2024 Education Week Courses

2024 Education Week QE & Accreditation

Education Week offers the ASFMRA's signature qualifying education, designed by and for rural property professionals, all in one convenient location. Gain a competitive edge as you learn from the very best in the field.

Education Week also provides pathways to accreditation. Earning a professional designation with the ASFMRA is a sure way to position yourself as a trusted expert in the agricultural and rural property sectors.

Appraiser Courses

This course offers an introduction to statistical analysis for appraisers, emphasizing practical application over theoretical training. It covers fundamental terminology, the significance of descriptive and inferential statistics, and basic statistical analysis in Excel. All of the material is reinforced using real-world examples and practice problems, as well as two extensive case studies. This course doesn't aim to make students statisticians, rather, it encourages further study for proficiency in applying advanced analytical techniques in appraisal practice.

Please Note: This course is designed to follow Basic Appraisal Principles and Basic Appraisal Procedures. It is assumed the student has already gained the level of knowledge and understanding that is taught in the lower level classes.

Required Equipment & Textbooks: HP-12c, Hp-17bII or HP-19bII calculator; laptop

Suggested Textbook: Valuing Rural America – Foundations of Data Analysis

Contact Hours: 14 hours + 1 hour exam

Course Timetable: July 19-20 | 8 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Doug Hodge, ARA, and Tim Hodge

AQB Licensure Requirement: Certified Residential; Certified General

For questions about approvals, contact Deanna Ilk at dilk@asfmra.org or 303-692-1222

The course includes an overview of the income approach, computing financial rates, and an in-depth examination of discounted cash flow analysis (DCF). The course covers principles of discounted cash flow analysis, application and common errors in discounted cash flow analysis, and culminates with discounted cash flow case studies.

Students will also delve into the relationships between rates, learn about the concepts of discounting and net present value, and engage with drill problems to enhance practical understanding. Procedures and application of yield capitalization, cash equivalency and mortgage analysis, and valuation of lease interests are also topics that are explored. This course is designed to provide students with a deep and practical understanding of income-based valuation methods for property appraisal.

Please Note: This course is designed to follow Basic Appraisal Principles and Basic Appraisal Procedures. It is assumed the student has already gained the level of knowledge and understanding that is taught in the lower level classes.

Required Equipment & Textbooks: HP-12c, Hp-17bII or HP-19bII calculator; laptop

Suggested Textbook: Valuing Rural America – Foundations of Data Analysis; The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal; The Appraisal of Real Estate

Contact Hours: 27 hours + 3 hour exam

Course Timetable: July 15-18 | 8 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Andy Gudajtes, ARA, and Dave Mielnicki, ARA

AQB Licensure Requirement: Certified General

For questions about approvals, contact Deanna Ilk at dilk@asfmra.org or 303-692-1222

This course will focus on all the components and steps required to prepare an appraisal report that is clear, adequately researched, avoids common errors, properly structured and meets the client’s requirements.

Please Note: This course is designed to follow Basic Appraisal Principles and Basic Appraisal Procedures. It is assumed the student has already gained the level of knowledge and understanding that is taught in the lower level classes.

Required Equipment & Textbooks: the most recent version of USPAP; HP-12c, Hp-17bII or HP-19bII calculator; laptop

Suggested Textbook: Valuing Rural America – Foundations of Data Analysis

Contact Hours: 28 hours + 2 hour exam

Course Timetable: July 15-18 | 8 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Ray Wagester, ARA, and Jeff Berg, ARA

AQB Licensure Requirement: Certified General

For questions about approvals, contact Deanna Ilk at dilk@asfmra.org or 303-692-1222

This is an advanced course that is intended primarily to assist students in preparing for Comprehensive Exams and to assist them in entering the proper mindset for working complex appraisal problems. It is intended to be a refresher course for those that have successfully completed the required education for Accreditation. Very little time will be spent on discussing basic principles. Rather, this course will focus on working complex rural based appraisal problems and case studies and allow the students to work closely with the instructors on specific concepts and principles to solidify their understanding. The course will cover complex appraisal theory and case studies with respect to the three approaches to value, highest and best use, eminent domain, and other pertinent material.

