UW-River Falls Hosts 14th Rod Nilsestuen Legacy Event

By Blake Jackson

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will host the 14th annual Rod Nilsestuen Legacy Event on October 14 from 2-3 p.m. in the Kinnickinnic River Theater at the University Center, 501 Wild Rose Ave., River Falls.

This year’s featured speaker is Wyatt Thompson, professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Missouri-Columbia, presenting a lecture titled “Can the Midwest Compete? Agriculture, Trade Wars, and Global Markets.”

Thompson will explore how international trade tensions, tariffs, and changing global dynamics influence agricultural markets in the Midwest. Thompson talk will focus on the broader economic impacts on key commodities such as grain and livestock and how global events shape long-term opportunities for U.S. farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities.

Thompson is widely recognized for his expertise in agricultural markets, biofuel policy, and international trade. Since joining the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri in 2006, he has contributed to major research initiatives examining global competitiveness and agricultural policy.

Thompson previous experience includes work with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris and Japan’s Policy Research Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Thompson also spent a sabbatical year at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Economist.

Thompson earned his B.S. and M.S. in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri. His research focuses on biofuel markets, land use, and the effects of trade policy and climate-related risks on agriculture.

The Rod Nilsestuen Legacy Event honors Rod Nilsestuen, a UW-River Falls alumnus and former Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, who passed away in 2010.

Known for his leadership in cooperatives and dedication to sustainable agriculture, farmland preservation, and rural development, Nilsestuen’s legacy continues through the Rod Nilsestuen Fund supported by family, friends, and cooperative organizations under the Ralph K. Morris Foundation.

Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic