Wheat Show Speakers Announced

The 60th National Hard Spring Wheat Show scheduled to be held in Williston, February 4, 5, 6 will feature several exciting topics and well known experts.

One of the featured speakers will be Jolene Brown. Ms. Brown is a farmer, author and an award winning communicator from West Branch, Iowa who has made numerous appearances on television and radio broadcasts. Her work has been featured in several major agricultural publications. As a founder of the Business-First Family Institute, she knows the unique challenges facing parents, siblings, and in-laws who work together.

During the Wheat Show, Ms. Brown will make two presentations. The first, “The Top Ten Mistakes That Break up a Family Business”, will focus on many daily aggravations and family business catastrophes which can be avoided. In addition, she will explore questions that must be answered before someone is allowed to join or work for a business; identify the hidden areas of business arguments which often start as a conversation but must end in written documentation; discuss the egos, emotions, and decisions involved in estate and management transfer planning; recognize the value and impact of in-laws, off site family, and employees and understand the need for courtesy and celebration.

Ms. Brown’s second presentation, “It’s a Jungle Out There! Blazing New Trails for Agriculture”, will revolve around learning the value of what we do is in the eye of the purchaser, not the producer. She believes the pace, the people, the process and the products for agriculture have all changed and urges food producers to do the same.

Ms. Brown has had the luxury of sitting at lots of kitchen tables and family business meeting rooms. She has learned what works and what doesn’t. Whether you are a beginning farmer or nearing retirement her presentations are packed with ideas which will help make any farm business more successful.

Another featured speaker will be Jeffrey Tranel, Agricultural and Business Management Economist at Colorado State University. He will discuss how the North Dakota farm businesses can take advantage of whatever the future may bring. One of his assumptions considered the current and relative high prices of ag commodities with expectations that profitability will shrink as prices and costs converge. He also addresses the issue of good farm succession plans. He acknowledges that many farm businesses in this area are blessed with the infusion of energy monies. He recognized this new revenue often makes the lack of agreement within the family more tragic.

Several crop production and marketing issues are also included in the education program. One of the speakers, Rick Bieber, a farmer near Pierre, S.D. will share how he has substantially improved crop yields and profitability on his farm through farming practices which have been directed toward improving soil health. Through cooperative research projects with South Dakota State University, Mr. Beiber has many years of data showing the impact of promoting plant root growth beyond that of annual crops grown in the western Dakotas and eastern Montana.

In addition to the above, the Wheat Show will include activity reports from several commodity groups, discussions relating to the impact of the reorganized Canadian Wheat Board and expected competition of railroad service.

The Wheat Show also includes a Bread Fair when area 5th grade students learn how to make bread, a Photo Contest organized by ag students of Williston State College and a trade show featuring ag businesses who assist area farm producers who produce food not only for U.S. consumers but for people around the world.

For more information about the Wheat Show, contact the NDSU Extension Service – Williams County (701-577-4595) or any area county extension office.