2025 Cannabis Cultivation & Science Conference: A Groundbreaking First Year in Montana

This September, Collective Elevation had the privilege of hosting the first annual Cannabis Cultivation & Science Conference at our facility in Bozeman, Montana, alongside our partners at KiS Organics. Over three days, we brought together industry leaders and growers from across the country and around the world for an unforgettable weekend of education and collaboration. 

With the Bridger Mountains as our backdrop and Collective Elevation’s living soil greenhouses and state-of-the art manufacturing facility as a classroom, attendees immersed themselves in cutting-edge cannabis cultivation science, hands-on workshops, and one-of-a-kind networking. From the greenhouse tours to the closing tasting event, this first-of-its-kind gathering in Montana showcased the best of what happens when passion, innovation, and community come together.

Expert Voices, Groundbreaking Insights

The conference featured a lineup of world-class educators who shared their expertise in cultivation science, greenhouse management, pest control, and plant health.

• Dr. Nadia Sabeh (Dr. Greenhouse) delivered deep insights into controlled environment agriculture, breaking down the fundamentals of airflow, humidity management, and climate optimization. Her workshop delivered practical strategies that can be applied to facilities of any size.
  
• Suzanne Wainwright Evans (The Bug Lady), one of the most respected voices in integrated pest management, led workshops that gave attendees practical tools for tackling insect challenges in cannabis cultivation. Her live demonstrations with beneficial insects were a crowd favorite.
• Adam Arnold, Collective Elevation founder, kicked off with a greenhouse tour and a look at Collective Elevation’s journey to becoming Montana’s most awarded living soil cultivation. He shared the philosophy behind the brand—sustainability, innovation, and community—and how those values shape the future of cannabis. These tours kicked off the conference, followed by insights from his team: Connor Ockfen (Propagation Manager), Jared Ferguson (Greenhouse Manager), and Daniel Janes (Facility Manager).

• Tad Hussey, founder of KiS Organics and host of the Cannabis Cultivation & Science Podcast, and Ben Higgins, a research scientist with KiS Organics, highlighted how heavy metals enter cannabis through water and compost, and how pH, phosphorus, and input testing affect uptake. Hussey and Higgins shared practical, organic-friendly strategies to minimize contamination and framed heavy metal management as a balance of inputs and outputs. Attendees left with clear tools to stay compliant, protect plant health, and ensure clean, safe cannabis.
• Brandon Hudson, KiS Organics team member and second generation cannabis cultivator emphasized that healthy cannabis starts with healthy soil. Drawing on over four decades of experience, he explored the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of soil, how metrics like pH and soluble salts affect plant growth, and how mineral imbalances show up in crops. Attendees gained a practical framework for linking soil science directly to healthier, more productive plants.
• Dr. Michael Brownbridge, plant pathologist, explored the science behind disease suppression and plant resilience, showing how sustainable cultivation practices can help growers prevent common crop issues before they start.
  
• Dr. Jose Leme, PhD discussed how carefully applied stress—like vibration, training, or water restriction—can boost trichome development and enhance cannabinoid and terpene production. He showed how these techniques help optimize resin quality and secondary metabolites without compromising plant health, giving growers powerful tools to elevate crop quality.
• DRAMM team member and horticulture expert, Jared Babik, shared practical strategies for designing water systems that boost plant health, productivity, and facility efficiency. Focusing on water quality, disinfection, and dissolved oxygen management, he highlighted how thoughtful system design and automation can save labor and optimize cannabis cultivation.
  
  

Hands-On Greenhouse Learning

One of the highlights of the conference was the chance to step inside Collective Elevation’s award-winning sun-assisted living soil greenhouses. Attendees toured the facility, explored our soil systems, and saw firsthand how we combine time-honored cultivation practices with cutting-edge technology to produce Montana’s most awarded cannabis.

The Collective Elevation cultivation team also stepped up to share their knowledge and expertise during these sessions. From soil-building strategies to integrated pest management and irrigation systems, our growers gave attendees an inside look at the techniques and practices that keep our gardens thriving.

Topics covered included:

• Soil health and amendment strategies
  
  
• Irrigation and water management best practices
  
  
• Pest and disease monitoring in a greenhouse environment
  
  
• Environmental controls and how they affect plant health and yields
  
  

The greenhouse tours sparked countless conversations and gave attendees the opportunity to see cultivation science applied in real-world conditions.

