Welcome!
Dear NFRBMEA Members & Friends:
It is again the time of the year for you to begin to make plans to attend the 32nd Annual NFRBMEA Conference. This year's conference will be held in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin on June 6-10, 2004 at the Howard Johnson Hotel and Conference Center. The Wisconsin FBPM teachers look forward to hosting this year's conference and invite you to join us in the Dairy State for some fun and comfort.
The “Dells” is a popular recreation destination noted for its water parks, mini golf, and yes the “Ducks”. This part of Wisconsin is the boundary of the northern hardwood forest and the northern pine forest providing a wide diversity of plant and animal life. The Wisconsin River cuts through the area and drained a great glacial lake forming the unique sandstone cliffs that line the river banks at the 'dells'. If you are looking for a blend of agriculture, natural resources, and recreation you will find it here.
The theme of this year's conference is The Green and Gold of Wisconsin-Environmental Responsibility and Financial Rewards. Our planning committee has put together a conference to expand your knowledge on our agricultural industry and learn how our producers can compete financially and with respect for the natural environment. Wisconsin has adopted some environmental regulations designed to keep soil applied nutrients in place, and at the same time is encouraging the dairy industry to remain competitive in this landscape. Review the conference agenda and you will be surprised to find that we have a great diversity of speakers and tours scheduled. Have you ever been to a cranberry bog? You will get to one if you come to the conference. How about your business analysis skills? Could they be sharpened up? We have brought together some leading minds in the business side of farming and dairying to move the analytical side of your mind.
Spouses and family will have plenty to do. This community was built on the concept of making life fun for young and old. The area has many activities to offer. The spouses and children tour includes the National Crane Foundation and the Circus World Museum. The world famous House on the Rock is located nearby. Your children or grandchildren will really love it if you take them along to this conference.
We have included information on conference registration, a registration information form for making your hotel registration, agendas, information about the “Exchange of Ideas”, and a First Timers' Scholarship application. We encourage all of you to review the information and return your registrations early. Once again, we are offering an Early Bird Registration and an opportunity to be included for our drawing.
Sincerely,
Your 2004 Conference Hosts
Conference Agenda
Sunday, June 6
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Morning | Pre-conference Board Meeting |
| 6:00 PM | Poolside Picnic at Antiqua Bay (by outdoor pool, weather permitting) |
Monday, June 7
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Buffet Breakfast |
| 8:00 - 11:00 AM | Registration |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome, Introductions & Keynote Speakers, Environment & Agriculture The Keynote Speakers for the 32nd Annual National Farm and Ranch Conference are Ben Brancel and Jim Porterfield. Ben Brancel will relate to attendees his vast experiences in Wisconsin as a farmer, legislator, agriculture secretary, and currently the state FSA Director on the impact of Agriculture on the Wisconsin Economy and environment. Jim Porterfield is the Director of Research for the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. He will relate to attendees of our conference, proactive, profitable, and practical stewardship initiatives researched and developed by the Foundation. Jim will also relate his prior experiences with the Farm Bureau when he worked in the policy arena of the Bureau and why he is a strong believer in the proactive role model for stewardship success. |
| 10:45 AM | BREAK & View Trade Show |
| 11:00 AM | Breakout Sessions (Choose one of the following):
|
| NOON | Buffet Lunch with Business Session and View Trade Show |
| 2:00 PM | Breakout Sessions Repeat (Choose one of the following):
|
| 3:00 PM | BREAK & View Trade Show |
| 3:30 PM | Breakout Sessions Repeat (Choose one of the following):
|
| 4:15 PM | Dinner on Your Own |
