MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT |
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Drought has been a major talking point in my world over the last two months. The hardest hit areas continue to be much of California and the southern plains, specifically Kansas, Oklahoma, and north Texas. The latest US drought monitor shows most of these areas are in Extreme (E3) or the highest rating of Exceptional (D4) drought conditions. The western corn belt also had minimal rainfall during the most critical months of July and August. Yields on dryland farms in Nebraska, South Dakota, southern Iowa, and western Iowa will be well below average this fall. I anticipate volatile grain markets will become the pattern over the next four to six months.
We have ten new members who have joined ASAC since the beginning of the year. This represents a 17% increase in overall membership over the last eight months. The new members are from the states of South Carolina, Minnesota, Nebraska, Arizona, Montana, New York, and New Hampshire. It’s nice to see the geographic diversity in our membership base. This membership growth is encouraging when compared to previous years. ASAC’s membership and marketing committees have done a great job of attracting new members and providing timely information to everyone.
Planning for the 2022 annual meeting in Oklahoma City is completed. Pete Weisenberger and his team have secured all the presenters and finalized the agenda. I’m looking forward to touring the Oklahoma Stockyards and National Grazinglands Research Lab. Speakers include Paul Neiffer, Harold Black, Harrison Pittman, and Brittany Krehbiel-Hukill. The conference dates are October 23-26, at the Skirvin Hilton in downtown Oklahoma City. Registration is now open. I’m looking forward to a great conference and networking with members from across the country.
ASAC is currently seeking to hire a new Executive Director to facilitate member relations and recruitment, manage internal projects, maintain the principal office, and generally keep ASAC moving in the right direction. The name of this position was recently changed from Executive Vice President to Executive Director. The initial contract term will be for two years (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024) with the opportunity to renew. For more information, please visit https://www.agconsultants.org/docs/RFP.pdf.
Finally, I would like to give special recognition to our current Executive Vice President (EVP), Traci Schermerhorn. I have worked with Traci in various capacities over the years and I am fortunate to have her as a friend. Traci is self-directed and one of the most genuine professionals I know. I was extremely disappointed when informed Traci would not be renewing her role as EVP but wish her the best in the future. Her contract will run through the end of the year. I encourage members to introduce themselves at the national conference if they have not met Traci.
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REGISTER NOW FOR THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE! |
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2022 ASAC Annual Conference |
Join us for the chart topping professional development with stellar speakers, affirming camaraderie and educational (and fun) ag tours! Oklahoma City, OK will host ASAC members, other agricultural consultants, and some of their families on October 23-25. Mark your calendars now, and check out the Schedule of Events! |
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October 23, 2022-October 25, 2022
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WHERE
The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City
One Park Ave
Oklahoma City,OK
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING NOTES, JULY 2022 |
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Financial Report – Russell Morgan, CFO
Russell and Traci are in the process of getting the Wells Fargo account set up correctly. The process has taken longer than anticipated but should be resolved by the next board meeting. Meetings Committee - Pete Weisenberger, Chair
Pete is going to OKC next week to visit the Stockyard. Traci will add a hotel link to the website to book rooms in the discounted block. Paige offered one of the speakers to attend at the spouse rate. Traci has not received any of the presenter information documents. She will resend the email with the form to forward to presenters. Social media posts are scheduled out for the next few weeks. Please share posts. Bylaws Committee - Keith Dickinson, Chair
The committee met last week and discussed two issues. The first is changing the title of the Executive Vice President to Executive Director. The second is in the section about Certified Ag Consultant designation requirements. The issues needing clarification are around conflicts of interest statements. The committee added, “without full disclosure to the client,” to clarify that conflicts exist and should be fully communicated to the client. The committee removed the requirement that said no more than 10% of income can come from the sale of products.
Continuing Education Committee - Russell Morgan, Chair All shop talks and webinars are scheduled for the rest of the year. First quarter shop talks and webinars will be presented at the annual meeting.
Marketing & Promotion Committee - Paige Gilligan, Chair Marketing posts are picking up for the annual conference. Once we get speaker bios and reports we will start doing blog and social media posts. The marketing committee would like board members to provide a quote about how being a member and/or attending the annual conference benefits their careers. Traci will add a note in the Communique asking members to provide a testimonial. |
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It is with great sadness that we share the news of Ida Hurley’s passing on August 3 in Charleston, Missouri. She had been in declining health for some time.
Ida was a valued member of ASAC for several years and served as president in 1999. More than that, she was a mentor and friend to everyone she encountered in every walk of life. She and Dennis were a great team and built an enduring legacy with Hurley and Associates in Southeast Missouri, providing marketing and financial services to area farmers since the 1970s. Under their leadership, and the continuing leadership of their sons, Trent and David and their families, the company has grown to serve farm families in thirteen states in the South and the Midwest.
ASAC will always be indebted to Ida and Dennis for their leadership and enduring example of genuine friendship, professionalism and courtesies.
In the words of Robert Mehrle, retired ASAC member, “She was a friend and mentor to all of us in ASAC with her kindness and inclusion of newcomers and the respect she received from us and all guest consultants that joined her in educating the members of ASAC.”
