Summary of Past Events
2020
January 16 Agricultural Legal Update hosted by Husch Blackwell LLP with speakers discussing The Next Green Wave: Evolving Markets for Cannabis.
February 20 Ag Innovation Forum. The program included panels of academics with promising research in the ag innovation space, entrepreneurs with new technology solutions in the marketplace, and a panel on using data – blockchain, traceability, and precision ag. Keynotes were Jim Carrington, President, Danforth Center and Michael Helmstetter, President & CEO, TechAccel. The program was moderated by Chelsea Good, Livestock Marketing Association.
March 19 Webinar featuring Dr. Seth Meyer, Co-Director, Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri with an ag outlook for 2020
April 16 Webinar with a panel discussion on the food supply chain with Nick Ebert, Vice President of Sales, Sysco Kansas City, Dennis Rodenbaugh, Executive Vice President, Dairy Farmers of America, and Kevin Smith, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Seaboard Foods.
May 21 Webinar featuring Jennifer Sirangelo, President & CEO, National 4-H Council, joined by Lisa Safarian, President, Crop Science North America, Bayer, and National 4-H Council Board Member.
June 11 Webinar with Dr. Scott Hutchins, Deputy Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area discussing the re-location of USDA’s economic agencies to Kansas City.
July 14 Webinar with a panel discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on the food supply chain featuring Dr. Dan Thomson, chair, Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health & Environment Lee Norman, and Dr. Glynn Tonsor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University.
August 25 Webinar focused on consumer perspectives of the food supply chain in a COVID environment. Panelists included Dr. Bryon Wiegand, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Jane Dukes, Senior Account Manager, Consumer & Retail, Merck Animal Health Veterinary & Consumer Affairs Team, and Tara Dugan, Director of Research and Insights, National Pork Board.
September 28 Ag Outlook Forum co-hosted with Agri-Pulse. This outstanding event featured the top experts in finance, policy, and business with their insights on the top issues and topics.
October 15 Webinar featuring Ryan LeGrand, President and CEO, U.S. Grains Council.
November 12 Webinar on the post-election implications for agriculture featuring Sara Wyant, President & Founder, Agri-Pulse Communications, Blake Hurst, President, Missouri Farm Bureau, and Ron Seeber, President and CEO of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA), Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA), and Renew Kansas.
December 10 Webinar highlighting Kansas City’s Hospitality Industry and their outlook for 2021. Panelists included Jason Fulvi, President & CEO, Visit KC, Mary Holland, Owner/Operator, Hereford House Restaurants and Pierpont’s at Union Station, and Philip Strnad, General Manager, Hilton President.
2019
January 17 Agricultural Legal Update hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues, with particular focus on blockchain technology.
February 14 Ag Innovation Forum. The program included panels of academics with promising research in the ag innovation space and entrepreneurs with new technology solutions in the marketplace. Keynotes were Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, President, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and Dr. Marshall Stewart, Vice Chancellor Extension and Engagement, University of Missouri. The program was moderated by JJ Jones, Roots and Legacies Consulting.
March 28 Luncheon Meeting featuring Judd O’Connor, President, U.S. Commercial Business for Corteva Agriscience.
April 18 Luncheon Meeting with Dr. Mun Choi, President of the University of Missouri System to showcase many of the initiatives underway at the University’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
May 16 Awards Luncheon honoring Lee Borck, Chairman of Innovative Livestock Services and Chairman of the Beef Marketing Group Cooperative and Gene Millard, Millard Family Farms and retired farm broadcaster with the 2019 Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
May 30 Social Hour with Congresswoman Sharice Davids, (D-KS 3) of Shawnee, KS at The Stagecoach Tavern.
June 13 Agriculture Banking Conference co-hosted with FDIC. A discussion of agricultural lending trends and risks.
June 20 Luncheon Meeting with Mark Zenuk, managing partner of Tillridge. Mark is pioneering a new approach — private equity has traditionally shunned agricultural investments because of the roller-coaster returns. Mark has long been at the center of agribusiness and high finance and he has assembled some significant investors who are actively investing in agriculture today.
July 11 Summer Social Hour at Stockyard Brewing – Bulldogger Room. Celebrating the selection of Kansas City as the new home for USDA’s ERS and NIFA.
