Mid America Growers Conference

Conference Speakers

Jeff Alicandro: Crop Consultant & Trial Management with agr.assistance, a comprehensive crop consulting firm providing solutions in crop production, pest management, fertility, regulatory compliance and product development.

Dr. Art Barnaby: Professor of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. Art conducts statewide extension education programs on financial planning, risk, government commodity programs and crop insurance and is an author of the KSU Risk Management Web page and several research projects covering alternative crop insurance designs.

Dr. Bruce Barrett: Associate Professor of Entomology, University of Missouri. Research interests include the development and delivery of management tactics for arthropods affecting fruits, vegetables, turf and woody ornamentals.

Dr. Kris Berglund: Michigan State University Distinguished Professor of Forestry and Chemical Engineering.. Current research project aimed at ensuring product quality and assisting artisan distillers in establishing new business opportunities.

Monica Braun: Director of the REAP Women’s Business Center and Business Specialist with Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) serving 14 counties in southeast and south central Nebraska, working with entrepreneus, small business owners and REAP association members to enhance their business management skills and access loan funds.

David Brown: Managing partner, Brown Immigration Law, LLC. David has more than ten years of professional legal experience. The last nine years have been dedicated to U.S., Canadian and International immigration matters for large, medium and small corporations, including all aspects of immigration compliance.

Karen Fritschle: “Frits” is the lead instructor for the NebraskaEDGE entrepreneur course and an online business instructor at Peru State College. Frits is the Business Development/Marketing Officer at Arbor Bank in Nebraska City.

Dr. Larry Gut: Department of Entomology, Michigan State University. As a tree fruit entomologist, Dr. Gut conducts research and extension activities in apple, cherry, peach and pears to develop a technology and knowledge base that supports the implementation of IPM programs in tree fruit.

Chuck Hassebrook: Executive Director of the Center for Rural Affairs specializing in commodity programs, rural development policy, research and extension, rural revitalization and higher education.

Jim Hruskoci: Extension horticulturalist at the University of Nebraska and Hall County Nebraksa extension educator working with area grape growers to improve the quality of the grapes and wines they produce.

Dr. Megan Kennelly: A faculty member in the Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University whose responsibilities include extension and research for horticultural crops (turf, ornamentals, fruit, vegetables, shade trees) and extensive diagnostic lab work.

Dr. Rich Marini: Department Head and Professor of Horticulture, Penn State University. Chief administrative officer responsible for academic discipline leadership, growth of extension programs and research.

Janelle Moran: Janelle received her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Management from Peru State and has spent most of her career in Higher education until she began her current position in 2005 as a Business Specialist with Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP).

Dr. Paul Read: Head of the Department Horticulture/Viticulture at University of Nebraska Lincoln. Dr. Read serves as a resource for Nebraska’s developing grape and wine industry. Read is a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and received the ASHS Outstanding Graduate Educator Award and has served as Vice President for Education. He is currently completing a three-year term as President and Chair of the Board of Directors of ASHS.

Dr. Connie Reimers-Hild: A faculty member at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for six years, Dr. Connie serves as the Unit Leader for the Kimmel Education and Research Center and leads the Center’s efforts to advance economic development in southeast Nebraska through the avenues of entrepreneurship, leadership, value-added and alternative agriculture and agritourism.

Becki Rhoades: International Marketing Specialist, Kansas Department of Commerce with a varied background in farm broadcasting, newspaper and magazine writing, web design and public relations. Becki works with small to medium-sized food manufacturers and marketers to promote their products to local, regional, national and international customers.

Paul Santoriello: Paul is an award winning senior winemaker for Door Peninsula Winery in Door County, Wisconsin. He will tell us the secrets of successful fruit wine crafting. On a daily basis he ferments, processes and bottles fruit and grape wines for the mid-west market and from this effort he has won 62 awards in competition, recently 2007 Best of Show in Minnesota Fruit Wine and 2006 Best in Class Cherry Wine Long Beach Grand-Cru.

Sharon & Mike Schilling: Owners of the nation’s first farm/winery/microbrewery combination, Schilling Bridge Winery & Micro Brewery in Pawnee City, NE bridges the gap between the Wine connoisseur and beer enthusiast. They offer visitors both Nebraska-produced wines and hand-crafted microbrews.

Dr. Mike Thomsen: Mike is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas and teaches agricultural marketing, demand analysis and agribusiness strategy and is currently working on the economics of vineyards and wineries as part of a USDA funded project aimed at facilitating the growth of the regional grape and wine industry.

Tim & Jan Vala: Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is a family-owned business which is a 152-acre operation with nearly 55 acres of pumpkins planted every year. The Fall Festival is a spectacular event with year-long preparation and the Pumpkin Patch is a wholesome family entertainment destination.

Hotel Accommodations

Lied Lodge & Conference Center
2700 Sylvan Road
Nebraska City, NE 68410
(800-546-5433)

www.liedlodge.org

Single $89.00 plus tax, Double $99.00 plus tax (book by December 15th)
Mention that you are with the Mid-America Fruit Growers Conference.
A shuttle service is available.

ABOUT LIED LODGE & CONFERENCE CENTER
A NATURAL SETTING TO INSPIRE AND ENRICH YOU

Soaring lobby timbers connect you to the beauty and inspiration of nature. The Lodge is nestled on 260 lush, wooded acres in the beautiful rolling hills of the Missouri Valley.

