2025 CultivateGrowth Conference
GreenStone's CultivateGrowth Conference is an event you won’t want to miss…packed with a wealth of learning possibilities, chances for personal and professional development, and networking opportunities.
With the input of farmers like you, this two-day event on February 3-4 has been designed to provide young, beginning, and small farmers with a platform to expand your networks and knowledge as you progress on your agricultural journey.
The topics and speakers have been hand selected to help answer your questions and provide the foundation for you to build on. Most importantly, heavily integrated into the event is ample opportunities to learn from your peers and network to build your connections and share your experiences. View the full agenda here.
Join GreenStone at the Crowne Plaza in Lansing, MI on February 3-4 for our third CultivateGrowth Conference to network and learn from industry leaders covering the breadth of topics impacting you as a young, beginning or small farmer!
Space is limited - don't wait to register! If the conference is not full before then, registration will close on January 6.
Event Details:
2024 CultivateGrowth Conference
Location: Crowne Plaza - Lansing, MI
Day 1: Monday, February 3 - 1:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Day 2: Tuesday, February 4 - 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Industry leaders will cover essentials every young, beginning or small farmer should know.
- Economic Outlook and Planning with Crop Insurance Risk Management
- Katie Dilse, Rock Solid in a Delicate World Workshop
- Fraud & Cybersecurity - Tips to protect your identity
- Breakouts:
- Managing Employees and Clarifying Roles
- Business Planning and Entity Structure Considerations
- Getting the Most out of Financial Management
- Risk Management Tactics through Crop Insurance
- Get the Most for your Harvest with Commodity Marketing
- Marketing to Consumers
Keynote Speakers:
Katie Dilse, Speaker and Encourager
Identified as one of the Top 40 under 40 business leaders in the Midwest, Katie is known for professional development, community contributions, and her influential voice. As our keynote, she’ll relate life as open, raw and real as it is: funny, serious, honest, transparent and full of growth. "Our world relies on agriculture. We carefully choose our seeds, plant with hope, haul the benefits all while embracing our sweat, and our responsibility. We build our herds, develop our teams, cut our flowers, find our niche – in agriculture the possibilities are endless. As producers, we work long hours to research, strategize and aim.”
Alex Offerdahl, Crop Insurance Consultant with Watts and Associates
Alex has dedicated his career to helping farmers make better risk management decisions. He leads Watts and Associates, a highly specialized consulting firm, and provides his insights into the changing state of the crop insurance industry, emerging risk management trends, and understanding the economic needs of farmers. Alex remains engaged in the small northern Montana farm and ranch where he grew up, returning to pitch in for planting, harvest, branding, and other seasonal chores. He brings a rancher’s perspective to economic analysis and product development.
About CultivateGrowth:
GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program provides the foundation to flourish in your agricultural aspirations. Uniquely designed to support the diversity of today’s young, beginning and small farmers, the multiple aspects of this program provide funding, networking, education and financing to serve your individual needs.
- Specialized Loan Programs: CultivateGrowth provides financing in unique and individualized situations through our relaxed underwriting standards
- Resources: $40,000 in CultivateGrowth Grants are available to support continued education and personal growth.
- Networking: Our program offers new or young farmers unique learning and networking opportunities by working with an experienced farmer through the CultivateGrowth Mentorship.
For more information on CultivateGrowth, call your local branch or visit the program webpage for details!