This week, for the first time in 34 years, someone other than Dr. Pearse Lyons opened “One18,” Alltech’s annual ideas conference in Lexington, KY.

All eyes were on the late Lyons’ son and new president Mark Lyons, as he offered lessons from his father, the company’s founder who died in March at age 73 of surgical complications (read more about his life here).

"These two days are an investment in your ability...to change the world," said Lyons who compared his father to Leonardo da Vinci and how both visionaries understood the power of an idea. The company posthumously gave the late Lyons its Medal of Excellence, as well as the Alltech Humanitarian Award, for his boundless philanthropic spirit.

The crowd of nearly 4,000 attendees from 76 countries also heard from scientists, entrepreneurs, technology experts and business leaders on a host of topics ranging from CRISPR to blockchain.

Mark Lyons (pictured above) offered conference-goers some advice from his father: “Be present, be in the moment when you’re there, and take notes when ideas come to you...then be sure to review them after the event.”

Well, we took notes. And some photos. Open the slideset to see what you missed: