Workshops

Workshops Round 1 : 9:45am

STATE OF THE STATE & NATION -- Big Blue/Fort Riley

Speakers:  Ryan Flickner & Ben Pinkston, Kansas Farm Bureau

KFB Advocacy team members will provide an update on political and policy happenings as we enter the roaring ‘20s, including the 2020 election outlook, a 2020 state legislative session update and discussion about the 116th Congress.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP + AG -- Alcove

Moderator: Jennie Bracken, American Ag Credit

Panelists: Jay Hill (Hill Farms New Mexico), Valerie Visser (The Fork in the Road), Hayes Kelman (Boot Hill Distillery) 

In tough economic times, farmers may be forced to think differently about what they ggrid-x, how they ggrid-x it and, especially, how it’s marketed. This panel has approached their agricultural situations with innovation and a lot of hard work. Come learn from their successes, failures and the wisdom that follows experience.

GETTING OFF THE FARM TO LEAD -- Tuttle

Speaker:  Amy France, France Family Farms/National Sorghum Producers 

With so much demanding your time, is leadership in your community and Farm Bureau worth it? This session will tackle both the sacrifices and benefits of getting involved and share insights into tools and resources you can use to make the most of your time away from the farm.

PROTEIN OR ENERGY? PRIORITIZING COMPONENTS OF THE Ggrid-xING-CALF DIET -- Big Basin/Kaw Nation

Speaker: Tyler Spore, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

This session will demonstrate key differences in protein sources and dietary energy to balance diets that meet the requirements of the ggrid-xing calf.

USING CROP REVENUE INSURANCE IN GRAIN MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES -- McDowell

Speakers:  Dr. Monte Vandeveer & Dan O’Brien, Kansas State University

How can crop revenue insurance tools be effectively used by farmers to manage grain market price and revenue risk? Feedgrain, wheat and soybean revenue insurance used in grain marketing plans will be discussed, with a short hands-on exercise to illustrate crop revenue tool use for Kansas corn production and marketing.

Workshops Round 2 : 11:15am

DO AS YOU’RE TOLD: STRATEGIES FOR CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT -- Big Blue River / Fort Riley

Speaker: Jay Hill, Hill Farms New Mexico

Today’s farmers cannot only be concerned about the crops and animals under our care, but agriculture advocacy can be confusing and intimidating, especially for those of us who prefer cows over people. Come learn how understanding our role as food producers will help us find an easy path to connecting with consumers.

GETTING STARTED IN PRODUCTION AG -- Alcove

Moderator:  Leigh Ann Maurath , Kansas Farm Bureau                                                   
Panelists : Evan Lesser, Matt & Jessica Ledbetter, Jacquelyne Leffler

Do you want to farm but aren’t sure where to start? This panel will feature three different journeys to life on the farm—a family farm, a non-family farm, and starting from scratch—and will be packed with wisdom for anyone who wants to begin their career as a farmer or rancher.

FARM STRESS -- Tuttle

Speaker:  Will Stutterheim, Fort Hays State University Kelly Center

Surviving in the agriculture world today can be an intense and demanding job. You are under pressure to meet the demands of running your operation and working to balance other areas of your life. Stress is natural and can be inevitable, but stress can take a toll on your health and effectiveness in many areas of your life. During this presentation you will be given information on where our stress comes from and how it can affect your mood, thinking and decision making, as well as easy-to-apply tips that have been proven to help manage the stress of students, farmers and ranchers for the last 12 years.

PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN THE U.S. -- McDowell

Speaker:  Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti, Kansas State University

Farmers need technology tools that are built and delivered to intuitively meet their needs. This session will provide an overview of the main advances in Precision Ag related to satellite, drone and digital ag technologies.

Workshops Round 3 : 2:15pm

FIELD TO FORK FACE OFF -- Big Blue River / Fort Riley

Speaker:  Jordan Henry, American Farm Bureau Federation

This “Family Feud” style game uses the opinions of youth, consumers and Farm Bureau members to test players’ knowledge of the public’s perception of agriculture.

EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE -- Alcove

Moderator: Ryan Haffner
Panelists : Hilary Worcester (MKC), Orrin Holle, Nathan Kells

Whether you’re looking for a job in agriculture, are trying to think about how to add employees to your operation or want to be a better supervisor in your current workplace, this session is for you. A panel of various perspectives will discuss what they look for in employees and how they approach management and compensation.

GRAZING MANAGEMENT -- Tuttle

Speaker:  Dale Strickler, Green Cover Seed

Discover innovative techniques both new and old to increase productivity of pastures, and to create grazing opportunities on cropland using crop residues and cover crops, that can easily double or triple the amount of livestock a farm can carry, greatly decrease the workload and dramatically reduce costs.

U.S. ROUNDTABLE FOR SUSTAINABLE BEEF -- McDowell

Moderator: AshLee Lattner, Kansas Farm Bureau

Panelists: Meghan Mueseler (Cargill Protein), Rob Maines (The Nature Conservancy), Debbie Lyons-Blythe (Blythe Family Farms), Patti Dollarhide (Beef Cattle Institute), Clayton Huseman (Kansas Livestock Association)

The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is a multi-stakeholder initiative developed to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement in sustainability of the U.S. beef value chain. Connect with Kansas farmers, ranchers and off-farm professionals involved in this effort to ensure “sustainability” adds value to our work and isn’t just an empty marketing trend.

Workshops Round 4 : 3:45pm

CATTLE MARKETING -- Alcove

Moderator: Chelsea Good, Livestock Marketing Association

Panelists: Evan Lesser, Matt Perrier, Tracy Brunner

Explore some of the many options available for marketing your cattle in this uniquely diverse industry by hearing from producers from various segments of the supply chain.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HEALTH COVERAGE -- Tuttle

Speaker:  Erin Petersilie, Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans

Health coverage is an important piece of our lives, but understanding it is not always easy. This session will not only give you an overview of what KFB Health Plans are, but also how to compare them to other plans so you can make sure your family has the coverage they need.

CALLING ALL CAST IRON SKILLETS -- McDowell

Speaker:  Chef Alli

Join Chef Alli in the YF&R “kitchen” to get fired up about easy one-skillet meals you can create in that workhorse you have stashed in your kitchen--your cast iron skillet! Cast iron cooking is trendy once again (thank you, Pioneer Woman!) and Chef Alli will show you how and why, via her favorite cast iron tips, tricks and one-pan recipes. Come grab some new dinner inspiration.