Program | Agricultural Bankers Conference

7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Conference registration open

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM

Industry Insights Breakfasts

Sponsored by Agri-Access and Boa Safra Ag

Join us for breakfast and connect with colleagues from across the country. Learn about innovative new products and services that can take your bank to the next level. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM, the session begins at 7:15 am. Specific session details to come.

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

GENERAL SESSION

Bruning Award presentation

Since 1997, the Bruning Award recognizes bankers that demonstrate outstanding leadership and dedicated service to providing credit and guidance to farmers, ranchers and their fellow agricultural bankers. The award is named after its first recipient, Nebraska banker Frank Bruning.

Cyclical or transformational? How GLP-1s, protein demand and global trade are rewriting ag risk

GLP-1 medications are rapidly reshaping food demand, accelerating shifts toward protein-dense consumption while pressuring volume-driven models. This general session will examine whether current ag market stress reflects another cycle — or a structural change that lenders must underwrite differently. Integrating protein markets, row crops and global trade, this discussion will focus on implications for credit risk, capital structure and portfolio strategy in a reorganizing ag economy.

• Gene Copenhaver, 2026 President, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• Moderator: Matt Bennett, CEO and Co-Founder, ApgMarket.net

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Networking break in The Hub

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

CONCURRENT SESSIONS II

Who really holds the risk? Managing integrator and concentration exposure in agricultural lending

In contract‑driven agricultural sectors, strong borrower underwriting alone is no longer sufficient. As integrators and contract counterparties consolidate and exert greater control over contracts, throughput and producer economics, a significant share of repayment risk sits outside the borrower’s balance sheet. This session will examine how lender exposure is shaped by counterparty financial strength, contract durability and renewal risk, and how integrator decisions or disruptions can materially affect repayment. Discussion will focus on evaluating contract terms relative to loan amortization; managing portfolio concentration across counterparties, geography and production systems; identifying early warning indicators tied to counterparty stress; and defending tougher credit structures, pricing and covenants in competitive markets.

• Matthew Bialick, Partner, MJB Law

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

LUNCH AND GENERAL SESSION

USDA and SBA updates on guaranteed lender programs

The ABA Agricultural & Rural Committee will lead this discussion about guaranteed loan programs that can help your customers. Hear directly from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Rural Development, as well as the Small Business Administration, on changes the agencies made to their guaranteed programs.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Dessert and coffee break in The Hub

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

CONCURRENT SESSIONS III

The other side of the margin: How input cost pressure is reshaping crop, livestock and credit strategies

Input costs are quietly reshaping whole-farm profitability, often before revenue stress becomes visible. This session follows cost pressure from row crops through feed markets and livestock margins to lender risk.

• Chad Fiechter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University

Carrying the weight: Protecting your mental health as an ag lender

Ag lenders often absorb emotional strain through long-term borrower relationships and prolonged downturns. This session will help you recognize stress, practice self-care, maintain boundaries and sustain performance over time.

• Monica Kramer McConkey, rural mental health specialist and owner, Eyes on Horizon Consulting

3:15 PM – 5:00 PM

GENERAL SESSION

ABA/Farmer Mac Ag Lender Survey Results

Our panel of experts will showcase and analyze the results from the 2026 ABA-Farmer Mac Agricultural Bankers Survey. Gain insights on the state of agricultural banking from a survey of ag lenders across the country.

The innovation framework: How to build a flexible, fast and ambitious culture

In this high-energy, interactive session, Steve Lerch, former Google executive and innovation advocate, will address a common challenge: organizations struggling to innovate because ideas are trapped at the top and execution moves too slowly. The cost is lost growth, stalled competitiveness and underutilized talent. At a time when speed and adaptability matter more than ever, Lerch will show you how empowering every individual to contribute can drive practical, scalable innovation now.

• Steve Lerch, expert in digital strategy, marketing, consumer behavior & innovation; Former Google executive, Story Arc Consulting

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Networking reception

Sponsored by Farmer Mac

Join us for a pint at The Local and network with your fellow attendees.

7:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Conference registration open

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM

Partner Game Changers

Join us for a rapid-paced, Shark Tank-style session where you’ll discover solutions built to meet the evolving needs of your bank. Ambitious industry partners will facilitate two-minute pitches on their products, and a panel of bankers will ask them hard-hitting questions. You’ll walk away with new ideas, practical insights and a drive to address your bank’s real-life challenges with newfound solutions.
Breakfast will be served during this session.

