3rd Annual Western Water, Ag & Environmental Law Conference

The agricultural industry in the western United States is uniquely impacted by changes and developments in state, federal, and international laws and policies. The Third Annual Western Water, Ag, & Environmental Law Conference provides relevant and timely legal research and information to attorneys, farm manager and rural appraisers, consultants, lenders, accountants, tax consultants, students, and other agricultural professionals involved in the western ag and food industries in the Western U.S. The conference is an excellent networking opportunity, as well as a premiere legal education opportunity tailored to the ag industry.

This conference will be held in person in Reno, Nevada. Livestream option available. The main conference will feature 12 hours of continuing education, including two hours of Legal Ethics. More information on continuing education credit is available below.

Date & Time:

Thursday, June 19, 2025
Friday, June 20, 2025

Location:

Peppermill Reno Resort Spa Casino
Livestream option available
See Block Room Rate Below

Cost:

Attendees seeking continuing education credit (CLE/CE): $500
Government employees: $400
Other attendees, not seeking professional credit: $300
Undergraduate or Law Students: $75

Conference Agenda

Update from the Potomac: Farm Bill, Public Lands, & Related Issues
- Fitz Elder, Republican Staff Director, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry at the United States Senate
- Additional speakers TBA
Ethical Considerations in Estate Planning and Administration
- David Claiborne, Partner & Founding Member, Sawtooth Law Offices, PLLC
Ag Land Transactions in the Western U.S.: Update on Market & Legal Trends
- Dave Muth, Director of Capital Markets, Peoples Company
- Quinn Kendrick, General Counsel, Peoples Company
Deadlines Matter & the 2-Year Clock is Ticking: The Fate of the Colorado River & Future of Ag
- James Eklund, Partner & Leader of Water and Natural Resources Practice Area, Taft Law
- Hannah Mink, Associate, Taft Law
Fourth Amendment and Agriculture: Warrantless Access to Ag & Private Rural Lands
- Robert Frommer, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice
- Joshua Windham, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice
Western Water, Ag, & Food: Perspectives from State Departments of Agriculture
- Christy Clark, Director, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
- J.J. Goicoechea, DVM, Director, Nevada Department of Agriculture
- Jeff Witte, Director/Secretary, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
- Moderator: Wes Ward, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Agriculture and President, NASDA (2024-2025)
WOTUS & Water Quality in the West in a Post-Sackett World
- Theresa “Tess” Dunham, Partner, Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP
Ag, Food, & Federal and State Agency Deference in a Post-Chevron World
- Caroline Lobdell, Clean Water Services
Federal-Private Split Estate: Considerations for Living and Operating on Stock-Raising Homestead Act Lands
- Katy DeVries Riker, Holland & Hart
Water Banking and Leasing in the West: Practical Pointers and Pitfalls
- Ernest Conant, Downey Brand
- Alyssa A. Moir, K&L Gates
- Emily E. Lewis, Clyde Snow & Sessions
Check back here for updates!

Sponsorships:

Contact NALC Director Harrison Pittman for more information at hmpittm@uark.edu.

Lodging:

Here is your Passkey Link for booking room reservations: https://book.passkey.com/e/50934494Attendees may use this link or call in to make a room reservation using code GNALC25. Your cutoff date is Wednesday, May 28 at 5pm.

Continuing Education:

Legal – This program will be submitted for CLE in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.
American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers: This program will be submitted for CE.

Attendees routinely apply for continuing education credit in other states or for other professions. For more information and assistance, email Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins.

Conference Materials:

Coming soon