KNID Agrifest Farm & Ranch Forum

In cooperation with the 19^th annual KNID Agrifest, American Farmers and Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union (AFR/OFU) is proud to co-sponsor two full days of educational seminars geared toward agricultural producers of all ages, backgrounds and interests.

The presentations feature professionals discussing issues that are important in today’s agricultural industry and will remain hot topics well into the future. Whether you’re large or small, full- or part-time, plan to gain valuable knowledge at this year’s seminars!

Friday, January 9*

• 9 – 9:30 a.m.

“Early-Bird Mix-N-Mingle”

Visit one-on-one with your legislators at this informal reception!

• 9:30 – 11 a.m.

“Agriculture Policy Today”

A state and federal legislative update by Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economics Extension and USDA-FSA that includes the 2014 Farm Bill implementation

• Noon – 12:30 p.m. 

“There’s Hope in Healthy Soil!”

Steve Alspach, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Oklahoma’s State Soil Scientist will share the many benefits and opportunities healthy soil can provide. Jimmy Emmons, a  farmer and rancher from Dewey County, Oklahoma, will also be providing testimony. He currently works closely with this program to improve his own soil quality.  

• 12:30 – 1 p.m.

“Asset Protection - Your Risk of Losing It All!”

Terry Detrick, AFR Insurance

How insurance coverage works! Why it is important! Knowing what coverage you have!

• 2 – 3 p.m. 

“Keeping the Family Farming: How Succession Planning Keeps the Farm in the Family”

Dr. Shannon Ferrell, OSU Department of Agricultural Economics

Fewer than one-third of family farms survive the transfer from one generation to the next. This workshop helps farmers and ranchers keep their families farming together. Attendees will receive a copy of OSU’s Farm Transition Workbook. The workbook and its online materials help farm families work through the steps of farm succession planning at their own pace and learn more about the tools available to implement their plan.

• 4 – 5 p.m.

“Oklahoma Beef: Health, Marketing and Current Issues”

Michael Kelsey, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association

Trever Mason, Northwest Stockyards and Northwest Feeders

Dr. Tim Starks, Cherokee Sales Company, Livestock Marketing Association

A panel of the state’s beef experts will discuss issues affecting livestock producers, smart marketing techniques and current health concerns in the area’s beef industry.

Saturday, January 10*   

• 9 – 10 a.m.

“Managing Risk:  The Big Picture”

Andrea Metcalf, Farmers Grain Company

Ways to reduce risk, increase revenue and improve your quality of life through a comprehensive risk management approach.

• 10 – 11 a.m.

“Lending 101 for Beginning Farmers, Young Farmers and Family Advisors”

Kyle Hohmann, Farm Credit of Enid

How to obtain and sustain long-term financing including mortgage loans and farm purchases, real estate and leasing equipment loans.

Marty Meyer, Chisholm Trail Farm Credit

Obtaining and sustaining short-term financing including special lending programs and operational loans.

• Noon – 12:30 p.m.

“There’s Hope in Healthy Soil!”

Steve Alspach, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Oklahoma’s State Soil Scientist will share the many benefits and opportunities healthy soil can provide. Jimmy Emmons, a  farmer and rancher from Dewey County, Oklahoma, will also be providing testimony. He currently works closely with this program to improve his own soil quality. 

• 12:30 – 1 p.m.

“Asset Protection - Your risk of losing it all!”

Terry Detrick, AFR Insurance

How insurance coverage works! Why it is important! Knowing what coverage you have!

• 2 – 3 p.m. 

“Keeping the Family Farming: How Succession Planning Keeps the Farm in the Family”

Dr. Shannon Ferrell, OSU Department of Agricultural Economics

Fewer than one-third of family farms survive the transfer from one generation to the next. This workshop helps farmers and ranchers keep their families farming together. Attendees will receive a copy of OSU’s Farm Transition Workbook. The workbook and its online materials help farm families work through the steps of farm succession planning at their own pace and learn more about the tools available to implement their plan.

• 4 – 5 p.m.

“Oklahoma Beef: Health, Marketing and Current Issues”

Michael Kelsey, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association

Trever Mason, Northwest Stockyards and Northwest Feeders

Dr. Tim Starks, Cherokee Sales Company, Livestock Marketing Association

A panel of the state’s beef experts will discuss issues affecting livestock producers, smart marketing techniques and current health concerns in the state’s beef industry.

*All seminars will be held in the Coliseum Board Room in the northeast corner of the coliseum. There will be a drawing for attendees to win a 16GB Kindle Fire HDX 7” with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi capabilities at noon and 5 p.m. each day.

Speaker Bios

Steve Alspach, Oklahoma’s State Soil Scientist with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Alspach is a native of Nowata, Okla., and has served NRCS for 22 years, including seven years as a member of a soil survey team in Buffalo, Okla., 10 years as a resource soil scientist in Emporia, Kan., Clinton, Okla., and Perry, Okla. He has also served two years as the MLRA project leader in Stillwater, Okla., and three years as the Oklahoma Assistant State Soil Scientist. Prior to his work with NRCS, he worked as an engineering aide for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Hydraulics Lab. Alspach has a bachelor’s in agronomy from Oklahoma State University and is a member of the Professional Soil Scientists Society of Oklahoma.

