93rd Annual Mid-Winter Meeting
February 2-3
The Farm Agents Mid-Winter Education Meeting is the premier event for those in the Illinois farm, agri-business, and crop insurance to come together for networking, education and an industry specific trade show. This event draws over 100 agents all from all throughout Illinois, to learn about the impacts our industry is facing, legislative changes, and so much more. Learn how your business can grow, thrive and adapt to our ever-changing world.
Where
Embassy Suites
100 Conference Center Dr.
East Peoria, IL
(309) 694-0200
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Special discounted room rate of $129 +tax, use this link to make your reservation before Tues. Jan. 11.
Registration Fees
FAC Members - $70
IIA of IL Members - $100
Non-Members - $140
Non-Licensed Spouses - $40
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Farm Agent Council Members receive $30 off registration, use code WINTER23 when checking out online.
Schedule (Times Subject to Change)
Thursday, February 2, 2023
1:00 - 5:00pm
Welcome
FAC Governing Chair, Dustin Peterson
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Evan Manning, IIA of IL Director of Government Relations
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Education Seminar:
High Impact Meteorology-Outlook for 2023
Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions
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Equipment Breakdown Coverage For Modern Day Farmers
Kenneth Grothe, CIC, AIC, HSB
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5:30 - 7:00pm
Company Reception & Tradeshow
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Friday, February 3, 2023
7:00 - 8:30am
Breakfast
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8:00 - 11:30am
Opening Comments
FAC Governing Chair, Dustin Peterson
Education Seminar: E&O and Crop Insurance Considerations
Trent Munson & Luke Sandrock
*Applicable towards three hours of the necessary credit for
the E&O discount
*Satisfies the IL Ethics credit requirement.
Terms and Conditions
Registration and attendance at, or participation in, IIA of IL meetings and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution (both now and in the future) the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions, and audiotapes of such events and activities by IIA of IL and other third parties, including but not limited to the venue, the host city, and the host CVB. Your registration may include technology that monitors your activities throughout the meeting, such as session attendance and booths visited.
Sponsors
Harvesting Sponsors
Cultivating Sponsors
Planting Sponsors
Session Descriptions
Thursday Session - High Impact Meteorology - Outlook for 2023
Weather risk in production agriculture is ubiquitous and the successful execution of a crop plan requires accurate weather forecasting and analysis. We plan our operations based on weather averages and our experiences over recent growing seasons, but each year presents a new set of weather challenges. In this talk we will focus on how to use the abundance of weather data to stay ahead to disruptive weather events. We will talk about the limits of predictability for weather events and learn about the resources available to monitor changes in the longer range forecasts. We will review the major lessons from the 2022 growing season and talk about our state’s risk from severe storms - especially high winds, hail events, and tornadoes. We will talk about the big seasonal drivers like El Niño and La Niña discuss the outlook for spring and summer 2023. We will finish with a discussion about the 2022-23 growing season in South America, which competes directly with our corn and soybean crops.
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Thursday Session - Legislative Update
By Evan Manning
Receive an update on legislative issues which have taken place over the past year, and what is on the legislative agenda moving into the upcoming session.
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Thursday Session - Equipment Breakdown Coverage For Modern Day Farmers
By Kenneth Grothe
To equip participants to recognize equipment exposures so that they can eliminate severe coverage gaps with their clients. The course highlights what’s new in equipment breakdown insurance and how current coverage relates to the constant introduction of new technologies in the precision farming industry. Upon completion of the course, the participant will:
• Be able to identify vulnerable equipment that is susceptible to an equipment failure.
• Be knowledgeable of frequent losses, the exclusion in property forms, and common causes.
• Be aware that Equipment Breakdown insurance covers not only the equipment itself, but it pays for Property Damage, Business Income, Extra Expense, Expediting Expense and Perishable Goods.
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Friday Session - E&O and Crop Insurance Considerations (includes IL Ethics credit)
By Trent Munson & Luke Sandrock
*Applicable towards three hours of the necessary credit for the E&O discount
*Satisfies the IL Ethics credit requirement.
