CEC 2023 Speakers
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Dan Basse, President, AgResource Company
2024 Ag Economy Outlook
Economist Dan Basse has been in the commodity business since 1979, providing research and insight around the globe. His counsel is sought out in 81 nations – by farmers, elevators, processors, millers, food companies, trading companies, importers, exporters, meat packers, and more. Mr. Basse was raised on a dairy/grain farm in Waukesha, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1979. Dan has worked with Professional Farmers of America, Brock Associates and the agricultural research division of GNP Commodities in Chicago. In 1987, Mr. Basse founded AgResource Company to serve the needs of the United States and world agriculture community. Mr. Basse is a member of Farm Foundation and the Commodity Market Council.
Dec. 4 General Session
Kristi Boswell, Agricultural Policy Lawyer, Alston & Bird
PANEL | Help Wanted: Foreign Ag Labor Solutions
Kristi Boswell is counsel in the Legislative & Public Policy Group and a member of the Food, Beverage & Agribusiness Team. Kristi is a preeminent agricultural labor and immigration policy advisor and was instrumental in streamlining long standing agriculture labor regulatory reforms in the H-2A visa program and drafting immigration legislation. She was active in implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill and orchestrated the development of COVID-19 and trade mitigation assistance under Commodity Credit Corporation authorities. Along with her enterprise-wide USDA experience, she has worked with the Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, State Department, Food & Drug Administration, and Congressional committees. Before joining Alston & Bird, Kristi served as a senior advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she implemented the secretary’s priorities and advised the secretary on decision-making. Kristi also held policy roles at the White House and served as the director of congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Dec. 4 Breakout Session
Mark Brusberg, Chief Meteorologist, United States Department of Agriculture
El Nino and Beyond: Leveraging USDA Weather Reports to Optimize Your Business
Mark Brusberg serves as the Chief Meteorologist of USDA’s agricultural weather and assessments group, a component of the World Agricultural Outlook Board. In this capacity, Mr. Brusberg helps to coordinate the activities of USDA agencies responsible for weather- and climate-related issues and serves as a liaison with other organizations having similar interests, notably the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Since 2000, Mr. Brusberg has been a leading figure in the Department’s drought assessment and mitigation activities, and has worked toward improving the performance of the U.S. Drought Monitor through a strong partnership with the National Drought Mitigation Center. He has been a leading advocate within the Department for the establishment of a National Soil Moisture Monitoring Network. Mr. Brusberg was active in the design and implementation of the NOAA-led National Integrated Drought Information System and currently serves on its Executive Council. He has also assisted in development of several Subsidiary Interagency Agreements between USDA and NOAA and is a lead representative to the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Support and Services. In 2013, he began serving in a leadership capacity with the National Drought Resilience Partnership, an advisory group supporting the Executive Office of the President. Mr. Brusberg is the International Editor of the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin and is involved in the production of the North American Drought Monitor. Mr. Brusberg holds a Master’s Degree in Meteorology (1987) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Sciences (1985) from the University of Maryland.
Dec. 5 General Session
Nate Burk, Senior Vice President Fats, Oils, Greases, FCStone Merchant Services
The Thirst for Soyoil: Emerging Market Opportunities for 2024
Nate started his career with StoneX as a Risk Management Consultant in 2003. At the start of his career, Nate worked closely with ethanol and biodiesel clients on the financial trading side of the business where he helped them lock in forward margins and developed over 30 feasibility studies. In 2006 Nate began building out a physical Fats, Oils and Greases trading desk focused on feedstock procurement for biodiesel plants. That business has since expanded to renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, feedstock suppliers, and vegetable oil crushers. Nate has taken a leadership role in the current business which continues to help companies operating in the renewable fuels space manage their supply chain, feedstock procurement, and financing. Nate and his team currently execute over 4 billion pounds of feedstocks annually.
