Below is the 2012 Top Producer Seminar agenda. See a PDF of the 2012 Top Producer Seminar event agenda.
Click here to view the tentative Tomorrow's Top Producer event agenda.
2012 Top Producer Seminar
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
8 a.m.
Registration Opens
10 a.m. – 10:15 p.m.
General Session Welcome
-- Steve Custer, Top Producer
-- Jeanne Bernick, Top Producer
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Global Economics from Israel to Europe - What in the World is Going On?
-- Peter Zeihan, Director of Global Analysis, Stratfor Group
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion: "National Politics and the Farm Bill - What It Means for Business in 2012"
Moderator: Charlene Finck, Editor, Farm Journal
Panel: Jim Wiesemeyer, Informa Economics
Michael Dykes, Monsanto Government Affairs
Wayne Myers, Kennedy and Coe
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Lunch & Learn Technical Sessions
2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
Leadership Lessons from the Farm Journal Legacy Project
-- Kevin Spafford, Farm Journal Legacy Project
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- Panel Discussion: "Why You Need a Peer Advisory Board"
- Moderator: Danny Klinefelter, Texas A&M Economist
- Lance Woodbury, Independent Family Business Consultant
- Tim Schaefer, Ag Performance Roundtables (CEOPRA)
- Les Imboden, Imboden Farms
4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Break in the Exhibit Hall
4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Farming in the Fast Lane - What’s Ahead for Agriculture in 2012
-- Vince Malanga, LaSalle Economics
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Opening Cocktail Reception
Thursday, February 2, 2012
6 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.
Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast Session: "U.S. Farm Report" Taping
• Moderator: John Phipps
• Mark Gold, Top Third Marketing
• Gregg Hunt, Archer Financial Services
• Bob Utterback, Utterback Consulting
8:15 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Breakout Session 1
Market Outlook for 2012
--Jerry Gulke, Gulke Group
Tools for Trading
--Thomas Grisafi, Indiana Grain Company
Tax Savings Tips
--Paul Neiffer, CPA and author of The Farm CPA Blog and Column
Negotiating Contracts With Suppliers and Buyers
--Bret Oelke, University of Minnesota
What Your Lender Wants to Know about Your Financial Statements
--Peter Martin, Kennedy & Coe
Peer Networks and Benchmarking Your Farm
--Danny Klinefelter, Texas A&M University
How to Market Around China
--Chip Flory, Pro Farmer
9:20 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Breakout Session 2
Tools for Trading
--Thomas Grisafi, Indiana Grain Company
Tax Savings Tips
--Paul Neiffer, CPA and author of The Farm CPA Blog and Column
Crop Insurance Changes in 2012 and Impacts on Marketing
--Jamie Wasemiller, Gulke Group
Negotiating Contracts With Suppliers and Buyers
--Bret Oelke, University of Minnesota
Financial Decision Tools That Boost Profitability
--Chris Barron, Carson and Barron Farms
How to Market Around China
--Chip Flory, Pro Farmer
10:15 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Break in Exhibit Hall
10:55 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Breakout Session 3
Who Can You Trust? Lessons from MF Global
--Mark Gold, Top Third Ag Marketing
Tax Savings Tips
--Paul Neiffer, CPA and author of The Farm CPA Blog and Column
Future Farm Leadership: Core Competencies to be Ready to Manage the Farm
--Darren Frye, Water Street Solutions
Crop Insurance Changes in 2012 and Impacts on Marketing
--Jamie Wasemiller, Gulke Group
Financial Decision Tools That Boost Profitability
--Chris Barron, Carson and Barron Farms
Creative Ideas for Marketing - A Shift in Marketing Tactics
--Bryan Doherty, Stewart-Peterson
12:00 p.m. -1:15 p.m.
Lunch with Motivational Speaker - "Moving Beyond Fear"
--Captain Charles Plumb, Former Navy Fighter Pilot and P.O.W.
1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Trade Show Dessert
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
View From Wall Street
--Anne Duignan, JP Morgan
3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Why Our Infrastructure is at a Breaking Point
-- Jay O'Neil, Kansas State University
3:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
How Do You Build a Leader?
--Aubrey Daniels, Aubrey Daniels International
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Reception in the Exhibit Hall
7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Top Producer of the Year Banquet
Friday, February 3, 2012
7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Panel Discussion: "USDA Reports - What’s Going On Here?"
- Moderator: Chip Flory
- Joseph Prusacki, USDA NASS
- Peter Meyer, Opening Print
- Dan Cekander, Newedge USA LLC
9:30 a.m.
Drawing for Flat Screen (must be present to win)
--Mark Gold, Top Third Marketing
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Break in Exhibit Hall
10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Are You Facing the Realities of the Ag Cycle?
--Sano Shimoda, BioScience Securities
11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Lessons From TPOY Finalists
• Moderator: Jeanne Bernick, Editor, Top Producer
Noon a.m.
Adjourn
Click here to view the tentative Tomorrow's Top Producer event agenda.