August 22 Luncheon Meeting at Stinson LLP with Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
September 23 Ag Outlook Forum co-hosted with Agri-Pulse. This outstanding event featured the top experts in finance, policy, and business with their insights on the top issues and topics.
October 10 Luncheon Meeting at Kansas State University – Olathe featured Dr. Lee Borck, Chairman of Innovative Livestock Services and Chairman of the Beef Marketing Group.
November 8 Breakfast Meeting held in conjunction with the AFA Leaders Conference featuring Andy Weber, CEO, Farm Journal Media.
December 12 Luncheon and Annual Meeting featuring new Kansas City Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas.
2018
January 18 Agricultural Legal Update hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
February 22 Ag Innovation Forum looking at the innovation horizon for agriculture. The program included entrepreneurs from the region and related businesses who provide the necessary ingredients for success. The keynote presentation was provided by Lisa Prassack, president, Prassack Advisors. The forum also included Jeremy Williams, vice president of agriculture productivity innovations at Monsanto Company, Dan Cosgrove, vice president – business development at DuPont Pioneer, a panel of entrepreneurs on developing new ideas, and a panel of professionals on guiding and supporting new innovations. The program was moderated by Tim Hammerich.
March 2 Luncheon Meeting featuring Senator Jerry Moran, Kansas, with a congressional update on NAFTA and Farm Bill.
April 12 Luncheon Meeting with Jim Gulliford, Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7.
May 15 Awards Luncheon honoring Lowell Mohler, former director of Missouri Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Ken Odde, Kansas State University, with the 2018 Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
June 21 Luncheon Meeting with Dustin Johansen, Vice President for Osborn Barr, reporting on O+B’s recent study – “Farmers of Tomorrow: Generation Z’s Future in Agriculture”.
July 10 Summer Agribusiness Luncheon with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting featuring Terri Moore, Center for Food Integrity.
August 28 Roundtable Discussion with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II on topics of trade, civility in politics, and the Farm Bill.
August 30 Luncheon Meeting with Congressman Roger Marshall.
September 27 Ag Outlook Forum with Agri-Pulse Communications featuring keynote presentations from Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary, Gregg Doud, Chief Ag Trade Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and Mark Jensen, President & CEO, Farm Credit Services of America. The forum also included panel discussions on the outlook for the farm economy and trade.
October 18 Luncheon Meeting at Kansas State University – Olathe featuring Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, Professor Emeritus with Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics.
November 2 Breakfast Meeting held in conjunction with the AFA Leaders Conference featuring USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky.
December 13 Luncheon and Annual Meeting featuring Tom McDonnell, Retired Civic Leader to talk about the downtown renaissance in Kansas City.
2017
January 19 Agricultural Legal Update, hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
February 22 Agricultural Trade Issue Forum focused on current trade issues and the importance of US-Mexico trade to Midwest agriculture. Dr. Bob Young, Chief Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation was the featured speaker. Special guests were the Consuls General from both Mexico and Canada, Alfonso Navarro and Stephen Brereton. Panelists included Chad Bontrager, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Chris Chinn, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Warren Erdman, Kansas City Southern, Neil Herrington, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Bill Krueger, Lansing Trade Group, and Kevin Smith, Seaboard Foods
March 16 Awards Luncheon honoring Glen Klippenstein, Klippenstein Farms, Ken McCauley, K & M Farms, and Dr. Thomas Payne, University of Missouri, with the 2017 Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
March 23 Ag Biz After Hours with Brian Klippenstein who shared his insights on the Trump Administration, as one of the leaders of the Administrations “landing team” at USDA.
April 20 Luncheon Meeting with Angela Ferguson, Austin & Ferguson LLC on immigration law.
April 28 Ag Town Hall with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in his first trip outside the Beltway since being confirmed.
May 17 Luncheon Meeting with Jeff Roe, Founder, Axiom Strategies, who shared an overview of the current political environment and discussed how his firm uses cutting edge technology to analyze data and execute campaigns to persuade.
May 25 Ag Biz After Hours on Business Applications for Social Media with Melanie Rice, Carbon Media Group, Jon McDonald, Look East, and Scott Stebner, Kansas Beef Council.
June 14 Ag Innovation Forum focused on gene-editing, animal agriculture, and big data. Keynote presentation was provided by Kip Tom, CEO, Tom Farms.