Dec. 4 Breakout Session
Danny Lee “Nitro” Clark, Author, Speaker, American Gladiator
The Power of Resilience
From the rough and tumble fields of the NFL to the iconic arenas of “American Gladiators,” Danny Lee Clark is a testament to relentless ambition and larger-than-life achievements. Born in Zama, Japan, Danny rose to stardom as ‘Nitro’ on “American Gladiators,” a role that made him a household name and solidified his place in pop culture history. A two-time bestselling author, Danny’s books “F Dying” and “Gladiator: A True Story of ‘Roids, Rage, and Redemption” have deeply connected with readers, with the latter serving as the blueprint for the Netflix sensation, “Muscles & Mayhem – The Unauthorized Story of the American Gladiators,” co-produced through Nitro Up Media.
Adding to his multifaceted career, Danny is a high-demand motivational speaker, a testament seen in his TEDx Talk which garnered over 500,000 views, touching hearts globally. Beyond the entertainment industry, Danny’s story is one of survival, resilience, and generosity. He’s not only weathered a heart attack but has also been instrumental in raising over $250k for autism advocacy. Whether showcasing his black belt skills in Tae Kwon Do, enjoying a game of pickleball, or sharing moments with fans at conventions, Danny Lee Clark’s impact is vast, echoing across various avenues of life.
Dec. 5 General Session
Jake Joraanstad, CEO & Co-Founder, Bushel
Is it Scary or a Saving Grace? Generative AI and Real Talk on How it Could Impact Agriculture and Agribusinesses
Jake Joraanstad is the CEO of Bushel, a company he co-founded in 2011 as Myriad Mobile. Bushel, specializing in agricultural software, has become a leading force in the ag tech sector, empowering over 100,000 farmers and 2,600 agribusinesses with real-time data and actionable insights. Under Jake’s leadership, Bushel grew to see 45% of grain origination in the U.S. and Canada managed through its platform. A thought leader in technology and agriculture, Jake speaks at events like the U.S. Grains Council’s Annual Meeting, World Agri-Tech, and Money 20/20 USA. He serves on the Ninth District Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, advising on regional economic conditions. Jake is actively involved in the entrepreneurial community, co-founding Emerging Prairie and serving on the Grand Farm Advisory Board. A North Dakota native, Jake attended North Dakota State University, studying computer science and business before launching Myriad Mobile.
Dec. 5 General Session
Kody Kirkendall, Vice President of Marketing, Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC
PANEL | Addressing the Challenges in Obtaining Insurance
Kody Kirkendall is the Vice President of Marketing at Marsh & McLennan Agency, assessing risk and building Property and Casualty Insurance Programs around clients specializing in agribusiness and food manufacturing. Kody has 20+ years’ experience in the insurance industry. He specializes in carrier relations, insurance program placement, and team strategy. He collaborates with a large sales and operations team with MMA offices throughout the upper Midwest. Prior to joining the Marsh & McLennan team five years ago, Kody led the underwriting teams at two insurance companies. Due to his experience in underwriting, Kody is able to build programs with an understanding of what carriers expect to see from their agency partners, moving MMA submissions to the top of their list. This experience also gives him the unique ability to work on a peer-to-peer level with underwriters to communicate business exposures clearly and assist in program structure and pricing.
Dec. 4 Breakout Session
Terry D. Lively CDS, CSS, SHRM-SCP, PCQI, Employer Services Safety & Compliance Manager, Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC
With over 35 years of experience in Safety, Compliance, Risk Management, Human Resources, and Insurance Loss Control, Terry has worked in a variety of industries including large fleet transportation, chemical manufacturing, construction, military/government and full service agricultural businesses. Terry is also a retired member of the U.S Air Force where he oversaw training for Base Civil Engineering, which included not only all of the construction trades but also included the Base Emergency Management/Disaster Response section and the Fire Department/Crash Rescue sections. Terry is an authorized 10 & 30 hour OSHA course instructor, he has assisted with OSHA Rapid Response third party investigations along with serving as an the employer and as a third party employer representative during multiple OSHA, EPA, DOT and FDA Compliance and Consultation inspections. Terry is certified as PCQI for both Human and Animal Food/Feed, he is an A.L.I.C.E. Active Aggressor Training Trainer and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Managers, he is a Past Chairman of South Dakota Ag Cooperative Safety Directors Associations which he helped found and organize. Terry Holds the Certified Safety Supervisor and Certified Director of Safety designations from the North American Transportation Management Institute and the Society for Human Resources SHRM-SCP designation along with several other safety specific certifications.
