AG Lenders Conference

Independent Bankers of Colorado
Community Bankers Association of Kansas
Nebraska Independent Community Bankers
Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico
Independent Community Bankers of America

14th Annual Ag Conference
Thursday and Friday, April 18 and 19, 2002
DoubleTree World Arena, Colorado Springs, Colorado

AG OUTLOOK GRIM
Attendees Heed Warnings at IBC’s 14th Annual Ag Conference

Bankers from across Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas enjoyed IBC's 14th Annual Ag Conference held at the beautiful DoubleTree Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. More than 95 bankers, spouses and guests attended this year’s conference. The day and a half event was filled with top-notch speakers, camaraderie, exhibitors, and sponsors.

John Butler, President and CEO, Ranchers Renaissance, began the day explaining his company’s integrated alliances, shared vision and unique cooperative spirit in the cattle market. If you shop at a Krogers owned grocery store you have more than likely seen the Cattleman’s Collection label. Through these alliances, Ranchers Renaissance is able to add value to the product, improve performance, lower costs and create differentiated product lines. A win for the cattle market and consumers. Next up was a producer panel comprised of: Dusty Tallman; Steve Wertz and Clarence Newcomb. They spoke of the immediate market conditions on grain, hay and cattle respectively. Dr. Norm Dalsted, Professor and Extension Agribusiness Management Economist, Colorado State University moderated the panel. Dr. Stephen Koontz, Assistant Professor, Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, presented an outlook on the grain market.

Local favorite Randy Blach, Director, Cattle-Fax, kept everyone awake after a great Mexican buffet for lunch. Randy did not have any better news for the attendees, as the cattle market does look good either. Three outstanding breakout sessions finished the first day, as bankers were able to attend two out of the three sessions. John Rose, Otero County Water Works presented on the hot issue of Water and Agriculture. Did you know the Arkansas Valley is 25% below the norm for precipitation? Renee Liles, State Statistician, USDA, gave an enlightening presentation on agriculture and statistics. And lastly, the ever popular and dynamic Don Ament, Commissioner of Agriculture, State of Colorado, presented on growth and agriculture.

Friday morning commenced with a tasty breakfast and a presentation from Mike Shea, Director of Operations, Division of Commercial Filing, Colorado Department of State, started off the day with a presentation e-filing. Mike encouraged the attendees to file their periodic reports, obtain and validate certificates of good standing and e-file UCC and EFS records. It was a pleasure to have Richard Gupton, Deputy Director of Agricultural Finance, ICBA, back with us again this year. Richard gave an update on the farm bill and other federal issues affecting agriculture and banking. Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, Professor and Extension State Leader, Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University, put on quite a show Friday morning. His presentation on whether there will be a new farm bill or not and agricultural economics was informative as well as entertaining. There is never a dull moment with Dr. Flinchbaugh around.

Winners of the exhibit booth bingo sponsored by the IBC were: Norm Seeley ($20), First National Bank of Yuma; Mark Weber ($30), Kit Carson State Bank, and the big winner was Mike Harvey ($50), Valley State Bank. Other winners included: Randy Younger, First National Bank of Hugo, sleeve of golf balls and Tom Tomky, Colorado East Bank & Trust, a coffee mug from Micro Source and Dick Fenwick, McClave State Bank, 4 club level Rockies tickets from Central States of Omaha.

The IBC bids a very fond farewell to Dick Fenwick, Chairman, McClave State Bank and Chairman of the IBC’s Ag Committee for the past two years. Dick will be retiring on June 30, 2002.

Mark your calendars for next year’s conference – Thursday and Friday, April 17 and 18, 2003 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Colorado Springs.

The IBC would like to thank the members of the IBC Ag Committee for their hard work and support
IBC Ag Committee
Dick Fenwick, Chairman, McClave State Bank
Mike Bass, First National Bank of Hugo
Dan Briskey, Community Bank of the Rockies
Gip Gafford, Olathe State Bank
Russ Groshans, Centennial Bank of the West
George Kleeb, Centennial Bank of the West
Rick Peden, North Park State Bank
Ken Perry, Colorado East Bank & Trust
Myron Sams, High Plains Bank
Tom Tomky, Colorado East Bank & Trust
Dale Utley, Bankers’ Bank of the West

Thanks to our Exhibitors and Sponsors
Bankers’ Bank of the West
Central States of Omaha
Colorado Agricultural Development Authority
Colorado Housing & Finance Authority
Fortner, Bayens, Levkulich
ICBA
Menk & Association (now known as Brown & Brown)
Micro Source
Pentegra Group
Prism Processing Services
Total Bank Technology Solutions, Inc.
TransFirst