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Download the GFAI Convention App! Search GFAI Convention in the app store
Please register on site at convention February 20-21st.
Full Registration Sunday-Tuesday: $160
Monday Only: $115
Trade Show Only: $50
Please register on site at convention February 20-21st.
Full Registration Sunday-Tuesday: $160
Monday Only: $115
Trade Show Only: $50
Exhibitor Information
Exhibitor Booths SOLD OUT!
To register for convention as an exhibitor, please email info@gfai.org and we will add you to your company's booth.
To register for convention as an exhibitor, please email info@gfai.org and we will add you to your company's booth.
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Attendee Information
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Attendee List
See who's coming to the GFAI Convention and Trade Show! If you aren't on this list (located to the right), register today! Online and Pre registration is closed. You must register on site at convention February 20-21st. If you are an exhibitor, please email info@gfai.org to be added to your company's booth. |
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Join us at Casino Night on Sunday for the chance to win great prizes! Free for registered attendees
Sponsored by Valley View Agri |
Hotel Information
Marriott St. Louis Grand is the location for the convention and trade show. Reservations can be made by phone: (314) 621-9600
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Support the GFAI Scholarship Fund
Grand prize is $2,500! Other cash prizes range from $100-$650. Winners will be drawn on Monday, February 21, 2022 at 4:00 pm at Convention. Tickets are $50 each. Only $200 tickets sold. Tickets can be purchased on site at the convention or email info@gfai.org to purchase a ticket! Tickets will be sold until February 21st at noon or until we sell out.
Grand prize is $2,500! Other cash prizes range from $100-$650. Winners will be drawn on Monday, February 21, 2022 at 4:00 pm at Convention. Tickets are $50 each. Only $200 tickets sold. Tickets can be purchased on site at the convention or email info@gfai.org to purchase a ticket! Tickets will be sold until February 21st at noon or until we sell out.
Keynote Speaker
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Author & Speaker Aaron Davis
How Championship Leaders Lead With Passion, Purpose And Love For Their People Aaron Davis has shared with over a million people about performing like a champion from personal experience. He is a leading authority & expert on the importance of having a Positive Attitude! Through mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, emptying hundreds of trashcans nightly, Aaron learned that it's not WHAT you do; instead, it's HOW you do it! As a member of the 1994 National Championship Nebraska Football team and working with numerous corporations & organizations, he understands firsthand what it takes to perform like a champion & experience incredible results both personally & professionally by maintaining a positive attitude! He's received numerous awards and accolades, and he's a proud University of Nebraska alumnus earning his degree in Psychology. He's shared the stage with some of today's top luminaries in various fields. He has spoken for some of the top companies & universities and numerous associations, including Farm Bureau, Walmart, ConAgra, USC, Penn State, Texas A&M, and many more.
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General Session Speakers
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Dr. Kevin M. Folta, University of Florida
A Profitable Industry through Trust Building and Consumer Engagement While new technologies will define the future of food and farming, when (if?) they are implemented depends on how we communicate their virtues to the public. During this session, Dr. Folta will present strategic communication approaches of trust building and consumer engagement for governments, corporations, and academic institutions around issues of technology in agriculture. You will learn how to effectively engage in discussion involving controversies and critics, and create change in the agriculture industry through effective communication.
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Drew Lerner, President and Senior Agricultural Meteorologist of World Weather Inc.
Navigating Rising Drought Potential in 2022 A unique set of converging weather patterns is responsible for extended drought conditions from the western United States to central Canada’s prairies: the western United States’ drought is pushing into its third year while dryness in parts of Canada is now five years old. Concern is rising over the potential for an eastward shift in the drought in 2022. Drew Lerner will assess the situation and illustrate what it will take to bring drought to the western Corn Belt and what is needed to prevent it from occurring.
Marc Ashbrook, Microsoft Digital Advisor Hunting for Gold on a Sea of Data Join the adventure and explore how Microsoft is seeing the winds of change blow through the agriculture industry. We'll sail through some of our strategic partnerships to see how we've channeled those winds and discovered treasure beyond belief. Our collective challenge is to bring that treasure home. To do so, we'll need to call on all four elements; earth, water, air, and fire. While each one is powerful in its own right, combining the four into new basic elements will enable us to defeat the sea monsters and bring the treasure home. |
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Lance Honig, Crops Branch Chief of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service
Charting the Course of Commodities: USDA-NASS Procedures Join us as Lance Honig, the Crops Branch Chief of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service describes how USDA-NASS collects and analyzes data to put their reports together. Honig will discuss challenges NASS faces in generating more than 200 official USDA reports each year covering acreage, yield, production, price, and value for more than 100 crop commodities. Honig began his career with NASS in 1991 and spent several years in Kansas and Indiana before moving to NASS headquarters in Washington DC. He has served as Chief of the Crops Branch of NASS since 2008. Rob Dongoski, Partner & Agribuisness Leader at Ernst & Young
Sailing into the Future: Reimagine the Opportunities in a Reimagined Food System Innovation and disruption are driving change across the food ecosystem. What was once a ‘farm to fork’ system is evolving into a multi-channel, multi-input ecosystem, driving new ways of working. Understanding what a reimagined food system will look like can provide better insight into partnerships, business models and new opportunities. Join us as we explore the drivers of change and the impacts for players up and down the value chain. |
Breakout Sessions
Morning Breakout Sessions:
Navigating the Course to Go Solar: Is it Right for your Company? Panel-style discussion by Derrick Bruhn (General Manager, Topflight Grain), Michael Putnam (Co-Founder, Vice President IL-Solar, Inc.) and Louie Ervin II (President & COO Latham, Ervin, Vognsen & Associates Energy Advisors)
Solar energy is getting a lot of attention – how do you know if it is a good fit for your grain elevator? Join this panel to hear discussion of real-world examples from an association member, how installation works, and big picture factors to consider if you are thinking about going solar.
