First State Bank to host 25th annual ag conference in Mendota

First State Bank announced a special conference for area farmers.

The 25th annual First State Bank Ag Conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Mendota Civic Center, 1901 Tom Merwin Drive.

Starting the program will be Kelly Jackson Hardy, principal, Clifton Larson Allen. Hardy serves client needs related to tax consulting, planning and compliance. She serves primarily the agribusiness industry and cooperatives. She comes from a farm background and understands the nuances of agriculture. Her talk will focus on the areas of ag taxation and farm succession planning.

Following Hardy will be Kurtis Wujek. He is the trading director for export corn at Archer Daniels Midland Co. His main responsibilities include the execution and risk management of ADM’s North American export program through New Orleans.

The keynote speaker, Delaney Howell, will take a deep dive into the issues impacting the business of agriculture. Howell grew up on a grain and livestock farm in southeast Iowa and has been involved in agriculture from a young age.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences with minors in Broadcasting and International Studies from Northwest Missouri State University and a master’s degree in Agricultural Communications from Texas Tech University.

Howell strives to bring the most up-to-date information on the latest “news cycle” in D.C. politics, commodity markets and the international agricultural scene through her travels to 23 countries.

Attendees may recognize Howell from her role as the former host of the 45-year-old agribusiness show “Market to Market” or from the daily podcast she launched in 2017, “Ag New Daily.” Day to day, she is the face of an ag marketing company out of Des Moines called Trader PhD offering advisory services to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the first speaker will begin at 10 a.m. First State Insurance will supply coffee and doughnuts.

ADM Grain Co. and Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance are sponsoring the noon luncheon. Clifton Larson Allen is sponsoring the soda pop. Door prizes are being provided by several area businesses including Beck Oil Co., Cantlin Law Firm, Chris Eller – the Retirement Specialists, Dinges Fire Co., Earlville Farmers Coop, Guilfoyle and Stevenson Law Firm, Hornung Tiling Inc., Foster’s Tax and Accounting LLC., Leffelman and Associates, Leone Grain and Supply, Maplehurst Farms, Mendota Mutual Insurance, Meriden Grain-Pioneer Seed, Northern Partners Cooperative, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Prescott Brothers Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Schimmer Automotive Group, Sublette Farmers Elevator Co., Sublette Mechanical, Troy Grove Coop, Vaessen Bros. Chevrolet, Vaessen Implement and Repair and West Brooklyn Farmers Coop.

Contact the First State Bank Ag Department by calling 815-539-3834 by Saturday, Jan. 18, to reserve a seat.