July 13 Summer Social at The Majestic.
August 16 Luncheon Meeting with Congressman Kevin Yoder at Lathrop Gage.
August 18 Roundtable with DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. William Bryan, and Senators Pat Roberts and Claire McCaskill on protecting the nation’s food supply.
September 28 Ag Outlook Forum co-hosted by Agri-Pulse. Speakers include Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George, Kansas Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer, Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson, John Deere Senior Vice President John Lagemann, Kansas City Southern President & CEO, Pat Ottensmeyer, Cargill Corporate Vice President Brian Sikes, and Agri-Pulse Editor-in-Chief Sara Wyant.
November 3 Breakfast Meeting with Vern Hawkins, Regional Director, North America, President, Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC. This meeting was held in conjunction with the Agriculture Future of America's annual Leaders Conference at the Sheraton Crown Center.
December 1 Roundtable Discussion with a visiting delegation from Egypt who specialize in agriculture and collecting agricultural data to increase productivity and economic growth through Global Ties KC.
December 7 Luncheon and Annual Meeting featuring Ed Elder, President of Colliers Kansas City to talk about the downtown renaissance in Kansas City.
2016
January 21 Agricultural Legal Update, hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
February 25 Luncheon Meeting with Mike Beal, Vice President, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Ball's Food Stores.
March 10 Awards Luncheon honoring the Honorable Kit Bond, former U.S. Senator, Missouri, Dr. Bud Hertzog, Lee's Summit Animal Hospital, and Russ Weathers, CEO, Agriculture Future of America with the 2016 Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
April 21 Luncheon Meeting with Tracy Brunner, 2016 National Cattlemen's Beef Association President.
May 19 Luncheon Meeting with Ernie Verslues, President & CEO, MFA Incorporated.
June 14 issue workshop on “Consumer Driven Changes in the Food/Agriculture Industry.” Co-hosted with the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association.
July 14 Social Networking Event at The Drum Room.
August 18 Ag Business Outlook – a roundtable forum on the food/ag business outlook featuring Terry Christenberry, Managing Director, CC Capital Advisors; Esther George, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; Kevin Barth, President, Commerce Bank; Dr. Albrecht Kissel, President & CEO, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica; John Lagemann, Senior Vice President, John Deere; Fran Malecha, CEO, Compass Minerals; Ken McCauley, President, K&M Farms Inc., and Past President, National Corn Growers Association; and Pat Ottensmeyer, President & CEO, Kansas City Southern.
August 30 roundtable discussion with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Administrator Phil Karsting.
September 8 Luncheon Meeting presenting the recently completed analysis on the impact of agriculture on the regional economy. The report was a combined project of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, the American Royal, and the Kansas Dept. of Agriculture.
October 20 Luncheon Meeting featuring U.S. Congressman Billy Long, 7thDistrict of Missouri.
October 21 Ag Tour with Commissioner Chris Giancarlo, a member of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The tour included stops at area corn and soybean farms in addition to a livestock feeding operation and a family-owned meat company.
November 4 Breakfast meeting held in conjunction with the Agriculture Future of America 2016 Leaders Conference, featuring Carl Casale, President & CEO of CHS. CHS is a leading energy, grains and food company, and the nation’s largest member-owned cooperative.
December 8 Luncheon and Annual Meeting featuring Woody Cozad, Cozad Company Government Relations, with an election overview and comments on the regulatory state of Missouri.
2015
January 15 Agricultural Legal Update, hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
February 19 Luncheon Meeting with Ryan Veldhuizen, one of six farmers and ranchers, featured in the documentary, Farmland, produced by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Moll.
February 19 dinner and evening screening of the Farmland documentary, with co-hosts MFA Inc., Western Farm Show, and National Association of Farm Broadcasters.
March 23 Luncheon Meeting with Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity with findings from CFI'slatest major research undertaking, "Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies."
April 1 Luncheon Meeting with Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill with an update on her findings - as they relate to agribusiness - from her recent trip to Cuba.
April 23 Luncheon Meeting with Blake Bryant, Principal Security Analyst with FishNet Security on developing trends in cyber security and ways to protect yourself and your company.
May 14 Luncheon Meeting with Dr. Marty Vanier, Director of Strategic Partnership Development for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF).
