No-Till Farmer's Mike Lessiter spoke at the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)'s 2025 Summer Conservation Forum & Tours on July 28, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wis. During the Luncheon Keynote Presentation, Lessiter spoke on the key elements of no-till history and why it’s a blueprint for future change. He also examined critical success factors needed to sustain and grow the practices, and the key role of conservation districts in making successful transitions and adoption a reality. You can see photos from his presentation below and watch it in full here.

Back in 2010, No-Till Farmer editor Frank Lessiter and his son, Mike, traveled to the Palouse area of eastern Washington to visit John Aeschliman, who’s been successfully no-tilling in the region for more than 40 years. Named one of the 25 No-Till Living Legends, no-till has allowed Aeschliman to successfully farm in an area that receives as little as 12 inches annual moisture and has slopes as steep as 60%.

Click on the articles below to learn more about Aeschliman’s operation.

No-Till Works Under Tough Conditions

What I’ve Learned from No-Tilling: Do More With Less!