Terry Detrick, President of American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union

Detrick has served as the president of AFR/OFU since 2009. He is a third-generation farmer and the managing agent of the Detrick Insurance Agency, serving the Ames, Drummond and Lahoma communities in NW Oklahoma. Detrick is also the current president of the Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation, chairman of the executive board of the Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program. He serves several agricultural organizations in advisory roles including the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association, the OSU Dean of Agriculture Advisory Council and the Kansas City Federal Reserve Food & Agriculture Roundtable. He also holds a federal appointment to the Cattleman’s Beef Board.

Dr. Shannon Ferrell, Associate Professor specializing in Ag Law, OSU Dept. of Agricultural Economics

Ferrell grew up on a cattle and wheat operation in western Oklahoma, earned his B.S. and M.S. from OSU and earned his Juris Doctorate with endorsements in estate planning and business and financial services law from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He spent several years in private practice, focusing on agricultural, environmental, energy and corporate law. Since joining OSU in 2007, he has provided nearly 300 extension seminars and workshops and authored more than fifty extension publications.

Andrea Metcalf, Risk Management Department Manager, Farmers Grain Company   

Metcalf helps farmers protect their revenue and preserve equity by combining crop insurance, crop inputs and grand and livestock marketing. She grew up on a diversified farming and cattle operation in northeastern Oklahoma and graduated with an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University. She spent more than six years working as a grain and rail merchandiser in north-central Oklahoma before starting with Farmers Grain Company of Pond Creek, Okla., in 2013. Metcalf is a crop insurance agent licensed in Oklahoma and Kansas and a licensed series-three broker.

Kyle Hohmann, CEO of Farm Credit of Enid

Hohmann has many years of experience in agricultural lending, 30 years with Farm Credit. He has served in his current capacity since 1992. He has a bachelor’s in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University and grew up in Grant County. Hohmann serves on the Oklahoma Agricultural Advancement and Diversity Advisory Board through ODAFF and on the Autry Technology Center Board of Directors.

Marty Meyer, Vice President and Branch Manager of Chisholm Trail Farm Credit

Meyer has been with Chisholm Trail Farm Credit for 14 years. He grew up in Garfield County and earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University. Meyer currently serves on the Garfield County Industrial Authority Board of Directors.

Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association

Michael Kelsey grew up near Rush Springs, Okla., on a commercial cow/calf operation and attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College on a livestock judging scholarship. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University in 1992. Kelsey served as executive director of the Oklahoma Beef Council from 2000 to 2004 and Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President from 2004 to 2013. In July 2013, he came home to Oklahoma to serve as Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.

Trever Mason, President and Gen. Manager of Northwest Stockyards & Northwest Cattle Feeders

Mason was raised near Ringwood, Okla., on his family’s farming and ranching operation, which included 1500 acres of wheat and rye and a 1200-head stocker cattle feeding facility. Mason earned a degree in engineering technology from Oklahoma State University – Okmulgee and worked as a Design Division Manager and Project Manager for Tegron Industrial Controls for 15 years. During his tenure, his projects stretched across five continents. In 2007, Mason moved back to Oklahoma and bought an owning interest in his family’s now-expanded 7000-head feed yard. In 2010, Mason co-purchased Northwest Stockyards near Enid, Okla. Today, Mason is president and general manager of both facilities.

Dr. Tim Starks, President of the Livestock Marketing Assoc. and Owner of Cherokee Sales Company

As the 2012-2014 LMA President, Starks represents livestock markets nationwide. He also owns and operates Cherokee Sales Co., LLC, the livestock auction in Cherokee, Okla., and practices veterinary medicine through his consulting business, which focuses on stocker and feedlot operations. Prior to consulting full-time in 1997, he owned and operated a private veterinary clinic in Cherokee. Starks grew up on a farming and ranching operation near Cherokee, Okla. He earned a bachelor’s in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University in 1989 and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from OSU in 1992. Starks is a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association.

This year’s educational seminars are part of AFR/OFU’s new Future Leaders Program (FLP), a program directed at creating opportunities for growth within Oklahoma’s younger agricultural community. A priority of the program is to provide the latest information that could affect the bottom line of farming and ranching operations and to help agricultural producers of all ages stay up to date on trends and new technology within the industry.

For more information on FLP or other AFR/OFU events, contact AFR/OFU Future Leaders Program Coordinator Megan Albright at (405)218-5416 or malbright@afrmic.com.

Affiliated with Oklahoma Farmers Union, AFR was established in 1905 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City. The organization is actively supportive of Oklahoma’s agricultural industry and rural population, and provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state. AFR Insurance provides automobile, home, farm and life insurance with an emphasis on quality products and exceptional customer service. Available statewide, AFR Insurance is recognized as a leading domestic insurance carrier in the state of Oklahoma.