Emerging Leaders in Agriculture Conference
January 10-12, 2024
Camden on the Lake Resort
Lake Ozark, MO
Emerging Leaders in Agriculture is a valuable program designed to help young, professional producers manage and grow your business. During this all-expenses-paid event, you and a guest will hear from first-class speakers and agribusiness experts. You will also take part in discussions on issues and challenges facing agriculture, cooperatives and rural America. This conference is an excellent opportunity to provide feedback about the needs and expectations of young producers while gaining valuable, ongoing connections for the future.
We are looking for applicants who:
- Are between the ages of 21 and 45
- Farm as your primary business and are involved in the day-to-day operations
- Derive a minimum of two-thirds of your income from farming
If you meet these qualifications, we encourage you to apply today!
Applications are due by October 31, 2023. Participants will be selected and notified by November 15. Preference will be given to first-time attendees.
Event Schedule
Wednesday, January 10 Schedule
| 4:00 – 5:30 PM | Registration |
| 5:30-6:30 PM | Opening Reception & Introductions |
| 6:30-7:30 PM | Dinner & Networking |
| 7:30-8:30 PM | Lead with Your A.C.E.S. Wayne Humphreys A fun and thought-provoking look at how our Attitude, Communication, Enthusiasm and Sincerity can change the world around us. |
Thursday, January 11 Schedule
| 7:00-8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00-8:15 AM | Welcome |
| 8:15-9:30 AM | Business Strategies to Navigate Markets in 2024 & Beyond Ben Brown A look at commodity markets and tactics to manage farms in an era of tight margins. |
| 9:30-9:45 AM | BREAK |
| 9:45-11:00 AM | Cultivating Resilience: Farm Risk Management Insights Ben Brown Identifying risk on your farm and learning how to mitigate it. |
| 11:00-12:00 PM | Lunch & Networking |
| 12:00-1:15 PM | The System is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts Drexel Atkisson A discussion of soil health principles and how they can improve your farmland. |
| 1:15-1:30 PM | BREAK |
| 1:30-2:45 PM | Farm Business Transference Connie Haden Understanding farm transitions and key issues in succession planning. |
| 2:45-3:00 PM | BREAK |
| 3:00-4:15 PM | Strong Under Pressure: 7 Skills to Ride the Wave Karen Eddington Discover how to navigate the ebbs and flows of life, how to rest and repair, and ways to find more peace. |
| 5:30-6:30 PM | Cocktail Reception & Networking |
| 6:30-7:30 PM | Dinner |
| 7:30-9:00 PM | Evening Entertainment Johnny Beehner A good, clean comedy show that will leave you in stitches. |
Friday, January 12 Schedule
| 7:00 – 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00-10:45 AM | What We Think is What We Get Richard Fagerlin Learn how to identify and adjust thinking patterns that can damage your chances of success. |
| 10:45-11:00 AM | BREAK |
| 11:00-12:00 PM | Leadership Panel & Cooperative Benefits Talk with the CEOs and Board Chairmen of MFA Inc. and MFA Oil and Dr. Keri Jacobs and learn the upside of doing business with a cooperative. |
| 12:00 PM | Adjourn |
MFA Oil and MFA Incorporated will cover your two-night hotel stay, scheduled meals and entertainment for you and a guest, as well as mileage to and from your home.