On October 26th-27th, Maureen will emcee the ninth annual Food. Ag. Ideas (FAI)—a premier event where food, health, and innovation converge. Through experiential tours, fireside chats, panels, immersive experiences, and high-impact networking, FAI spotlights the future of food, nutrition, and wellness.

This year's theme, The Minnesota Model: Building a Living Economy from the Ground Up, explores how Minnesota's century of cooperative economics, land stewardship, and connected layers of food system infrastructure has built something durable—and what the rest of the country can learn from it.

FAI 2026 kicks off on Monday, October 26, with an optional (add-on) behind-the-scenes tour of the Minnesota State Fair, offering attendees an exclusive look at one of the state's most iconic agricultural institutions.​

The main conference takes place on Tuesday, October 27, at Machine Shop, where you'll experience a full day of thought-provoking keynotes, panels, networking, and interactive programming centered around this year's theme, The Minnesota Model. The day concludes with a joint networking happy hour at Mill City Museum, bringing together attendees from both Food. Ag. Ideas. and the Reuters Transform Food Conference for an evening of conversation, connection, and collaboration.

With top speakers from major brands, agriculture, and startups, FAI 2026 is a must-attend event for anyone shaping what we eat and how we live. Together, we took steps toward building a healthier, more sustainable future.​​​