All Hands on Deck: The Trusted Advisor's Approach to Grain Origination Greg Martinelli (Ag Sales Professionals)
Join Greg as he covers the concept of the Trusted Advisor and how it can shift your grain origination strategy for smooth sailing in your business! Most originators would consider themselves a merchant more than a salesperson. However, it’s the five basic selling steps that are needed to connect with a producer and get them to market their grain at their optimum time. Learn the most important step that many originators never do to sail your business into the future.
Inflation, Interest Rates, And What It All Means Josh Cannington (Vice President of Interest Rate Risk Management, StoneX Group Inc.)
Historically low interest rates will soon be a thing of the past. The economic recovery out of the pandemic has sent inflation to multi-decade highs and now the Fed is playing catch up. What does this mean for borrowers and what can be done to protect the balance sheet.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions:
Cybersecurity and Agribusiness: Ransomware Risks and Proactive Tips Heather Hughes (Director of Client Engagement, Resilience Insurance)
As the world continues to shift towards more virtual business, companies need to focus on cyber security and address the potential for expanding threats. In this session, attendees will learn about the latest cyber security threats in agribusiness, and how to identify, plan, and build cyber resilience within their company.
Trade & Ag Policy - Sailing through Stormy Seas Jon Doggett (CEO, National Corn Growers Association)
As our society and politics change, how does agriculture stay relevant? Join this session as Jon Doggett, CEO of National Corn Growers Association, shares his insight on today’s key trade and ag policy issues affecting our industry.
Reduce Your HR Worries & Woes: Best Practices for Attracting & Retaining Top Talent Katie Magoon (Founder & President of Peoples Solution Center)
Is finding and selecting top talent slowing the growth of your business? Do you feel like you roll the dice with every hire? Growing businesses often face similar challenges in recruiting and interviewing for talent. This session will provide attendees with practical tips including: building a sourcing strategy, managing time to fill, identifying quality candidates, implementing onboarding programs, and creating an ideal employee experience.
Navigating the Course to Go Solar: Is it Right for your Company? Panel-style discussion by Derrick Bruhn (General Manager, Topflight Grain), Michael Putnam (Co-Founder, Vice President IL-Solar, Inc.) and Louie Ervin II (President & COO Latham, Ervin, Vognsen & Associates Energy Advisors)
Solar energy is getting a lot of attention – how do you know if it is a good fit for your grain elevator? Join this panel to hear discussion of real-world examples from an association member, how installation works, and big picture factors to consider if you are thinking about going solar.
All Hands on Deck: The Trusted Advisor's Approach to Grain Origination Greg Martinelli (Ag Sales Professionals)
Join Greg as he covers the concept of the Trusted Advisor and how it can shift your grain origination strategy for smooth sailing in your business! Most originators would consider themselves a merchant more than a salesperson. However, it’s the five basic selling steps that are needed to connect with a producer and get them to market their grain at their optimum time. Learn the most important step that many originators never do to sail your business into the future.
Inflation, Interest Rates, And What It All Means Josh Cannington (Vice President of Interest Rate Risk Management, StoneX Group Inc.)
Historically low interest rates will soon be a thing of the past. The economic recovery out of the pandemic has sent inflation to multi-decade highs and now the Fed is playing catch up. What does this mean for borrowers and what can be done to protect the balance sheet.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions:
Cybersecurity and Agribusiness: Ransomware Risks and Proactive Tips Heather Hughes (Director of Client Engagement, Resilience Insurance)
As the world continues to shift towards more virtual business, companies need to focus on cyber security and address the potential for expanding threats. In this session, attendees will learn about the latest cyber security threats in agribusiness, and how to identify, plan, and build cyber resilience within their company.
Trade & Ag Policy - Sailing through Stormy Seas Jon Doggett (CEO, National Corn Growers Association)
As our society and politics change, how does agriculture stay relevant? Join this session as Jon Doggett, CEO of National Corn Growers Association, shares his insight on today’s key trade and ag policy issues affecting our industry.
Reduce Your HR Worries & Woes: Best Practices for Attracting & Retaining Top Talent Katie Magoon (Founder & President of Peoples Solution Center)
Is finding and selecting top talent slowing the growth of your business? Do you feel like you roll the dice with every hire? Growing businesses often face similar challenges in recruiting and interviewing for talent. This session will provide attendees with practical tips including: building a sourcing strategy, managing time to fill, identifying quality candidates, implementing onboarding programs, and creating an ideal employee experience.
Convention Schedule
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Sunday, February 20, 2022
Registration 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm Trade Show Open 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Reception in the Trade Show 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Casino Night at Hotel 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm |
Monday, February 21, 2022
Registration 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Trade Show Open 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Breakfast 7:30 am - 9:00 am General Session 9:15 am - 11:00 am & Annual Meeting Educational Sessions 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Lunch 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Educational Sessions 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Afternoon General Session 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm Reception in the Trade Show 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm & Draw Down Raffle/Trade Show Game Winners |
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Breakfast 7:00 am - 9:00 am Closing General Session 8:00 am - 10:30 am |