June 17 Awards Luncheon honoring Dr. Brady Deaton, University of Missouri, U.S. Senator Bob Dole, Kansas, and Dee Likes, Kansas Livestock Association, with the 2015 Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
July 20 issue forum on food system issues entitled “Kansas City: Our Town, Our Food. Taste, Trends & Transparency.” Co-hosted with the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association.
August 13 Social Networking Event at Q39 (1000 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO); 4:30 – 6 PM.
September 10 Luncheon Meeting with John Dillard, associate attorney with OFW Law, discussing the development, applications and future regulation/legislation of Unmanned Aerial Systems
October 16 Luncheon Meeting with Richard Childress, Chairman & CEO, Richard Childress Racing (RCR).
November 6 Breakfast Meeting in conjunction with the Agriculture Future of America 2015 Leaders Conference featuring Vance Crowe, Director of Millennial Engagement, Monsanto Co.
November 11 special lunch meeting with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Administrator Phil Karsting.
November 16 roundtable discussion with a German delegation focused on T-TIP and Investor-State Dispute Settlements.
December 10 Luncheon and Annual Meeting with Peter Hofherr, Chairman and CEO, St. James Winery and Chairman of the Missouri Wine & Grape Board.
2014
January 17 Agricultural Legal Update at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture, hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
February 27 luncheon featured John Miller, Group Vice President, Agricultural Products for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
March 20 luncheon featured David Fowler, Co-Chair of the Mayor's KCI Advisory Group, and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, Nebraska.
April 1 Kansas City premiere of documentary “Farmland”, co-hosted with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and Kansas Farm Food Connection.
April 17 luncheon featured Dr. Dan Thomson, The Jones Professor of Production Medicine and Epidemiology and Director of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, who discussed "Contemporary Issues for Beef Cattle Production in the United States."
May 22 luncheon featured Blake Hurst, President of Missouri Farm Bureau to discuss the Missouri Constitutional Amendment 1 – “Keep Missouri Farming.”
June 2 Awards Luncheon honored Bill Jackson, AGRIServices of Brunswick, Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, Kansas State University, and Jere White, Kansas Corn, with the 2014 Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
July 10 special luncheon with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy on the EPA’s proposed rules defining waters of the U.S. under the Clean Water Act.
July 17 Issues Forum on Big Data: Challenges and Opportunities in Agriculture.
August 12 Roundtable Discussion on current issues with Senator Roy Blunt, Missouri.
August 21 Luncheon featuring U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Kansas.
October 23 Luncheon featuring U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Kansas.
November 7 Breakfast Meeting featuring Dan Dye, CEO, Ardent Mills, held in conjunction with 2014 AFA Leaders Conference.
December 9 Luncheon & Annual Meeting with featured speaker Doug Worgul, Joe’s Kansas City.
2013
January 17 Agricultural Legal Update hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
March 1 luncheon featuring Jim Farrell, President and CEO of Farmers National Company speaking on the crop year in 2012 as "The Perfect Storm."
March 14 luncheon featuring Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, Dale Rodman and Missouri Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jon Hagler with a bi-state agricultural update.
March 29 member workshop entitled “Dust in the Wind: Prospects for 2013” on the 2012 drought and looking forward to 2013.
April 4 luncheon featuring Congressman Kevin Yoder following his appointment as Vice Chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.
April 18 luncheon featuring Bryan Durkin, COO, CME Group discussing the “Evolving Nature of Grain Futures Markets.”
May 28 discussion with a delegation from Morocco in town through the International Visitor Leadership Program on a program titled “U.S. Trade and Investments.”
May 29 issue forum on “Midwest Agriculture’s Stake in Immigration Reform.”
June 18 Awards Luncheon honoring Harry Cleberg, Farmland (retired) and Tom Waters, Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association with the 2013 Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
June 21 special forum on Comprehensive Immigration Reform with United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
June 25 discussion with a visiting diplomat from Greece, Argyro Papoulia, Deputy Director, A7 Directorate of North America, in town with the International Visitor Leadership Program.
July 18 luncheon featuring Brian Klippenstein, Protect the Harvest.
August 15 summer social hour at Voltaire.
September 19 luncheon featuring Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau.
October 16 luncheon with former Congressman Kenny Hulshof, Missouri.
October 21 discussion with a delegation from Kazakhstan in town through the International Visitor Leadership Program on a program titled “Accountable Governance in Agriculture.”