Russell Morgan, ASAC CFO says this of Ida, "If asked to describe Ida Hurley in one word, I would offer “Visionary.” Ida spoke the word “Vision” often during her time as an ASAC member, director, and officer; especially during her term as ASAC President. She spoke it, promoted it . . . .and lived it. ASAC is a better organization for having Ida as a member and leader. Her vision was both directional and inspirational . . . to the organization and many of its members. I have stated in previous ASAC functions 'We stand on the shoulders of Titans' . . .Ida Hurley is certainly one of those."
She is survived by her husband Dennis and her sons, David and Trent and their families. Please include Ida and her family in your thoughts and prayers for the eternal repose of her soul and for the comfort of her family. |
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Keith Raynor, CPA, CAC, CGMA is the ASAC Regional Director for our southern region. Keith works for TRP Sumner PLLC and has been a business consultant for 36 years. TRP Sumner is a CPA firm that focuses in the following areas: - Farm income tax preparation and tax planning services
- Helping farmers and agribusiness owners structure business entities to allow for efficient operation, while minimizing their taxes and exposure to liability
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Utilizing industry-specific knowledge of agricultural employment taxes and other farm sales tax matters, as well as employee compensation/benefit planning and retirement plan consulting
- Assisting with farm succession and estate planning matters
- Farm business valuation services
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Working closely with farm lenders on farm financing and expansion proposals
When asked how ASAC has served him in his business, Keith said, "Being a part of ASAC has exposed me to a wide array of knowledge. All I have to sell is my time and my knowledge. I only know a small amount of what is necessary to make a farm family successful. Its access to the others in the group and particularly their experiences that has helped me serve my clients better."
Keith has been a volunteer firefighter since he was 15. For 43 years he has allowed other people’s emergencies to become mine, regardless of the day or time. Keith spent 26 years with Westarea Volunteer Fire Dept in Linden NC retiring “for good” as Assistance Chief in 2006. When he moved to a new home in a different community in 2007, he didn’t know anyone, so Keith volunteered again with Summerville Bunnlevel Fire & Rescue offering his help with no expectation or obligation, which means it was supposed to be low key participation. In 2019, he stepped down as Deputy Fire Chief but still responds to fire calls, serves on their Board of Directors, and keeps their books.
We asked Keith what advice he would give to beginning consultants and experienced consultants. Raynor responded, "I'd give the same advice to both. Always focus on the farmer’s needs. Clients, particularly a farmer, does not trust a lot of people. Once you earn that trust you must assure the farm client is treated as if they are the most important person you talk to all day. Never let them sense you are too busy to help. You must be the ultimate problem solver, even if you need to seek another consultant more experienced in the problem you are solving."
On a more personal note about Keith, he enjoys in-shore saltwater fishing along the North Carolina Coast, particularly around Sneads Ferry. He also enjoys going to his high school-aged boys’ soccer, basketball, and baseball games. He has served on the Board at his boys’ private school assuring his kids have an alternative secondary education apart from the public-school setting. Keith enjoys his two grandkids who are getting to the age to smile and be excited when Papa comes over. Keith reminds us, "Life is Good."
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| Connect with Keith
on social media! |
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ASAC LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES |
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At our Annual Conference in October, a new volunteer group of ASAC members will be sworn into office and service as our executive committee and regional directors. As with any organization, you get what you put in. Being involved in a committee or leadership role with ASAC will make your membership experience exponentially better!
We currently have open positions for our Vice President/Secretary role (this is the starting position to move into president) and Regional Director - Northern Region. If you want to get your "toes wet" and start your involvement with ASAC on a committee, we have options there too! New committee members are welcome to join any of our committees: Membership, Ethics & Grievance, Finance, Accreditation, Marketing, Continuing Education, Strategic Alliance, Bylaws and Meeting Planning.
To get involved or to find out more about these roles, contact Ethan Robertson at ethan.robertson@farmcrediteast.com. |
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07/07/2022 : Wally Thomas - Morsen Services, Inc., Owatonna, MN |
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08/15/2022 : Scott Mickey - Clemson University, Columbia, SC |
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HELP US "UP" OUR SOCIAL GAME! |
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Our Marketing and Promotions Committee is committed to sharing the benefits of ASAC membership. We currently have active Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. If you aren't already following us, please click the links below to start! Keeping content relevant and exciting is key to social media success! We always see better results from our posts when they feature a member. Here are some ways you can help us UP our social media game...
1. Share with us if you are featured in the media, work-related or not 2. Do a short video clip explaining how membership with ASAC has benefited your career 3. Provide a quote (and include a picture) telling others about your attendance at a past annual conference 4. Consider joining the marketing committee!
Please send any content you would like to share on our social media pages to Traci Schermerhorn at evp@agconsultants.org. |
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IB'S INSIGHTFUL INTROSPECTIONS |
Ib Hagsten was a longtime member of ASAC who left a lasting legacy with our organization. It is impossible to replicate Ib's wit and down-to-earth observations. In his honor, we offer these words of wisdom... “If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
Michele Ruiz “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” Abraham Lincoln
“My mother always used to say: The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana.”
Rose (Betty White), The Golden Girls |
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President Kyle Walker, CAC |
| President-Elect Pete Weisenberger |
| Vice President & Secretary Keith Dickinson, CAC |
| Chief Financial Officer Russell Morgan, CAC |
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| Immediate President Ethan Robertson, CAC |
| Executive Vice President Traci Schermerhorn |
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Eastern Director Joanna Lidback, CAC |
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Western Director Ron Rabou |
| Northern Director
Steve McWilliams |
| Southern Director Keith Raynor, CAC |
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