Exhibitors & Vendor Showcase

We were thrilled to host many innovative companies who are shaping the future of sustainable cultivation. Attendees had the chance to meet directly with vendors and explore tools, products, and technologies designed to make cultivation more efficient, resilient, and productive.

A heartfelt thank you to our vendors and exhibitors:

• Fidelity Diagnostics Laboratory
• Catchmaster
• BIOS Lighting
• Grassroots Fabric Pots
• Logan Labs
• Cannabis Chem Lab
• DriFlower
• GrowGeneration
• BioBee
• OHP
• Sustainable Village (Blumats)
• BioWorks
• Dramm
• Buglady Consulting
• Dr. Greenhouse
• KiS Organics
• Hefestus
• Shelby Green Group
• Paradise Organics
• Montana Cannabis Coalition
• BioSafe Systems
• BioTherm
• Beneficial Insectory
• Tatusadhu Genetics
• Sacred Sun Farms
• Ninepipe Organics
• Borealis Natural Gardens 
• Sinful Beverages 
• Fused
• Lone Peak Provisions
  
  

These companies’ expertise and presence helped elevate the conference experience and gave growers invaluable access to resources that support healthier, more sustainable cannabis.

Vendor Spotlights: Cutting-Edge Tools for Smarter Cultivation

Our sponsors shared exciting innovations and developments in cannabis cultivation technology. 

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BIOS Lighting’s Caroline Nordah explored the transition from HPS to LED, helping growers optimize light efficiency. Alex Schroeder from Catchmaster presented Sticky Science, highlighting smarter monitoring tools to keep crops thriving. Matthew Brecht of OHP focused on crop protection strategies that also support growers’ success. Justin Leavitt from Moleaer demonstrated how oxygen nanobubbles can boost root health and overall plant vigor. Finally, Saul Alba from BioBee showcased labor-saving technologies for biocontrol, making sustainable pest management easier than ever.

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Montana Living Soil Alliance: Cannabis Tasting Experience‍

The weekend wrapped up with the Montana Living Soil Alliance (LSA) hosting a special Cannabis Tasting Event, spotlighting their work to promote sustainability, ethical practices, and education in Montana’s cannabis industry. During a panel presentation, LSA members shared information about how our living soil growing practices produce healthier, better tasting, cannabis.

Following the panel, attendees participated in a guided flower tasting led by Certified Ganjier Kari Boiter, sampling cultivars grown by LSA members. Kari’s workshop focused on building terpene and cannabinoid vocabulary, training sensory skills, and helping participants confidently evaluate and recommend products. The tasting offered a hands-on way to experience how living soil cultivation influences terpene richness, flavor complexity, and overall cannabis quality. Combined with networking and local food from Lone Peak Provisions, the event celebrated both education and community while strengthening connections to Montana-grown, living soil cannabis.

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Building Community

This first annual conference brought together cannabis professionals from across the country and around the world, uniting growers, educators, and industry leaders in our beautiful state. Attendees gained cutting-edge knowledge, practical strategies, and valuable insights—while building connections that elevate professionalism, foster collaboration, and advance the cultivation industry on a global scale.

Thank You

On behalf of Collective Elevation and KiS Organics, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to:

• Every attendee who joined us in Bozeman and helped make this inaugural year a success.
  
  
• Our speakers—for sharing your wisdom and passion.
  
  
• Our vendors and exhibitors, whose innovation and commitment to sustainability gave cultivators direct access to the tools that make our industry thrive.
  
  
• The Montana Living Soil Alliance for curating such a unique and memorable tasting event.
  
  
• And the entire Collective Elevation team for sharing your knowledge, guiding tours, and opening up our greenhouse to the cultivation community.
  
  

This conference would not have been possible without each of you.

Looking Ahead

The first annual Cannabis Cultivation & Science Conference was just the beginning. We’re already looking forward to building on this foundation for 2026 with more speakers, more workshops, and more opportunities to learn, connect, and grow together. 

Until then, thank you for being part of this journey with us. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cannabis cultivation—sustainably, responsibly, and with community at the center.

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