8:00 AM – 8:40 AM

COMMODITY OUTLOOKS

Get the latest commodity updates on dairy, proteins and row crops. Each 40-minute session will be offered twice, so you can attend more than one.

Dairy and dairy processing

This session will deliver a timely outlook on dairy markets and the processing sector, exploring milk supply trends, product demand (cheese, butter, powders), and the key drivers shaping pricing and margins. We’ll discuss feed and input cost dynamics, export and trade factors, and what to watch in the months ahead as volatility and consumer preferences continue to evolve.

• Ted Jacoby, CEO and President, Cheese, Butter and Dry Ingredients, T.C. Jacoby & Co

Proteins

This session will provide a focused outlook on the poultry, cattle and pork sectors, covering current industry conditions, export trends, and the economic forces shaping supply and demand. You’ll gain insights into key challenges, shifting profitability and the major trends driving change across both proteins.

• Andrew Griffith, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Tennessee

Row crops

Get ready for an engaging, discussion-driven look at the supply and demand fundamentals for corn, soybeans and wheat, and how global trade dynamics and timing influence each crop differently. From shifting export markets to evolving trade agreements, we’ll unpack what matters most and why. We’ll break down what to watch closely in the months ahead and share key takeaways to help you stay ahead of the curve. Bring your questions!

• Edward Usset, Grain Marketing Economist, University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management

8:50 AM – 9:30 AM

COMMODITY OUTLOOKS

Get the latest commodity updates on dairy, proteins and row crops. Each 40-minute session will be offered twice, so you can attend more than one.

Dairy and dairy processing

This session will deliver a timely outlook on dairy markets and the processing sector, exploring milk supply trends, product demand (cheese, butter, powders), and the key drivers shaping pricing and margins. We’ll discuss feed and input cost dynamics, export and trade factors, and what to watch in the months ahead as volatility and consumer preferences continue to evolve.

• Ted Jacoby, CEO and President, Cheese, Butter and Dry Ingredients, T.C. Jacoby & Co

Proteins

This session will provide a focused outlook on the poultry, cattle and pork sectors, covering current industry conditions, export trends, and the economic forces shaping supply and demand. You’ll gain insights into key challenges, shifting profitability and the major trends driving change across both proteins.

• Andrew Griffith, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Tennessee

Row crops

Get ready for an engaging, discussion-driven look at the supply and demand fundamentals for corn, soybeans and wheat, and how global trade dynamics and timing influence each crop differently. From shifting export markets to evolving trade agreements, we’ll unpack what matters most and why. We’ll break down what to watch closely in the months ahead and share key takeaways to help you stay ahead of the curve. Bring your questions!

• Edward Usset, Grain Marketing Economist, University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Networking coffee break

9:45 AM – 12:00 PM

CLOSING GENERAL SESSION

Blanchfield Award presentation

Established in 2015 in honor of John Blanchfield, former senior vice president of ABA’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Banking, the Blanchfield Award recognizes agricultural professionals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of agricultural lending.

Excellent at the margin: Finding your ‘North Star’

Economic volatility, global uncertainty, tight margins and shifting industry dynamics are creating both risk and opportunity across agricultural lending. In this environment, the difference between average and elite performance often comes down to the “margin of excellence,” the small but strategic decisions that strengthen relationships, improve portfolio quality and position institutions for long-term success. Renowned agricultural economist Dr. David Kohl, who’s back for his 49th year at the conference, will challenge you to identify your bank’s “North Star” to elite performance through disciplined credit culture, strategic thinking, relationship-based lending and leadership development. You’ll gain practical insights on navigating uncertainty, strengthening customer relationships, evaluating risk and positioning your organization for excellence in an increasingly complex agricultural economy.

• David M. Kohl, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech; AgriVisions LLC

Finding joyful purpose: Lessons from a Medal of Honor recipient

While serving as a Marine rifleman in Afghanistan at age 20, Lance Corporal Carpenter displayed the most courageous act possible, sacrificing himself to save a fellow Marine. During this grueling recovery process, Kyle’s spirit remained strong. He set several post-recovery goals for himself, accomplishing every one of them since his recovery, and more. Kyle will join BMO Commercial Bank’s Bradley J. Guse in discussion about his powerful journey in war and recovery, sharing insights into leadership, adversity and finding a joyful purpose in life.

• Kyle Carpenter, Author and Medal of Honor Recipient