AG bankers meet

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
At least 63 registered attendees, as well as some spouses and exhibitors, gathered at the Newcastle Lodge and Convention Center for the Wyoming Bankers Association Ag Committee conference May 14-16. 
This year, First State Bank’s Mike Morrison, who has been a member of the ag committee for 23 years was chosen as the committee chairman and was able to choose the location of this year’s conference. 
“We rotate throughout the state, and I chose to have it here, based upon Newcastle having the new lodge facility where individuals could stay and have the meeting in the same building,” Morrison said. 
The committee consists of 10 members, specifically agriculture bankers, from throughout the state. The committee has at least one meeting face-to-face, as well as numerous conference calls and emails throughout the year. This committee is tasked with coming up with speaker ideas, hot topics and the education needed for ag bankers in the state. 
“A lot of the time we have different speakers come in and talk about price trends on animals and crops, where the field is going and what is affecting the market,” Morrison said. “This year, and for several years in a row, we have had presentations on estate planning, will and trust setup, how to hand the ranch down to the next generation and how to set it up, so when you pass on, the ranch is not stuck in the courts.” 
Other topics of interest at this year’s conference included speaker Reuben Ritthaler with Tiger Transfer of Upton, who spoke about economic development in the area. Statewide real estate agents presented on land values and trends. 
“This is an important part of ag lending,” Morrison said. 
Speakers also presented on legislative issues in Washington, D.C., Morrison said, and tariffs were also a hot topic. 
In total, Morrison estimated that close to 80 people came to Newcastle for the event, including the spouses of bankers and exhibitors who set up at the conference. 
“We usually have between 60 and 70 people, so this year was one of the higher-attended ones,” Morrison said. “We kicked off Tuesday at noon with a golf tournament that was well supported with 25 to 30 people playing. We then met all day Wednesday with a banquet that night and had presenters half a day on Thursday.” 
Morrison said that he received several comments about the facility and Newcastle, in general. 
“They thought the conference was excellent as far as the speakers we had and the different topics. They enjoyed Newcastle and the facility,” said Morrison, who credited other committee members and people with the Wyoming Banking Association with helping to organize the event.