| 6:00 PM | Depart Hotel for Dells Boat Tour |
Tuesday, June 8
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Plated Breakfast |
| First Timers' Breakfast Meeting —Ron Dvergsten, NFRBMEA President Elect |
|
| 8:30 AM | Agricultural Economics: “How to use the Farm Financial Standards” —Mr. Darrell L. Dunteman, Ag Executive Managing Editor Panel Discussion on Dairy Initiatives & Profitability Serving on the panel are Dr. Bruce Jones, Director of the Center for Dairy Profitability at the UW-Madison; Mr. Gary Sipiorski, President of Citizens State Bank, Loyal and Chairman of the Growing Wisconsin Agriculture Commission; and Mr. Terry Johnson, Vice-President of FCS Financial Services North Central Region. These individuals will share their ideas and experiences for improving agricultural health (primarily dairy) in Wisconsin. |
| 9:45 AM | BREAK |
| 10:00 AM | Breakout Sessions (Choose one of the following):
|
| 10:45 AM | Breakout Sessions Repeat (Choose one of the following):
|
| 11:30 AM | Buffet Lunch |
| 12:30 PM | Bus Leaves for Ag Industry Tours Tour Guides: Peter Brandt, Doug Marshall & Mike Sabel
|
| 5:30 PM | Arrive Back at Hotel- Evening on Your Own |
Wednesday, June 9
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Buffet Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Program-Marketing Wisconsin Products —Mr. Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (invited) Marketing Panel:
|
| 9:30 AM | Bus Leaves for Foremost Farms |
| 9:45 AM | Foremost Farms and Equity Livestock Cooperative Program |
| NOON | Lunch at Foremost Farms |
| 1:00 PM | Board Bus for USDA Dairy Forage Research Center |
| 1:30 PM | Tour USDA Dairy Forage Research Center |
| 3:45 PM | Tour Cedar Grove Cheese |
| 5:30 PM | Arrive Back at Hotel- Evening on Your Own |
Thursday, June 10
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | Plated Breakfast |
| Master Storytelling Breakfast | |
| 10:00 AM | Report of Agriculture Educator Survey and Study —Dr. Richard Joerger, University of Minnesota |
| *** | NOTE: The EXCHANGE OF IDEAS activity is scheduled to occur sometime between Dr. Joerger�s presentation and the final business meeting |
| 10:30 AM | Final Business Meeting —Tom Weygandt, Outgoing NFRBMEA President |
| NOON | Adjourn and Head Home or Tour Scenic Wisconsin —Ron Dvergsten, Incoming NFRBMEA President |
| Post-Conference Board Meeting —Ron Dvergsten, President NFRBMEA |
|
(Printable Conference Agenda)
NFRBMEA Spouse & Family Tours
Monday, June 7
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 12:30 PM | Board Bus at Antiqua Bay |
| 1:15 PM | International Crane Foundation Crane and habitat conservation collection of captive cranes maintained for study, captive breeding and reintroduction into the wild at headquarters near Baraboo demonstrate endangered species management for the public, and facilitate education about cranes in the United States and abroad. |
| 2:15 PM | Leave for Circus World |
| 2:30 PM | Arrive at Circus World Circus World is America's Circus Museum, and Wisconsin's National Treasure! The museum is located at the site of the original Ringling Brothers Circus Winter Quarters, a National Historic Landmark located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Each year nearly 100,000 visitors tour the unique complex for an educational and fun family experience. |
| 4:30 PM | Leave for Antiqua Bay |
| 5:00 PM | Return to Antiqua Bay |
Printable Spouse Schedule
2004 Conference Photos
Peter Scheffert, Donna Rae Scheffert and Barb Kelm at the 2004 NFRBMEA Conference in the Dells.
Harold Swanson, foreground, enjoys the poolside picnic.
Dale Nordquist, U of M Center for Farm Financial Management, checks in with Mark Alden, Wisconsin instructor.
Wisconsin instructors man the registration table in the Dells.
Ed Ruff gives the welcoming address at the Dells.
Ben Brancl, former Wisconsin legislator, agriculture secretary and current state FSA Director, speaks on the impact of agriculture on the Wisconsin economy and environment.
Jim Porterfield, American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.
Paul Larson, Region III NAAE vice president, addresses the NFRBMEA Conference.
Gary Thome reported on the Adult Council's activities.
We took a ride on the famous Dells Ducks.
Just a few of the enthusiastic boaters on tour of the Lower Dells.
An example of the beauty the Lower Dells offers.