November 8 breakfast with Kip Tom, Tom Farms and CereServ Inc.
December 12 luncheon and annual meeting with Danny O’Neill, President & Owner, The Roasterie.
2012
January 20 Agricultural Legal Update with Shook Hardy & Bacon at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture.
February 23 luncheon featuring Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, Kansas, with a Congressional Update.
March 22 luncheon featuring Kansas City Mayor, Sly James.
April 19 luncheon featuring Craig Wallace, Chairman, Animal Health Corridor speaking on “Strategic Priorities for the Animal Health Corridor.”
May 16 luncheon featuring Mariner Kemper, Chairman and CEO, UMB Bank to reveal the American Royal’s Economic Analysis and Agricultural Event Center
June 27 luncheon featuring Bob Kendrick, President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to discuss the impending Kansas City All Star Game as well as the history of the museum.
July 13 luncheon featuring Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Missouri, to discuss “American Agriculture: Threats and Opportunities 2012.”
August 16 Happy Hour and Networking Social at Hickok’s Bar & Grill.
September 20 luncheon featuring Craig Huffhines, CEO, American Hereford Association to present on “The Meat of the Issue: Serving Customer Needs.”
October 25 luncheon featuring John McDonald, Founder, Boulevard Brewing Company to discuss Boulevard’s “Full Circle Marketing.”
November 2 breakfast in collaboration with the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leadership Conference, featuring Dan Cosgrove, DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred.
November 16 Member Workshop titled “Unconventional Ag-vocacy: Embracing Social Media in Agriculture” featuring YouTube Viral Video Sensation, the Peterson Brothers.
December 13 luncheon and annual meeting featuring Jim Muehlberger, Shook, Hardy & Bacon to present on the “Showdown with Jesse James.”
2011
January 20 luncheon hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
February 17 luncheon featuring Scott Shearer, Vice President of the Bockorny Group, speaking on “Agriculture and the 112th Congress.”
March 15 luncheon featuring Hugh Whaley, General Manager for US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.
April 15 luncheon featuring Missouri State Senator Mike Parson with an update on legislation to address issues raised by Proposition B.
May 24 luncheon featuring EPA Region 7 Administrator, Karl Brooks discussing issues before the EPA and its implications in agriculture.
June 17 Happy Hour and Networking Social at Harry’s Country Club.
July 21 luncheon featuring Tom Waters, Chairman, Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association on “The Great Missouri Flood of 2011”.
August 26 Happy Hour and Networking Social at Amigoni Winery – Kansas City’s Urban Winery.
September 22 luncheon featuring Tom Davis, Vice President Group Publisher, Meredith Corporation, discussing trends and issues for ag media.
October 25 Awards Luncheon honoring US Senator Pat Roberts, Kansas, with the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
November 4 breakfast in conjunction with AFA Leadership Conference, featuring Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse Communications, giving a “2012 Farm Bill Update.”
December 15 luncheon and Annual Meeting featuring Pete Anderson, INTL FCStone, discussing “Dealing with Volatility in Ag Markets.”
2010
January 21 luncheon hosted by Shook Hardy & Bacon with speakers addressing current business and legal issues.
February 4 luncheon featuring former Congressman Charlie Stenholm.
March 5 luncheon featuring Missouri Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields and Kansas Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, plus special guest Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill.
March 31 luncheon featuring Senator Pat Roberts.
May 17 luncheon featuring Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II.
May 26 organized and hosted an Agricultural Business Roundtable for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
June 3 Issue Workshop for members and invited guests at the Golden Ox featuring three speakers on the topic of “dealing with the new wave of food activists”.
June 23 Awards Luncheon at the Kansas City Club honoring Mike Haverty, Kansas City Southern Railway, and Steve Hunt, U.S. Premium Beef, with the Council’s “Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence”.
August 26 luncheon featuring David Martosko of the Center for Consumer Freedom.
September 23 Agricultural Sustainability Forum featuring nationally recognized speakers including the USDA Deputy Secretary, Hon. Kathleen Merrigan.
October 21 luncheon featuring Ford West, president, The Fertilizer Institute.
November 5 breakfast featuring Patrick Gottsch, founder & president, RFD-TV.
December 16 luncheon featuring Bill Hudson, founder, The ProExporter Network®.