Dec. 4 Breakout Session
Scott Spengler, CPCU, AVP Risk Services, Berkley Agribusiness
Scott brings over 18 years of diverse leadership expertise in the insurance and construction industries. He started his insurance career as a commercial claims field specialist and has held multiple leadership positions overseeing office and remote teams across the U.S., managing commercial property claims, large loss and risk services. Scott enjoys leading highly engaged, high-performing teams skilled at problem-solving and customer service, as well as specializing in continuous improvement, ideation, and delivering innovative solutions for the business. Scott graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management and a master’s degree in business psychology from Franklin University, receiving Summa Cum Laude honors at both institutions. He also holds a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation specializing in risk management and property-casualty insurance.
Dec. 4 Breakout Session
Kendall Woodward, Vice President, Agribusiness Practice Leader & Risk Services, Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC
PANEL | Addressing the Challenges in Obtaining Insurance
Kendall Woodward leads Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)’s Agribusiness Practice and Risk Services departments including loss control and claims services. As the director of claims and risk services, Kendall and his team are an integral part of the client service team, proactively managing property/casualty claim programs, monitoring large and complex claims, as well as attending and facilitating client meetings, claim reviews, and vendor visits. He monitors claim status, action plans, and reserves while considering client costs and negotiates for changes in reserves for a positive client outcome. Kendall also creates loss trend reports and collaborates with team members to develop strategy that results in reduced loss frequency and severity. Kendall has over 20 years of experience in insurance at all levels of the claims process with various roles including field adjuster, office adjuster, claims manager, and the head of a claims department. In addition, he spent time as the head of operations for an insurance company, which gives him the ability to understand the interplay between claims and operations. Kendall’s broad claims knowledge and expertise is an asset to MMA colleagues and clients, and he is dedicated to utilizing his expertise to deliver the best service and outcomes and ultimately retain client relationships.
Dec. 4 Breakout Session
| Sara Wyant, President, Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. Agricultural Policy and Trade Update Sara Wyant is President of Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., a communications firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Sacramento, Calif. and Camdenton, Missouri. The newsletter and website she founded, Agri-Pulse, include the latest updates on farm policy, commodity and conservation programs, trade, food safety, rural development, and environmental and regulatory programs. In addition, Wyant publishes early morning news summaries Daily Harvest and Daybreak, providing busy readers with a quick overview of the latest farm, food, and rural policy news each weekday. Wyant formerly served as chairwoman on the Farm Foundation’s board of trustees and as past president of the American Agricultural Editor’s Association. In 2015, Wyant was named to the Folio: “Top Women in Media” recognition in the Entrepreneurs category. She has been awarded a producer communications award from the United Soybean Board, and Oscar in Agriculture award for excellence in agricultural reporting from the American Agricultural Editor’s Association and a leadership award from Agriculture Future of America. She is currently President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) Foundation. In 2013, Wyant was recognized for outstanding service to agriculture by the Missouri Farm Bureau. Wyant gained first-hand knowledge of crop and livestock production while growing up on a farm near Marengo, Iowa. She and husband Allan Johnson, parents of sons Jason and Jordan, also own the farm where her husband’s family originally established a homestead near Almont, North Dakota. Dec. 4 General Session |
Ken Eriksen, independent transportation consultant
New and Notable Issues for Ag Transportation in 2024
Dec. 4 General Session