Attending the First Timer's Breakfast on Tuesday were Betsy Jensen, Stephen, MN; Kevin Misek, Langdon, ND; Cathy Platfoot, Piqua, OH; Greg Dvergsten, Thief River Falls, MN; Mark S. Alden, Lena, WI; Jack LaValla, St. Charles, MN; Don Garrett, Eaton, OH; Will Marsh, St. Paul, MN; Carol Gerlach, Appleton, WI; Paul Gerlach, Appleton, WI; Kevin Raisbeck, Fennimore, WI; Eric G. Hurley, Wausau, WI; and Dave Wittek, Thorp, WI.
Bob Rhea (L), NAFBAS executive director and Jim Kelm (the groggy one with the coffee cup) address the First-Timers at breakfast.
Various committees took the opportunity to meet during breakfasts during the conference. Pictured is the Resources Committee, consisting of Jon Farquharson (L), Deb Pike, Ron VanNurden, and Charles Duell. Also pictured is Virginia Berger.
Mike Sabel (L), conference planner, introduces Dr. Laurence Crane.
Panel discussion at the conference: (L-R) Gene Medeke, SW Wisconsin Tech College; Dr. Bruce Jones, U of W Center for Dairy Profitability; Terry Johnson, VP of FCS Financial Services North Central Region; and Gary Sipiorski, president of Citizens State Bank of Loyal and Chair of the Growing Wisconsin Ag Commission.
Darrell Duntemann, Managing Editor of Ag Executive.
Dr. Bruce Jones, U of W Center for Dairy Profitability.
NFRBMEA tour of the Weatherby Cranberry Company near Warrens, WI. They have 125 acres of cranberry marshes in beds up to 160 feet wide and of varying lengths. There are only 250 cranberry growers in the U.S. Warrens has a population of 300, but hosts over 100,000 during their annual Cranberry Festival.
Roger Schroeder gives NFRBMEA members a tour of his free stall barn during the Dells conference.
Ira Beckman, taking charge of the Foremost Farms USA lab. Laurie Morris and Kelly Annand, both from CO, stand by for action.
We also toured the USDA Dairy Forage Research Facility near Prairie du Sac, just one of the stops on our schedule.
Barry Kurtz and Will Marsh, both of MN, look at the different forages being fed to the cows at the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center.
NFRBMEA members tour the water treatment greenhouse at Cedar Grove Cheese Dairy in Plain, WI.
(L-R) Ted Pike, Celeste Kurtz, and Daniel Kurtz wake up for the Storytelling Breakfast.
Luke Baker, OH, promotes the Ohio conference by passing out candy buckeyes.
Pat Harrington, AZ, Master of Ceremonies for the Storytelling Breakfast.
Diane Woodford tells her story at the Storytelling breakfast.
John Caster, OR, zings the crowd with another top-notch story at the 2004 Storytelling breakfast.
Betsy Jensen (MN) explains her Exchange of Ideas submission.
Dr. Richard Joerger, University of Minnesota Ag Ed Department, explains the findings of the NFRBMEA Professional Development Needs survey at the Dells Conference.
Ron VanNurden, instructor at Owatonna, MN, shows off his 2004 Miniature Golf trophy.
Your Board
Back: Jim Kelm, Past President; Ron Dvergsten, President Elect; Wayne Pike, Membership Secretary/NUTS & BOLTS Co-Editor; Charles Duell, Secretary; Ed Ruff, '04 Conference Chair & Tom Ackerman, '05 Conference Planner
Exchange of Ideas
One hundred dollars ($100) will be awarded to the first five (5) individuals submitting an outstanding idea for the Exchange of Ideas activity by May 7, 2004. Complete the application form, including a brief description of your idea, and send to President Elect Ron Dvergsten.
First Timers' Scholarship
The NFRBMEA will be awarding $200 scholarships (covers 2004 Annual Conference Registration Fee) to five (5) individuals attending our Annual Conference for the first time.
Please print out and give a First Timers' Scholarship application to anyone with interest in the conference but has never attended a NFRBMEA conference before. Speed is important, as only the first five people from different states and provinces are eligible. The postmark will be the tiebreaker. Let us see how many new individuals we can encourage to attend the Wisconsin Dells Conference. Find the form here...
Hotel
HOWARD JOHNSON
Hotel and Conference Center-Antiqua Bay Waterpark
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Conference Forms & Applications
Dells Links
