming soon!
Montana's Next Generation Conference 