Cooperative Strategy, Structure, and Finance

11th Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference Cooperative Strategy, Structure, and Finance November 18 19, 2008 St. Paul, Minnesota Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront Presented by: University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

For over a decade, the Farmer Cooperatives Conference has provided a stimulating forum for those in the agricultural cooperative community to learn and exchange ideas. The annual program is organized by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, with assistance from a national planning committee of cooperative scholars and practitioners. Conference Partners ($5,000 - $8,000) CoBank Farm Foundation Program Sponsors ($2,000 - $4,999) CHS Foundation Dorsey & Whitney LLP Land O Lakes Lindquist & Vennum PLLP Stoel Rives LLP The Cooperative Foundation General Sponsors ($1,000 - $1,999) National Council of Farmer Cooperatives West Central Cooperative Contributors ($250 - $999) Clifton Gunderson Thank you to the Ralph K. Morris Foundation for supporting the banquet For more information, visit the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives website: www.uwcc.wisc.edu/farmercoops08 Conference questions can be directed to: Anne Reynolds, Assistant Director University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives 608 263 4775 atreynol@wisc.edu

11th Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference Cooperative Strategy, Structure, and Finance November 18 19, 2008 St. Paul, Minnesota Equity and capital management issues continue to drive major strategic decisions by today s farmer cooperatives. To compete in the global marketplace, cooperatives must pursue growth opportunities while assuming the increased risks associated with supply chain cost management pressures. What innovative structural and financial strategies can cooperatives adopt to meet these challenges, while delivering value to their members? Where will cooperatives find the leadership to develop and execute these initiatives? How should cooperatives effectively plan for change? The conference will explore these topics with presentations and panels on: Financing growth strategies in a complex marketplace Strategic perspectives from local, regional and vertically integrated cooperatives Trends in cooperative structure and finance Supply chain risk and its impact on strategic decision-making Critical planning for leadership succession This is a unique opportunity to join with cooperative board members, CEOs, and others doing business with agricultural cooperatives to examine issues critical to farmer cooperatives. Don t miss your opportunity to be part of this informative event on issues critical to cooperative success!

2008 Pr o g r a m Sc h e d u l e Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7 8 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast 8 8:15 a.m. Welcome Brent Hueth, Associate Professor and Director, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives 8:15 8:45 a.m. Strategies for Growth in a Competitive and Complex Environment Dan Wolf, Chairman of the Board, Upstate Niagra Cooperative 8:45 10:30 a.m. Managing Strategy Formulation and Implementation Risk Introduction: Michael Boland, Professor, Kansas State University Larry Swalheim, CEO, Landmark Cooperative John Blaska, Chairman of the Board, Landmark Cooperative Timothy Lindgren, President and CEO, Sunkist Nicholas Bozick, Chairman of the Board, Sunkist 11 a.m. 12 p.m. Managing Human Resource Risk: Attracting and Retaining Leadership for the Future Bob Broeckelman, Vice President, Recruiting & Selection, FCCServices, Inc. Lunch 1 2 p.m. Outlook for Agriculture and the Economy: 2009 TBA 2 3 p.m. Managing Supply Chain Risk Moderator: Greg McKee, Director, Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives, North Dakota State University Cheryl Schmura, Vice President, Crop Nutrients, CHS, Inc. Bruce Vernon, Sales & Marketing Manager, Mid Kansas Cooperative Association 3:30 5 p.m. Research Response to Trends in Cooperative Structure, Strategy, and Finance

11th Annual Farmer Cooperatives Conference 5:30 6:30 p.m. Reception Introduction: Brent Hueth, Associate Professor and Director, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives Pro-Fac Cooperative Brian Henehan, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Murray Fulton, Professor, University of Saskatchewan North American Bison Cooperative Greg McKee, Director, Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives, North Dakota State University 6:30 p.m. Banquet and Presentation: The Role of Higher Education in Cooperative Innovation Moderator: Curt Eischens, Director, CHS Inc. Jon Wefald, President, Kansas State University Sponsored by the Ralph K. Morris Foundation Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7 8 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast 8 11 a.m. Perspectives on Cooperative Finance Cooperative Finance: Principles versus Practice David Barton, Professor, Kansas State University Chris Peterson, Professor, Michigan State University Equity and Capital Management Strategies Tom Houser, Vice President, Agribusiness Banking Group, CoBank Doug Derscheid, President and CEO, Central Valley Ag Cooperative Legal Challenges and Solutions Mark Hanson, Attorney, Stoel Rives LLP David Swanson, Attorney, Dorsey & Whitney LLP Michael Weaver, Attorney, Lindquist & Vennum PLLP 11 11:45 a.m. Structure, Strategy, and Finance: Observations, Challenges, and Opportunities Michael Cook, Professor, University of Missouri

Conference Accommodations Conference attendees are responsible for their own hotel reservations. Contact the Crowne Plaza at 651 292 1900, or 1 800 593 5708. For additional hotel information, visit www.cpstpaul.com A special conference room rate of $119 per night for single or double occupancy, plus 13% tax, is available for a limited number of reservations made on or before November 7, 2008. Refer to Farmer Co-op NCERA when contacting the hotel. Hotel parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis for $12.50/day. The hotel is located less than 10 minutes from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP). SuperShuttle service is available for $14 from the airport (supershuttle.com). Taxi fares are approximately $30 from the airport to the hotel. Scholarship Information Through the generous support of the Ralph K. Morris Foundation, a limited number of scholarships are available to: those needing financial assistance to attend the Farmer Cooperatives Conference; or graduate students and assistant professors who wish to attend both the Farmer Cooperatives Conference and the NCERA 210 workshop. Contact the Ralph K. Morris Foundation (ralphkmorrisfoundation.org) for more information. Consider participating in the NCERA 210 workshop, immediately following the Farmer Cooperatives Conference. NCERA 210 Workshop November 19 20, 2008 Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront, St. Paul, Minnesota NCERA 210 is a regional research project that promotes and coordinates research and educational activities that focus on agricultural cooperatives. It also provides a forum for decision-makers and analysts from industry, government, and universities to distribute and discuss research results and their implications. For more information, or to register for the NCERA 210 workshop, visit www.agecon.ksu.edu/accc/ncera210

Farmer Cooperatives Conference Registration For online registration go to: www.uwcc.wisc.edu/farmerscoop08 Fax: 608 262 5088 (Charge card/purchase orders only) Mail: CALS Conference Services, 620 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706 One form per registrant; duplicate as needed. Name Affiliation Street Address City State Zip Check one: home office Email Phone Fax Vegetarian Meals REGISTRATION FEES Special Requirements Register by October 17 for full conference to take advantage of Early Rate savings EARLY RATE REGULAR RATE 00 Full Conference/November 18 19 $340/person $385/person $310/person $340/person (2 or more) (2 or more) Includes continental breakfast, lunch, social hour and banquet on the 18th, continental breakfast on the 19th, breaks and materials. 00 November 18 $250/person Includes continental breakfast, lunch, breaks and materials 00 November 18 Social Hour & Banquet $25/person 00 November 19 Half Day $135/person Includes continental breakfast, breaks and materials PAYMENT METHOD Check enclosed (Payable to UW Madison) EARLY REGISTRATION SAVINGS! Purchase Order # VISA MasterCard Card # Exp. Date Name on card Signature Payment is required at the time of registration. Please note that registration refunds cannot be made for cancellations received after November 5, 2008. Substitute registrations are accepted. Registration questions: 608 263 1672 (No phone registrations) Wisconsin and Minnesota Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits are available to lawyers attending the entire conference (CLE requests pending).

427 Lorch Street Madison, WI 53706 1503