Monday, November 1, 2021
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CT: Governance Case Study: Lisavaird Co-op
Approaching its 100th anniversary in 2025, Lisavaird Co-op in West Cork, Ireland started with a group of farmers producing less than 200,000 gallons of milk the first year. Since then, the co-op has grown and diversified to provide services such as hardware stores, agronomy and animal nutrition, solar energy installation, as well as, three food production subsidiaries. During this interactive session, Dr. Michael Boland will interview Lisavaird’s board chair and General Manager about how they have navigated change over the years and how they are approaching their next century of service to the people of West Cork.
Cormac O’Keeffe, Board Chair, Lisavaird Co-op
Pat Moriarty, General Manager, Lisavaird Co-op
Dr. Michael Boland, Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Minnesota
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. CT: Breakout Discussion Groups
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT: Policy Update
What’s in store for the agriculture industry in 2022? Chuck Conner, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, will review important policy issues impacting farmer-owned cooperatives in the year ahead.
Chuck Conner, President and CEO, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Moderator: Courtney Berner, Executive Director, UW Center for Cooperatives
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. CT: Breakout Discussion Groups
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
10:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m. CT: Competitive Strategies Using Alternative Business Models
Increasingly, cooperatives are working together under LLCs and joint venture models to gain efficiencies, while retaining autonomy and local control. In this session, we will hear from leaders from Skyland Grain LLC, and Landus Cooperative about their approaches to these alternative business models and the benefits to farmer members.
Matt Carstens, CEO, Landus Cooperative
David Cron, CEO, Skyland Grain LLC
Moderator: Brian Briggeman, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Arthur Capper Cooperative Center, Kansas State University
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. CT: Breakout Discussion Groups
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Innovations in Management Structures: AMPI Case Study
After the resignation of longtime AMPI CEO, Ed Welch, the board considered a co-management model with two long-time employees at the helm of the U.S.’s largest cheese cooperative. In this session, AMPI leaders will share how the co-CEO structure aligns with the co-op’s culture, how this structure has worked for the board, and what to consider if you are exploring alternative management structures.
Sheryl Meshke, Co-President and CEO, Associated Milk Producers Incorporated
Steven Schlangan, Board Chair, Associated Milk Producers Incorporated
Moderator: Ann Kafer, Vice President, Human Resources & Strategy Officer, GROWMARK
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. CT: Breakout Discussion Groups
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
10:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m. CT: Lightning Round Session: Cooperative Research
Join this session to hear succinct, engaging presentations on the latest cooperative research topics from leading cooperative academics.
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. CT: Breakout Discussion Groups
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT: TBD
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. CT: Breakout Discussion Groups