Lied Lodge offers a unique environment that enhances every experience. Fully appointed guest rooms are designed with exceptional attention to detail that ensures comfort and creativity while allowing you to get the most out of our conference.
Award-winning cuisine, miles of scenic trails and a fitness center with Olympic-sized pool are just some of the amenities that await you.

Owned and operated by The National Arbor Day Foundation, the development and daily operation of Arbor Day Farm and Lied Lodge & Conference Center reflect the vision of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton and his lifelong commitment to tree planting, conservation and stewardship.

All Arbor Day Farm and Lied Lodge & Conference Center proceeds are used to encourage sustainable development practices around the globe and to promote conservation and healthier communities through tree planting.

ABOUT KIMMEL EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER

The University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Extension in Kimmel Education and Research Center delivers research-based education and information in agriculture and natural resources, consumer and family economics, community and economic development and 4-H youth development to citizens throughout the county and contributes to more than 1.5 million educational contacts each
These educational programs, delivered via a variety of methods, are offered through a federal, state and county partnership arrangement with the objective to provide programs and other educational resources locally.
Kimmel Education & Research Center is located on Old Highway 75, a mile west of Nebraska City.

DIRECTIONS

Lied Lodge & Conference Center
2700 Sylvan Road, PO Box 17, Nebraska City, NE 68410 800-546-5433
We are located approximately an hour south of Omaha and approximately an hour east of Lincoln in historic Nebraska City.

From Eppley Airfield, Omaha, NE

As you leave Eppley Airfield, take Abbott Drive toward Omaha following signs directing you to I-29. After a mile or two, you will turn left on 14th Street. Continue to follow I-29 signs. After passing the Qwest Center, be watchful for a left turn which is just after going under a viaduct. This is the entrance ramp to the interstate. Continue straight past Dodge Street, and turn left at Douglas Street. This is the entrance to the interstate. Stay in the right lane and follow all signs directing you to Kansas City via I-29. Travel about 40 miles on I-29 to Exit 10 (Nebraska City). As you exit, turn right onto Highway 2. Continue on Highway 2 over the Missouri River Bridge until you come to a traffic signal. You will notice a Factory Stores of America mall on the left. Continue from this intersection exactly 2 miles to the Omaha/Nebraska City exit. Exit here and you will notice a fork in the road denoting left to Omaha, right to Nebraska City. Bear right here and travel approximately 1.2 miles to Steinhart Park Road. It follows a large left curve in the road and is amidst the golf course area. Turn left at Steinhart Park Road and continue approximately 3/10 of a mile to Sylvan Road. Turn left and you will notice Lied Lodge & Conference Center about a block down Sylvan Road.

From Lincoln Airport, Lincoln, NE

Get on Nebraska Highway 2 heading East. Continue east on Nebraska Highway 2 traveling past Bennet, Palmyra, Unadilla, and Syracuse. Continue to travel on this divided highway to the Nebraska City exit. Take the first exit into Nebraska City. Travel an additional 2 miles from this curving exit road to Steinhart Park Road. Steinhart Park Road is on a big left curve in the road and is situated amidst the golf course. Turn left and continue 3/10 of a mile to Sylvan Road. Turn

From Kansas City, Missouri

If coming from downtown, take I-35 north to I-29. If coming from south Kansas City, take I-435 to I-29 North. Take I-29 approximately 120 miles to Exit 10 in the state of Iowa. (It will be noted as the Nebraska City Exit.) After exiting, turn left onto Highway 2. Continue on Highway 2 over the Missouri River Bridge until you come to a traffic signal. You will notice a Factory Stores of America mall on the left. Continue from this intersection exactly 2 miles to the Omaha/Nebraska City exit. Turn left at Steinhart Park Road and continue approximately 3/10 of a mile to Sylvan Road. Turn left and you will notice Lied Lodge & Conference Center about a block down Sylvan Road.

DIRECTIONS

UNL Kimmel Education & Research Center

From Omaha: Take Highway 75 south from Omaha. Turn left (east) onto Business Highway 75 and travel one mile to KERC.

From Lincoln: Take Highway 2 to the first Nebraska City/Omaha exit. Take Omaha exit north on Highway 75. Travel 2.3 miles to business Highway 75. Turn right (east) and travel one mile to KERC

From Kansas City: From I-29 take Exit 10 west to Highway 2. Travel 7.3 miles to the Omaha/Nebraska City exit. Take the Omaha exit north on Highway 75. Travel north 2.3 miles to Business Highway 75. Turn right (east) onto Business Highway 75 and travel one mile to KERC

From Lied Lodge in Nebraska City: Leaving Lied Lodge parking lot, take a left onto Sylvan Rd. and proceed approximately 1/2 block to the T intersection with Steinhart Park Rd. Take a left onto Steinhart Park Rd. and proceed 1.5 blocks to the T intersection with Arbor Ave. Take a left onto Arbor Avenue and proceed approximately 2 blocks where it becomes Centennial Ave. Proceed 1 mile to the T intersection with Business Highway 75. Take a left onto Business 75 and proceed .5 miles to Kimmel Orchard and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Kimmel Eduction and Research Center. The entrance to the parking lot is on Business 75.