March 5, 2014

Volume 6, Issue III

Summer Education Week

Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2014

This newsletter in its entirety on the website 

Scheduled education, courses & seminars 

The 2014 Membership Directory is updated, formatted, proofed, and at the printers.  By the end of this week, this annual publication should be on its way to your mail box.  When reviewing the time and costs involved in publishing the annual directory, it really encourages us to consider moving to a digital directory as soon as possible.   Not only will it save paper, time, and money, it will always be at your fingertips and most important, it will always be current!   The Membership Directory is shipped to members as well as lenders and other agricultural interests.  Let us know if you have someone in your area who should receive a copy.  Thank you for your contributions to this year's publication.

Registration is open for students for the 2014 Summer Education Week (SEW) Career Day.  This not-to-miss event scheduled for July 13-14 in Des Moines, Iowa, promises great networking and the best education. Registration for student Career Day events is up and ready at www.asfmra.org/students/. Now is the time to ask students at your local land grant university to attend this year's student event. Please contact Andy Barlow at abarlow@asfmra.org with any questions. Download a flyer for the Career Day Event. 

 The Young Professionals Network (YPN) leadership group of ASFMRA has been working on a number of ideas for marketing the YPN and ASFMRA to college students and young professionals. The session this summer for YPN at the Summer Education Week (SEW) is planned to be focused on communication. Details are yet to be worked out with a sponsor. In addition, the team would like to increase the impact and awareness of ASFMRA at the local universities. ASFMRA is also encouraging Chapters to start their own YPN and then to look for a point person for contact from ASFMRA and the YPN leadership team.

Read more and find out how to contact these leaders. 

James Jones, ARA, RPRA, of Chisum Trail Real Estate Service in New Mexico, submitted an application for the vacancy on the Appraisal Practices Board (APB). The APB receives numerous applications and ASFMRA works hard in getting representation on this board as well as other national boards.  

CalASFMRA in High Gear this spring with Outlook Conference, Trends publication and Water District Maps

It's a busy spring in California and thankfully it has even started to rain. The California Chapter will hold its annual Outlook Agribusiness Conference on March 20th in Fresno, preceded on the 19th by a full day Ag Tour. The schedule for both days is filled with excellent programming, speakers and tour sites. Always a highlight, the chapter's highly regarded Trends in Agricultural Land & Lease Values publication will be distributed at the Outlook conference.  Read more. Download a conference brochure.  

Highlights of the Kansas Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers 51st Annual Winter Meeting

The meeting was held in Salina Kansas and was well attended.  On February 19th the Kansas Chapter of ASFMRA conducted an 8 hour National USPAP continued education class taught by James Cannon, ARA out of Hutchinson, KS.  This was a well attended class as this is required every two years by USPAP. Jim did a very good job conducting the class and we appreciate having him.  Read more about this meeting. 

McCabe Named to ISPFMRA Hall of Fame

(Decatur, IL, February 18, 2014) -- Don McCabe, AFM, Bourbonnais, IL, was named to the Hall of Farm for the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers at the organization's annual meeting held here recently. This is the highest award the Society gives to members of the organization. Download the press release and read more.  

(Decatur IL, February 23, 2014) -- Bill Wyffels, Jr., and brother Bob Wyffels, the senior management team at Wyffels Hybrids, Inc., based in Geneseo, IL, were recognized with the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers during that organization's annual meeting held here recently (February 13, 2014). Download the press release and read more.