This session will explore some basic background and information on the common crop policy, important deadlines, crop insurance forms, as well as crop insurance policy provisions and appeal procedures. The goal of this information is to understand the areas that can create agent E&O exposure with the placement of crop insurance. It will highlight dates and forms that are important when placing coverage, including risk management tips.
Speakers
Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions Science Fellow and Principal Atmospheric Scientist
Eric Snodgrass is a Sr. Science Fellow and Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions, where he develops predictive, analytical software solutions to manage weather risk for global production agriculture. He provides frequent weather updates that focus on how high-impact weather events influence global agriculture productivity. His current research uses machine learning to better understand field-level weather impacts on yields in the US and to increase confidence in long-range weather prediction. He presents his research as a featured speaker at over 120 conferences annually where he provides logistical guidance and solutions to weather sensitive financial institutions, farmers, commodity traders, and other stakeholders. Snodgrass is a co-founder of Global Weather and Climate Logistic, LLC and Agrible, Inc which were both acquired by Nutrien Ag Solutions in 2018.
Before transitioning to Nutrien Ag Solutions, Eric was the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2006-2019. Each year, he guided over 1800 students through the wild side of weather in ATMS 120: Severe and Hazardous Weather. He taught advanced courses on General Physical Meteorology, Meteorological Instrumentation, while routinely guest lectured for multiple disciplines across campus including the College of Law and the College of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. He also supervised dozens Capstone Research projects that focused on the economic impacts through applied meteorology and seasonal prediction. Snodgrass also taught advanced courses for the Environmental Sustainability Program on Renewable and Alternative Energy . He advised all undergraduate majors and minors in atmospheric science (~100 students) and supervised graduate teaching assistants and master’s students. He won many prestigious teaching awards at the University of Illinois including College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teaching Excellence award, the Campus Teaching Excellence Award and the Campus Teaching Excellent Award in Online and Distance Education. His online version of ATMS 120 was awarded the 2012 "Best Online Course" from the University Professional Continuing Education Association (a national organization). Eric currently serves as the chair of the Alumni Council for the Department of Atmospheric Science’s at the University of Illinois.
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Evan Manning, IIA of IL Director of Government Relations
As IIA of IL Government Relations Director, Evan Manning is responsible for all aspects of the association’s government relations program. IIA of IL also represents NAIFA-Illinois, Illinois State Association of Health Underwriters, and Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, collectively referred to as the Illinois Coalition of Insurance Brokers and Financial Advisors. The Coalition represents thousands of individuals and firms providing insurance and financial advice to Illinois consumers and businesses.
Manning has experience in the private sector and most recently was an Appropriations Budget Analyst on the Senate Republican Staff
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Kenneth Grothe, CPCU, AIC, Hartford Steam Boiler - AVP Precision Ag-Product Manager
Ken Grothe, Assistant Vice President, Product Executive, has led HSB’s Precision Ag Product Team since 2020. With His deep expertise in the farm industry and with farm Client’s this positions him well to advance the Precision Ag product and conversations for HSB.
Ken has over 20 years in the Insurance industry and has been with HSB for the last 5. He has his CPCU and AIC designations.
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Trent Munson, AgData Insurance Services, Inc. - Owner & Principal
Trent Munson is a fourth-generation farmer & rancher in Bureau County, Illinois. After graduating from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, he worked as a Program Coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension Office in Bureau County, IL. He went on to become a Marketing & Sales Representative for ProAg in the IL and WI territories. In addition to visiting with agencies, his assignments also included teaching several different education and training programs on a variety of topics. In 2017, he started AgData Insurance Services, Inc. where he is the Owner and Principal, focusing solely on crop insurance. Trent is a current Farm Agents Council Board Member.
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Luke Sandrock, Cornerstone Agency - Partner
Luke Sandrock began his career in insurance in 2009 after graduating from Monmouth College. He joined the family agency, Cornerstone Agency, where is now Partner. The agency concentrates and specializes in crop, farm, and agri-business insurance. Luke is a current Farm Agents Council Board Member.
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