Sessions

Opening Keynote

The Perils of a Debtor Nation: Debt- Trade, and the Agriculture and Manufacturing Sectors

Presented by Dr. Ernie Goss, Ph.D.

In this session, Dr. Ernie Goss examines how rising federal debt and persistent government deficit spending are reshaping the U.S. economy, with particular emphasis on manufacturing and agriculture. Drawing on his monthly surveys of manufacturing supply managers across nine Mid-American states and bank CEOs in ten agriculturally dependent Rural Mainstreet states, Dr. Goss provides timely insights into current business conditions and economic expectations.

The presentation will explore how expanding federal debt influences inflation, interest rates, investment, trade policy, and long-term economic growth. Attendees will gain an evidence-based assessment of recent economic trends, the outlook for key sectors, and the challenges and opportunities facing businesses, lenders, and policymakers in an era of mounting public debt.

Breakout 1

Policy Crosswinds: Federal Decisions Shaping the Ag Economy

Presented by Shaun Haney, Jenny Mesirow, Dr. Joe Outlaw, and Matt Valesko

As federal policy continues to evolve, its ripple effects across the agricultural economy are becoming increasingly complex and consequential. Join this expert panel—featuring Matt Valesko, Dr. Joe Outlaw, Shaun Haney, and Jenny Mesirow—as they unpack how farm policy, the US budget, and regulatory shifts are influencing the agricultural and rural economies. This timely discussion will connect policy to on-the-ground realities, giving attendees clearer insight into what’s ahead and how to position for it.

Breakout 2

Past as Prologue: The Changing Language of Rural Property Professionals

Presented by Dr. Terry Griffin

This presentation analyzes the evolving lexicon of rural property professionals, tracing how the terminology utilized by authors in the Journal of the ASFMRA has shifted from a focus on "rural" foundations toward a more nuanced, "risk"-centered framework over the last several decades. By examining these historical shifts, we will connect past linguistic trends to modern decision-making imperatives. Attendees will learn to identify how professional language has adapted in response to agricultural crises and rapid technological adoption, providing a roadmap to anticipate the "next big shift" in farm management and appraisal practices. This session offers clarity on how the move toward quantitative, risk-focused, and interdisciplinary terminology reflects the increasing complexity of client needs. Participants will leave with a framework to evaluate whether their current service offerings are effectively aligned with the shifting demands of the modern agricultural industry.

Breakout 3

The Infrastructure Behind Intelligence: Data Centers, AI and the Rural Opportunity

Presented by Jeff Johnston

Description: This session will explore the forces driving the AI infrastructure boom, why rural America is emerging as a prime destination for data center development, and the economics underpinning these investments. Attendees will gain insight into the sustainability of current AI-related capital spending and the opportunities it creates for rural communities and infrastructure providers.

General Session

Our Best Days Are Ahead: AI and the Augmented Appraiser

Presented by Juston Gohn, CRE, MAI, SRA

This keynote focuses on practical, real-world applications of artificial intelligence that every appraiser can begin using today. The session opens by setting the framework, the two paradigms of AI that appraisers are encountering: traditional chatbots and autonomous agents. From there, the presentation grounds the discussion in USPAP, covering FAQ #110 and the proposed Advisory Opinion 41 on the Use of Technology, so that attendees understand how these tools fit within the standards that govern our work.

The presentation then introduces a simple organizing framework, the four ways appraisers interact with AI, grouped into two broad paradigms. The old paradigm covers traditional chatbots and AI-assisted research, the tools most appraisers already know. The new paradigm covers autonomous work agents that execute multi-step appraisal workflows and persistent personal AI that functions as a chief of staff. Attendees will see live examples drawn from the speaker's own appraisal practice, with no hype and no grand speculation, just ideas that can be implemented into an appraisal workflow immediately.

Breakout 5

Waters of the West

Presented by Tom Davis, Douglas DeFlitch, Darryl Olsen, Ph.D., and Skye Root

Water has perpetually been one of the most significant, and often least understood, risk factors influencing western agricultural production, lending decisions, and farmland valuation. Building on industry insights and real-world examples from irrigated agriculture systems and the Colorado River Basin, this session explores how water availability, policy, and climate pressures are reshaping the agricultural landscape.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how water risk affects production agriculture, influences land values, and ultimately impacts food security and cost structures across the United States.

Breakout 6

Raising the Bar for Financial Literacy

Presented by Shaun Haney

In today’s volatile agricultural landscape, sharp management skills are critical for long-term survival and growth. Drawing on cutting-edge market research from RealAgristudies and real-world experience, Shaun Haney delivers an engaging, educational keynote tailored for farm advisors looking to elevate their clients' businesses. This session equips agricultural professionals with actionable insights across critical management pillars.  

Breakout 7

Interest-Based Communication

Presented by Vance Crowe

In today’s appraisal environment, professionals are increasingly navigating complex conversations—whether with clients, lenders, landowners, or regulatory stakeholders. Disagreements over value, expectations, and outcomes are inevitable. How those conversations are handled can either erode trust or strengthen it.

In this practical, fast-paced session, Vance Crowe introduces the fundamentals of interest-based communication and negotiation, a proven approach that shifts conversations from rigid positions to the underlying motivations driving them. Instead of arguing over outcomes, participants will learn how to uncover what truly matters to others, opening the door to more productive discussions and better solutions.

Participants will also explore how asking better questions, especially open-ended and probing questions, can reveal hidden assumptions, clarify misunderstandings, and lead to more collaborative problem-solving. Effective questioning creates space for honest dialogue and helps uncover the root causes of conflict. 

Designed specifically for ASFMRA professionals, this session will connect communication skills directly to real-world scenarios such as client disputes, valuation challenges, and stakeholder negotiations—helping attendees walk away with tools they can immediately apply in their agricultural appraisal work.

Closing Keynote

Basically Incredible: The Basics Done Consistently

Presented by Matt Booth, CSP

In a world filled with constant change, pressure, and distractions, success often comes down to mastering the basics. In this engaging and practical program, Matt Booth will challenge attendees to Check Their Attitude, improve their communication, and focus on the actions that drive results.

Attendees will leave with practical takeaways they can use immediately and renewed motivation to stop waiting, start moving, and do something.