Midwest Growth Partners Executive Food & Ag Dialogue Featuring Culver’s Founder, Craig Culver

December 4, 2025

I’ve had the Midwest Growth Partners Annual Food & Ag Dialogue on my mind for months (okay, so maybe a year)—it was truly one of my favorite events to design, and it featured one of my all-time favorite fast-food restaurants: Culver’s! With a new Culver’s opening in town soon, it felt like the perfect time to finally share this fun project. Culver’s has always been our go-to road-trip stop on drives back to Illinois—my husband is absolutely devoted to those cheese curds.

Quick side story: back when we were dating and I lived in Chicago, we once spent hours driving around searching for a Culver’s to have a lunch date. This was pre-smartphone, pre-easy GPS days, so it turned into quite the adventure. We eventually found one—nearly at the Wisconsin border—but those cheese curds and custard were worth every mile!

The event itself brought together agriculture professionals from across the industry for an evening filled with inspiration, connection, and classic Midwest charm. I designed the space to blend the brand colors of both Midwest Growth Partners and Culver’s, creating an environment that felt warm, authentic, and true to both identities. The highlight of the night was a live Q&A with Craig Culver, founder of Culver’s, whose down-to-earth storytelling captivated the room. Guests enjoyed dinner, live music, cocktails, and—of course—a Culver’s custard bar. The stage was accented with natural cornstalks and a cozy lounge setup, creating an inviting agricultural aesthetic that framed the conversation beautifully.

I was already a loyal Culver’s fan, but after hearing Craig speak and meeting him in person, I left loving the brand even more. His determination and commitment to making Culver’s a true family restaurant were genuinely inspiring.

Now, if you need me, I’ll be at Culver’s enjoying a butterburger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle—followed by a scoop of butter pecan custard. 🙂

Hosting a corporate event or bringing in a speaker and need design support? I’d love to help bring your vision to life. Reach out! And if you’d like to see the custom event gifts I created for Midwest Growth Partners, you can view them HERE.