March 26, 2006

Dear NFRBMEA Members & Friends,

June is just around the corner, even if the weather doesn’t indicate that. It’s still time to begin planning to attend the 34^th Annual Conference of NFRBMEA in Omaha, Nebraska. This is a special meeting since it will be the first joint meeting to be held with our colleagues from NAFBAS. 

 The boards of the two organizations have been meeting since 2003 to learn about each other and discover if a joint conference might work. We voted in 2004 to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with NAFBAS to hold joint conferences in 2006 through 2008. 

 It’s always good to see our Farm & Ranch friends from across the country every year. This year we will meet with a group of professionals who do the same work we do, but work in states we don’t typically work in. Representatives from both organizations have been attending each others’ conferences for the past two years.

 While trying to keep everything we are accustomed to in our conference, you will notice some differences. First, the conference will be one day shorter. The first activity will be a mixer at 6:00 pm on Monday, June 5^th and we will end the Business Meeting at noon on Thursday, June 8^th. The second difference will be guest registration. Spouses and children over 13 will pay $25.00 to register. This will include the Monday social and the Wednesday activity at the Omaha Zoo. So if a guest wants to go to the Storytelling Breakfast on Thursday morning, that needs to be indicated on the Registration form. 

The Conference Program will kick off with Dr. Michael Swanson, the Chief Economist from Wells Fargo in Minneapolis. Dr. Swanson has been with us before and will set the tone for our joint meeting. The rest of Tuesday will be devoted to looking at analysis tools used by Farm & Ranch and NAFBAS members in their daily work with producers. Finding common ground and improving data analysis will be the highlights of the presentations. Wednesday will feature Dr. Roger McEowen who has filled the position held by Dr. Neal Harl at Iowa State University. Wednesday afternoon we will spend on tours or at the Omaha Zoo. The Conference will wrap up on Thursday with the Storytelling Breakfast, Elwyn Taylor from ISU and the Business Meeting. Lots of activity is being packed into three days.

 You will find included in this mailing a registration form, First-Timer & Exchange of Ideas applications, and information for hotel reservations and Omaha visitor information. The plan is to keep the traditions of NFRBMEA alive and meet new friends and colleagues.

 We’ll see you in Omaha!

Your NFRBMEA Board & Conference Planners