12/12/2018

OABA Industry Conference Prepares Attendees to Meet Challenges in Agriculture

The two-day conference will be Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2019 in Columbus

The upcoming Ohio AgriBusiness Association Industry Conference is packed with widely-respected speakers and industry professionals, sharing their expertise on a variety of topics relating to agronomy, grain and feed, safety, risk management and more.

The two-day industry conference, Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2019 being held in Columbus, is designed to allow participants to choose session topics most relevant to their profession. In addition to these breakout sessions, the conference will feature three general sessions focusing on broader issues in agriculture and leadership.

This year’s general sessions speakers include:

• Arlan Suderman – INTL FCStone; Weathering the Storm in Agriculture. U.S. agriculture faces challenges from a series of record crops, along with a trade war with China, but there are also significant opportunities on the horizon. Suderman will discuss some of the significant global trends unfolding that are expected to shape the outlook for U.S. agriculture in the coming one to three years.
• Christopher Henney – Ohio AgriBusiness Association; The Future is Now – Industry Outlook and Association Updates. It's no secret that our industry is evolving faster today than ever before in history. Henney will address OABA's current challenges and opportunities, look ahead to the future and share the association's strategic plan to get there. 
• David Fikes – Food Marketing Institute; Transparency: What It Means to Food Consumers and You. Transparency is an overused fix-everything word, an underutilized concept and a daunting task. Knowing exactly what information the consumer wants (and what they do not want) clarifies the work, reveals its value and makes it a worthy investment of time and effort.

Continuing education units (CEUs) are available for both certified crop advisers and state licensed pesticide applicators that attend the conference. An agenda is available at www.oaba.net/events_conference.

All-inclusive registration for the event covers admission to both days of educational programming, all meals, including the Industry Networking Reception & Dinner and the OABA Annual Meeting. Registration fees are as follows:

Member: $275 ($350 after Jan. 15, 2019)
Non-Member: $425 ($500 after Jan. 15, 2019)

Individual day and reception/dinner-only registrations are also available, as are exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities. Visit www.oaba.net/events_conference for more information and to register.

Hotel accommodations for the Columbus Marriott Northwest can be made online by visiting www.oaba.net/events_conference or by calling 614-791-1000 and using the code “Ohio AgriBusiness Association.” The OABA hotel block reservation deadline is Jan. 15, 2019.