Breakout Sessions - Round 1

Saturday, January 18, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

1. Farm Financial Foundations: Building your Balance Sheet
Nate Gebel, YBS Relationship Officer, Farm Credit Services of America                  
Gain a comprehensive understanding of creating and maintaining a farm balance sheet. Learn about key components, valuing assets, managing liabilities, and calculating equity, with practical exercises and an interactive Q&A to address specific challenges.
2. Farm to Table: Insights from Farmers Selling Meat Direct to Consumers
Emily Shivers, Shivers Farms, Polk County  
Molly Dolch, Adair County  
Lillie Beringer-Crock, Beringer Family Farms, Jones County  
Lane Eads (Facilitator), Regional Manager, IFBF
Join a panel of farmers who have successfully transitioned to selling their products directly to consumers. They will share their experiences, challenges, and strategies for building a direct-to-consumer business model. Attendees will learn practical tips on marketing, customer engagement, and maintaining product quality to thrive in this growing market segment.
3. Fielding Tax Challenges: A Farmer’s Guide to Tax Management
Levi Stockdale, CPA, Deputy Tax Leader, LattaHarris
Vance Glaser, CPA, Chief Financial Officer & Deputy Tax Director, Principal, LattaHarris
Join us for an insightful session designed specifically for farmers looking to navigate the complexities of tax management. Learn how to maximize deductions and credits to reduce your tax burden and ensure compliance with the latest tax regulations. Discover effective methods for organizing financial records to streamline your tax preparation process and avoid common pitfalls.
4. Future of Farming: Navigating Tomorrow's Agricultural Landscape
Jack Uldrich, Global Futurist & Best-Selling Author 
While Jack can’t predict the future for our farms, he can help us prepare for it. He will challenge us to look beyond what we can see today to anticipate what’s around the corner for agriculture and how we can position ourselves to successfully lead through it.
5. Getting Started with Canva: A Beginner’s Guide
LaShonda Brown, Canva Verified Expert & Tech Educator, Bootstrap Biz Advice
Dive into the world of design with Canva! This beginner-friendly session will introduce you to the basics of using Canva to create stunning visuals. Key topics will include navigating the interface, creating your first design, customizing elements and much more! By the end of this session, you’ll have the skills and confidence to create eye-catching designs for any purpose using Canva.
6. Hands Only CPR Training
TBD 
Learn how Hands-Only CPR can significantly increase the survival chances of adults experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. This session will highlight the importance of CPR training in boosting confidence and the quality of chest compressions. Discover how immediate action by bystanders can double or triple a victim's chance of survival.

7. Navigating Carbon Policies: Opportunities & Challenges
TBD
Explore the latest carbon policies and their impact on agriculture in this engaging session. Learn how to navigate the opportunities and challenges these policies present, and discover strategies to integrate sustainable practices into your farming operations.
8. Resume and Job Search Strategies: Navigating the Job Market with Confidence
Mike Gaul, Director, Career Services CALS, Iowa State University
This session will equip participants with essential strategies for crafting standout resumes and conducting effective job searches. Experts will share practical tips on tailoring resumes to specific job roles, leveraging online job platforms, and preparing for interviews. Attendees will leave with the confidence and tools needed to successfully navigate the competitive job market


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