NWC News Desk

Still time to register for Spring Roundup 2011 Jan. 27 and 28 at Northwest College in Powell

Posted January 14, 2011
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POWELL, Wyo. - There’s still time to get free registration to Spring Roundup 2011, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 27 and 28, at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo.

The agriculture-business conference gathers some of the best agricultural minds in the region to share their knowledge and experience. The focus is on practical ways to improve the bottom line. Registration fees are waived for the first 200 people who sign up.

The two-day event opens with a 9 a.m. presentation by Wayne Fahsholtz, president and CEO of Padlock Ranch. His talk is titled “Is There a Future in the Beef Industry?” Fahsholtz is board chairman for Country Natural Beef. A recipient of the U.S. Department of Interior BLM National Riparian Stewardship Award, he also organized and still facilitates Western Ranch Managers Group. The group draws ranch managers from several western and Midwestern states together to discuss common issues and receive continuing education.

Also on the speaker’s docket is Rob Mitchell, director, national seed sales and marketing manager for J.R. Simplot’s AgriBusiness division. Mitchell has been involved in production agriculture his entire career managing his family’s diversified Missouri farming operation. He’s vice chair of the American Seed Trade Association Farm Seed Division and has held board positions on the National Corn Growers Association and the University of Missouri College of Agriculture. Mitchell will present a multi-media discussion about “Seed Technology… changing the face of production agriculture.”

The Friday lunch speaker is J.D. Radokovich, general manager of the Hoodoo Ranch in Park County, Wyoming.  In a presentation titled “Working on the business, not in the business,” Radokovich will talk about the impact strategic planning has on the bottom line of agricultural operations.  He’ll also touch on the ideas behind Systems Dynamic planning for agriculture. He’ll show how modeling the complex interactions of an ag operation can help result in the best decisions enterprise-wide.  He’ll give examples of working on strategic issues and the resulting short- and long-term positive benefits the business recoups as a result of the time spent. 

Retired Microsoft executive and family cattle-operation manager Rick LaPlante and Marcie Scott, chief financial officer of the S Ranch Ltd, will team up to close the conference with a presentation titled “This Stuff Really Can Make a Difference.”

They’ll take an analytical look at Scott’s journey from running a family ranch to running a ranching business that happens to have family as shareholders. They’ll recount the tough decisions and transitions.  It’s a success story that encompasses many of the topics covered during the two-day conference, including generational planning, strategic planning, hiring the right employees, decision making, leadership and more.

Other speakers will present programs on risk management using futures and options, what to know before starting a new ag business, conducting an economic analysis of an ag operation, benchmarking and identifying focus areas for improved profitability, leading versus managing, starting locally grown food co-ops, managing economic and environmental risks, USDA programs for new farmers and ranchers, strategies for employee retention, generational planning and persuasive communication.

The Northwest College Foundation will host a social hour for networking and a chance to meet with the presenters.

Cost to attend the two-day roundup is $89 per person, which includes lunch and breaks each day and sessions, except for the Thursday night entertainment. The first 200 people to sign up will receive free registration.

Entertainment is provided by Red Steagall, best known for his Texas swing dance music and songs “Here We Go Again,” “Party Dolls and Wine,” “Freckles Brown” and “Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills Music.”

Tickets to the Red Steagall Show are $25 or two for $40.

Spring Roundup 2011 is sponsored by the Northwest College Agriculture Department and Center for Training and Development.

Click here for more information, including a full schedule, accommodations, travel options and online.