Sep 10, 2025 to Sep 11, 2025
2025 has seen agriculture transition back to a low margin environment. Producers and bankers alike are bracing from several more years of lower profits. Farmers are facing pressure from rising input costs and a low commodity price environment. These low margins, along with other key issues for agriculture loom on the horizon. At the Advanced Ag Banking Conference, attendees will gain actionable insights from industry leaders and economists on navigating the current challenges facing farmers, explore strategies to mitigate risk and optimize lending practices amidst fluctuating agricultural conditions.
We will kick off the conference with a commodity outlook and barometer update on the health of the agricultural economy. Day 1 will continue with Agricultural Inputs and Market Shifts and trends impacting the agricultural sector. The day will conclude with an Agriculture Banking Panel filled with line of business leaders and chiefs that will share their thoughts on their interactions with the agribusinesses they do business with. Day 2 shifts gears towards agriculture banking, bank consolidation, mergers and acquisitions. We will talk about what to watch for, or what to work through in a consolidation. We will also talk loan risk within ag portfolios including best practice items for what to consider for risk rating scorecards/models.
The Advanced Ag Banking Conference is designed to provide the lending community with updates on current agricultural topics that can help you better serve your farmer customer. Reserve your place today and invest in your future as a leader in agricultural lending.
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
8:30 am - Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 am - Welcome & Introductions
9:05 am - General Sessions Begin
12:30pm - Lunch
1:30 - 2:40 pm - General Sessions Resume
2:40 pm - Ag Lending Banker Panel - Line of Business Leaders & Chiefs
3:40 pm - Day One Adjourns
Thursday, September 11, 2025
7:30 am - Continental Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am - General Sessions Begin
11:30 am - Lunch
12:30 - 3:30 pm - General Sessions Resume
3:30 pm - Conference Adjourns
Agricultural Outlook - Don Lamb, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture
Recent Trends and Costs and Returns of Major US Agricultural Commodities
Ag Inputs & Market Shifts: Farmer Cooperatives - Brian Briggeman, Professor and Director, Arthur Capper Cooperative Center, Kansas State University
2025 U.S. and Indiana Agricultural Economic Update - Todd Davis, Farm Bureau
Agriculture Lending Banker Panel - Line of Business Leaders and Chiefs -
Moderator - Jessica Lehman, Director of Agribusiness Banking, First Financial Bank
Kent Liechty, President & CEO, First Bank of Berne
Bob Rhoades, SVP Market President, F&M Bank
Dinese Watson, SVP, Ag Lending Manager, Merchants Bank
ICBA Agricultural Update - Mark Scanlan, SVP, Agriculture & Rural Policy, ICBA
Five Signs of Deteriorating Credit - Zach Allen, Senior Director of Food and Agribusiness, First Financial Bank
Understanding Agricultural Bank Mergers: Impacts and Trends
It’s Not You, It’s Your Working Capital (and Other Red Flags) - Michelle Williams, Credit Department Manager, Agribusiness, First Merchants Bank
Don Lamb, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture
Brian Briggeman, Professor and Director, Arthur Capper Cooperative Center, Kansas State University
Todd Davis, Farm Bureau
Mark Scanlan, SVP, Agriculture & Rural Policy, ICBA
Giulio Camerini, Principal, Crowe, LLP
Zach Allen, Senior Director of Food and Agribusiness, First Financial Bank
Panel:
Jessica Lehman, Director of Agribusiness Banking, First Financial Bank (Moderator)
Joe Caffee, President/CEO, First State Bank of Middlebury
Kent Liechty, President & CEO, First Bank of Berne
Bob Rhoades, SVP Market President, F&M Bank
Dinese Watson, SVP, Ag Lending Manager, Merchants Bank
Michelle Williams, Credit Department Manager, Agribusiness, First Merchants Bank
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Agricultural bankers with a strong desire to further their knowledge of financial analysis, commodity marketing, and risk management. This program is specifically targets toward graduates of the Midwest Agricultural Banking Schools or similar programs with a minimum of three years of agricultural lending experience.
IBA, KBA, MBA Members / Associates Members - $595
Additional Member from Same Institution - $495
The registration fee includes the program, materials, continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments each day. Participation in IBA programs is limited to members, associate members, and non-members from an eligible membership category at applicable member or nonmember rates.
A surcharge of 100% for Non-members will be applied. Please register early!
The Advanced Agricultural Lenders Conference will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lafayette East, 155 Progress Drive, Lafayette, IN 47905
Participants are responsible for making their own reservations. Hotel accommodations are not included in the registration fee. To make your reservation with the DoubleTree by Hilton Lafayette East call 765-446-0900 or visit www.lafayetteeast.doubletreebyhilton.com. Please reference the Indiana Bankers special rate code 0003145564 to receive the negotiated rate of $129.
For additional information please contact:
Laurie Rees, Vice President, Education & Training
LRees@indiana.bank
317-387-9380
Within three or more business days prior to the day of an educational program, no cancellation charge will be assessed. Within two days prior, 50% of the fee is assessed. Refunds are not provided for cancellations or absences which occur one day prior or on the day of the program. Substitutions are welcome at any time.