Please Note: This is an advanced skill level course. It is assumed the student has already gained the level of knowledge and understanding that is taught in the lower level courses.

Required Equipment & Textbooks: HP-12c, Hp-17bII or HP-19bII calculator; laptop

Suggested Textbook: Valuing Rural America – Foundations of Data Analysis

Contact Hours: 20 hours

Course Timetable: July 15-17 | 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Carol Haygood, ARA, and Rebecca Stone, ARA

July 18-19

Must be pre-approved to sit for this exam.

For more information about becoming an ARA or RPRA, click here.

Farm Manager Courses

Farm Budgeting

  • How are budgets used and the questions a budget should answer
  • What information is needed to prepare a budget
  • Difference between fixed and variable costs
  • Difference between a partial budget and an enterprise budget
  • Cash flow budgets
  • How other budgets fit into a whole-farm budget
  • Farm financial analysis tool
  • Budget case studies

Farm Accounting & Financial Statements

  • Overview of accounting
  • Financial statements
  • Balance sheets
  • Assets and liabilities
  • Income statements
  • Cash flow statements
  • Statement of Owner’s Equity
  • Financial ratios

 Farm Finance

  • How to evaluate an investment
  • Financial modeling in agriculture
  • Introduction to agricultural portfolio management
  • Integrated case study

Contact Hours: 24 hours

Course Timetable: July 15-17 | 8 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Danielle Harris, AFM, and Brent Lawson, AFM

Accreditation: This course is required for the AFM

Required Materials: Must bring a laptop and a financial calculator to class. Must have a working knowledge of Excel.

List of Approvals

Presentation and Selling Skills

  • How to prepare an oral presentation
  • How to effectively use visual aids
  • Speaking to the media
  • Learn about the selling cycle
  • Body language

Negotiation, Conflict Management, Business Proposals and Expert Witnesses

  • Understand the 5 keys to negotiating
  • How to identify and handle conflict
  • How to prepare a business proposal
  • What is an expert testimony and how to prepare for it
  • Professionalism

Business Communication, Controls, Security and Business Structure

  • How to best develop and write business documents
  • Understanding contracts
  • Organizing emails and phone calls
  • Business ethics
  • Explanation and benefits of different types of business structures

Contact Hours: 24 hours

Course Timetable: July 18-20 | 8 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Matt Gunderson, AFM, and Elizabeth Strom, AFM

Accreditation: This course is required for the AFM

List of Approvals

Leasing and Appraisals

  • Definition of leases and the risks associated with each type
  • What is the role of the farm manager when leasing a property for a client?
  • Legal aspects and tax implications of leases
  • Appraisal reports and the three approaches to value

Production and Conservation

  • Important elements of row crop production
  • Cereal grain, orchard and vine production
  • Hay and forage; rangeland and pasture; and seed production
  • Open range and confinement livestock production
  • Woodland and Forestry, aquaculture and organic production
  • Wildlife and hunting land production practices
  • Conservation practices

Risk and Marketing

  • Role of country elevators and terminals in the grain marketing industry
  • Supply and demand
  • Technical and fundamental analysis
  • Futures contract
  • Traders and their impact on CBOT and CME markets
  • How to evaluate market trends using charts, graphs and cyclical patterns

Projects, Locations and Management

  • How to perform a new site inspection
  • Locating a property given any type of legal description
  • Personal property, trade fixtures and real property
  • Risks associated with a property
  • Discuss the five phases of project management
  • Discuss the variety of property risks
  • Record keeping procedures essential for tax reporting
  • Writing a farm plan

Contact Hours: 24 hours

Course Timetable: July 15-17 | 8 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Don Colter, AFM, and Paul Burgener, AFM

Accreditation: This course is required for the AFM

List of Approvals

Review for the AFM Exam


Contact Hours: 8 hours

Course Timetable: July 18 | 8 AM - 5:30 PM CT

Instructors: Don Colter, AFM, and Justin Bahr, AFM

Accreditation: This course is required for the AFM

July 19-20

For more information about becoming an Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), click here.

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