Idaho's technology community came together to explore one of the most consequential intersections in the state's history — artificial intelligence and agriculture. What followed was an afternoon of candid conversation, data-driven insights, and the kind of connection that changes the direction of an industry. New partnerships were formed. New conversations were started. Idaho's technology ecosystem left the Pioneer Room stronger than it entered.

The morning began on the 5th floor of JUMP, where ITC members and the Board of Trustees gathered for the Annual Board & Member Meeting. The meeting carried its own significance — the formal ratification of Jessica Cafferty as the incoming Board Chair of the Idaho Technology Council, succeeding Reid Stephan.

Reid Stephan, CIO of St. Luke's Health System, opened the conference program with remarks that reflected both the depth of his tenure and his genuine excitement for what comes next. He recognized the extraordinary work of St. Luke's Health System in healthcare technology innovation across Idaho — and then did what great leaders do: he made the moment about someone else. With warmth and conviction, Reid introduced Jessica Cafferty as the new Board Chair. Jessica took the stage, welcomed the room, and turned her attention to introducing Idaho's Lieutenant Governor.

Scott Bedke is Idaho's 44th Lieutenant Governor, a fourth-generation cattle rancher, and a proud Idaho native whose family roots in the state stretch back to the 1870s. He served eleven terms in the Idaho House of Representatives, became the 41st Speaker of the House, and holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Speaker in Idaho history. He is married to his wife Sarah of 45 years, the father of four, and grandfather of 16.

He also drives a self-driving tractor.

Lt. Governor Bedke's remarks were one of the most grounding moments of the day — not because of his office, but because of what he shared from his ranch in Oakley. He spoke about the technologies he is actively using: autonomous tractors already working his fields, AI sensors evaluating his soil in real time, telling him the precise amounts of fertilizer and water needed by specific area. Not someday. Now.

He also spoke honestly about the economics of adoption. GPS tracking for cattle, he noted, is a genuine innovation — but affordability remains a barrier for many ranchers. As costs come down, he expects to integrate it on his own operation. His message was clear: technology in agriculture is not a future conversation. It is a present one. And Idaho's farmers are both early adopters and pragmatists — embracing what works when it works, and what they can afford when they can afford it.

It was a reminder that the most important technology conversations happen not in conference rooms, but in fields, barns, and pickup trucks.

Blake Hansen, founder and CEO of Alturas and Title Sponsor of the State of Technology Annual Conference, presented the latest Idaho Deal Flow Report data — giving the room a clear-eyed look at where Idaho's startup and investment ecosystem stands. For the past decade, Blake has led the initiative to track equity-related deal flow in Idaho, published annually in the Idaho Deal Flow Report. The numbers told a story of momentum: a state that is no longer an afterthought in the national innovation conversation.

Moderated by Carolyn Holly, Vice President of Business Development at Idaho Business for Education, the fireside chat brought two of Idaho's most respected leaders to the stage for a conversation that was equal parts practical and visionary.

Carolyn Holly's sharp, thoughtful moderation kept the conversation grounded in Idaho's specific context — its crops, its land, its workforce, and its future. The panel made clear that the next generation of agricultural technology is being built here.

Joni Kindwall-Moore, CEO of The Ryzosphere, stepped to the stage and proceeded to reshape the room's understanding of what AI in agriculture and food innovation actually looks like. Joni is building at the frontier — exploring how artificial intelligence is beginning to touch every layer of the food system, from soil science to product development to the supply chain. Her keynote was the kind of talk that leaves you with more questions than you came in with, and that is exactly the point.

Idaho native Gresham Schlect — CTO of Lightcast and ITC Board Member — unveiled the inaugural Idaho Tech Economy Report: a first-of-its-kind statewide resource combining deal flow intelligence with the Tech Talent Forecast into a single comprehensive snapshot of Idaho's technology economy. Every attendee walked away with a copy.

The Report was made possible through the generous support of Alturas, Dempsey Foster PLLC, Micron, Lightcast, and RightInsight.

The program also featured a spotlight from Amy Fleischer, Dean of the Boise State University College of Engineering, highlighting the pipeline of talent coming out of Idaho's colleges and universities — and a look at Micron's ongoing expansion in Boise, with remarks from a Micron representative reflecting on what that growth means for Idaho's technology future.

The connections made in that room on May 19 will outlast the afternoon. The Idaho Tech Economy Report is available now — view and download it at idahotechcouncil.org/tech-economy-report. The Idaho Deal Flow Report is available at builtinidaho.org.

The State of Technology: ITC Annual Conference sold out three days early. Start planning now.

The Idaho Technology Council is a statewide technology trade association serving over 140 member companies across all 44 Idaho counties. To learn more about ITC membership, upcoming events, and programs, visit idahotechcouncil.org.