Clear skies and eager minds made the 2022 Kansas Ag Bankers Conference a great turnout, which was held March 2-3 at the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center in Manhattan, KS. This conference is held by the Kansas Ag Bankers Division and is meant to support, enhance and promote the agricultural banking industry. Ag bankers heard from a variety of knowledgeable and impactful speakers on topics such as ag economics, lending, the Federal Ag Policy Update and much more.
KAB Past President Jay Meyer, Centera Bank in Sublette, kicked off the conference with the welcome and introductions to attendees.
The first speaker of the conference was Dr. David Kohl, AgriVisions LLC, with “Agricultural Economic Update and the Road Ahead” and “Lending in the Agricultural Marketplace: 2022 and Beyond.” Kohl presented common financial and business practices that will proactively position the banker’s business or customer regardless of the economic cycle. He also drew upon his decades of engagement and interaction with the agricultural industry to provide wisdom and actionable items that can be used with your agricultural customers. Topics include the high tech, high touch approach to building relationships, aligning with producer mindsets, assessing business IQ as it relates to financials, economics, and the growth of ag businesses of the future.
ABA’s Senior Vice President of Agricultural & Rural Banking Policy Ed Elfman and KBA President & CEO Doug Wareham provided a campfire chat on federal ag and rural banking policy. Taking center stage was Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America (ECORA) tax equity legislation — this looks to gain traction this year after it was signed into law in Kansas last year, and additional states are pushing the same legislation.
Andrew McCrea, farmer and rancher, shared “Your Bank’s Role in Creating Total Town Makeovers” after the second break-out session of the day. Attendees were able to learn how financial institutions can be a key catalyst that keeps small towns surviving and thriving. Kansas banks play an important role in what happens next to small towns supporting agriculture that are struggling to keep small businesses open, maintain quality schools and provide a place where younger people want to work and establish homes and families.
Finishing up the first day, the last speaker Elizabeth McCormick, US Army Black Helicopter Pilot, presented “Soar 2 Success.” She shared the professional development secrets for success with her stories of overcoming obstacles as a helicopter pilot while inspiring attendees to Soar 2 Success!
Following the Kansas Ag Bankers Trade Show and Hospitality Reception, the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center hosted the Salute the Kansas Wheat Farmer Event that unveiled the debuted Tribute Wall.
KBA President & CEO Doug Wareham and KAB Division President Jay Meyer, Centera Bank in Sublette, at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center celebrating the unveiling of the Kansas Ag Bankers Farmer Salute display wall
Dan Smith, the 2022 Pioneer Award Winner from Heartland Tri-State Bank in Elkhart, KS, was represented by his family for his award at the Conference alongside KBA Chairman-Elect Shan Hanes
Blackhawk Pilot Elizabeth McCormick presents a signed copy of a book to Mark Leydig, Farmers & Drovers Bank in Council Grove
Kansas Wheat Innovation Center reception dinner hosted by Security 1st Title
ABA’s Senior Vice President Ed Elfmann shared ABA’s Ag & Rural Banking Policy
David Kohl gave an energetic presentation on day one of the conference
The Kansas Ag Bankers Division experienced a packed house of Kansas ag bankers from across the state to hear various speakers and topics at the conference
“The strong partnership between Kansas ag bankers and Kansas wheat growers dates back to the birth of our state in the 1860s,” Doug Wareham, KBA President & CEO, said. “The Kansas Ag Bankers Division of the KBA is proud to continue supporting that long-standing relationship by sponsoring the new Salute the Kansas Wheat Farmer Tribute Wall at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan, KS. The Wheat Innovation Center was built to develop improved wheat varieties and get them into the hands of Kansas wheat producers. We are honored to support the long-standing efforts of the Kansas Wheat Commission and, most of all, Kansas Wheat Growers.”
Security 1st Title was gracious enough to sponsor the whole event with delicious BBQ and drinks!
Kansas ag banker attendees geared up on day two with the first speaker Randy Blach, CattleFax, with his presentation “Cattle and Meat Protein Situation and Outlook.”
Paul Mussman, AgWest Commodities, was up next with the Ag Market Update. He examined the major grains and livestock’s price structure in today’s extremely volatile and globally influenced marketplace while also providing a few straightforward tools to combat the craziness in prices.
The 2022 annual meeting of the Kansas Ag Bankers Division was called to order by KAB Division President Jay Meyer from Centera Bank in Sublette. KAB Secretary/Treasurer Mikel Hadacheck from Astra Bank in Belleville reviewed the minutes from the 2021 annual meeting, along with the current financial report. Following an introduction of the board members by Jay Meyer, Past President Tim Smith from First State Bank in Plainville presented the nominating report. Following the nominating process, David White from INTRUST Bank in Wichita was inducted as the new KBA Kansas Ag Bankers Division President; Mikel Hadachek, Astra Bank in Belleville, as Vice-President and Brad Zimmerman, First National Bank in Scott City, as Secretary/Treasurer.
“Wild Side of Weather,” presented by Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, was the last speaker to wrap up the
two-day conference. His two main objectives were showing how history is the best teacher, so he investigated the large-scale weather processes that have influenced yields in the U.S. over the last 40 years. The second was forecasting the weather in the U.S. and then showcasing the dominant weather features to watch for the current growing season.
Thank you to all the sponsors for supporting the Kansas Ag Bankers Division in making this conference possible!
Closing the conference with an eye-opening session on “The Wild Side of Weather” is Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions
Panel discussion “Asking Challenging Questions: It’s More Critical Than Most Realize!” Ed Dewey (left, GNBank, Bucklin), Jack Galle (center, Legacy Bank, Pratt) and moderator Doug Johnson (Moody’s Analytics)
Providing a livestock industry policy update is Aaron Popelka with the Kansas Livestock Association
Kevin Wagner (Centera Bank, Satanta) and Susan Sankey (Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Manhattan)
Blair Suddarth (Graduate School of Banking at Colorado) and Will Ramsey (Community National Bank, Humboldt)
Randy Blach of CattleFax during his session on the cattle and meat protein situation and outlook
Presenting out going Kansas Ag Bankers Division president Jay Meyer (Centera Bank, Sublette) with a gift is incoming president David White (INTRUST Bank, Wichita)
Thank You to these 2022 Kansas Ag Bankers Conference Sponsors!
