Date: July 23, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM ET (11:00 AM CT)
Location: Zoom
Webinar Topic: Working Lands, Working Solutions: Farmer-Led Conservation
Webinar Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 12-1:00pm ET
Guest Speaker(s): Bryan Gilvesy, ALUS; Jennifer English, City of Defiance; Ryan Sanders, Ohio Farmer; Scott Singer, Singer Farms
Moderator: Lora Shrake, Council of the Great Lakes Region
Farmers are on the front lines of both food production and environmental stewardship—and in communities across the Great Lakes region, they’re proving that the two go hand in hand.
Join us for a conversation featuring farmers in Defiance, Ohio who are participating in the ALUS program, a farmer-led initiative advancing practical, nature-based solutions. Located in the Maumee River watershed, these efforts play an important role in advancing water stewardship and improving the lands and waters surrounding the Great Lakes.
Using the ALUS model, producers are enhancing soil health, improving water quality, and restoring natural habitat—all while maintaining productive operations.
In this webinar, local partners and participating farmers will share insights into why ALUS is not only the right decision for their community, but also the right decision for their farming business —from diversifying revenue and strengthening land resilience to reducing risk. They’ll also discuss how these practices contribute to long-term sustainability for their farms and their communities. They will also reflect on the importance of locally led, collaborative approaches to addressing shared challenges across the region.
This session is designed for a broad audience—including farmers, businesses, policymakers, and sustainability leaders—interested in how investing in natural assets and community-based solutions can drive both environmental impact and economic performance across the Great Lakes region.
Attendees will gain:
- Real-world perspectives from farmers delivering ecosystem services
- Examples of nature-based solutions that deliver measurable local impact
- A deeper understanding of how working lands contribute to regional water stewardship and resilience
- Examples of how nature-based solutions generate shared value for agriculture, business, and communities
- Perspectives on how cross-sector collaboration can help protect the Great Lakes while supporting economic growth
SPEAKERS:
Bryan Gilvesy | Chief Strategy Officer | ALUS
As Chief Strategy Officer, Bryan Gilvesy continues to support ALUS’ mission and growth. CEO of ALUS from 2016 to 2025, Bryan Gilvesy was the third participant to join the ALUS program and has been raising grass-fed beef with ALUS’ support since 2006. Bryan is a champion for progressive, sustainable farming and ranching, having embraced these methods on his own farm, Y U Ranch. The Y U Ranch has received numerous awards for its contributions to the environment and sustainability, including: (2016) Beef Farmers of Ontario, Environmental Stewardship Award; (2013) Premier’s Leadership Award for Agricultural Innovation; and (2009) International Texas Longhorn Breeder of the Year. Bryan holds a degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University, where he is Executive in Residence for Agriculture and Sustainability. Bryan is based in Tillsonburg, Ontario.
Jennifer English| MS4 Coordinator | City of Defiance
As MS4 Coordinator for Defiance, Jennifer leads the Land to Lake Initiative — a locally driven effort advancing environmental compliance and community resilience across the Maumee River Watershed. She is working to grow ALUS Defiance, a project that will further source water protection efforts by connecting nature-based solutions and long-term stewardship on working lands across Northwest Ohio. With a background in Sustainable Systems, Jennifer brings over a decade of experience securing funding and implementing conservation projects spanning wetland and riparian restoration, green infrastructure and urban forestry. She serves on the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) Partnership Leadership Team and holds advisory roles across a number of regional organizations promoting natural resources. Her work bridges municipal, agricultural, and conservation interests — driven by a commitment to collaborative, service-oriented leadership and practical solutions for the region’s land and water.
Ryan Sanders | Farmer
Ryan Sanders is a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA), Technical Sales Manager with ICL Growing Solutions, and co-owner of Grains and Greens Inc., a family farming operation in northwest Ohio. Alongside his wife and two sons, Ryan helps manage the farm, which produces corn, soybeans, and wheat while embracing practices that support long-term soil health and farm sustainability. Drawing on both his agronomic expertise and hands-on farming experience, Ryan brings a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing modern agriculture. In his professional role, he works with growers and industry partners to implement innovative crop nutrition and agronomic solutions that enhance productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship. A graduate of Michigan State University and participant in the Indiana Agri-Institute, Ryan is passionate about advancing agriculture through science, technology, and practical on-farm application. Whether working with customers, managing the family farm, or supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders, he is committed to helping agriculture remain resilient, productive, and sustainable for years to come. Ryan and his family reside in northeast Indiana, where they are actively involved in their community and enjoy working together to grow both crops and opportunities for future generations.
Scott Singer | Singer Farms
Scott Singer is a farmer in Defiance County. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management and Wildlife Management from The Ohio State University. He spent 13 years as a private land’s wildlife biologist for the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service helping farmers and landowners create and maintain wildlife habitat and conservation practices in Northeast Pennsylvania. Currently, his focus is on the family farm where they grow soybeans, cereal rye, switchgrass, and few longhorn cattle. They have been no-till since the 1980’s and have planted cover crops for the past 13 years. Other conservation practices include drainage water management, wetland restoration, buffer strips, pollinator habitat, warm season grass prairie, and two newly installed self-forming ditches. Conservation is at the forefront of his farm decisions.
MODERATOR
Lora Shrake | Chief Operating Officer | Council of the Great Lakes Region
Lora Shrake serves as the Chief Operating Officer with the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR). Since joining CGLR, she has focused on growing the Council’s network and connecting business leaders and regional stakeholders on sustainability issues through CGLR’s programs that support the advancement of cross-sector solutions. She facilitates CGLR’s monthly business and sustainability webinar series, providing a platform for knowledge sharing and amplifying regional best practices.
