Side by Side Digital Podcast Series

Dr. David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University, is talking farm transition planning with young and beginning relationship managers Evan Babcock, Corey Bacon and Robbie Alexander. Transition planning is one of the top concerns for farm and ranch families, so we brought in the expert on tough but constructive conversations.

No two farmers or ranchers define success in the same way. But there are common drivers for achieving your business goals, and the secret sauce is revealed in this discussion between Dr. David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University, and our young and beginning relationship managers Evan Babcock, Corey Bacon and Robbie Alexander. Tune in and take notes, Dr. Kohl is on the mic!

Buying your first piece of land can come with a lot of unknowns. Young and Beginning relationship officers Evan Babcock, Corey Bacon and Robbie Alexander breakdown the various steps and share insights they’ve learned from helping others get started. 

The most successful farmers and ranchers understand how to navigate the good years to take advantage of opportunities in the tough ones. Young and beginning relationship officers Evan Babcock, Corey Bacon and Robbie Alexander share their insights on capitalizing during the good and pivoting during a bearish market.

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tactical pieces of running a farm or ranch. It’s important to make time for strategic thinking and writing down those big goals that you have in mind for your operation. Tune in as Bob Campbell, senior vice president - lending, walks through how to develop a strategic mindset focused on moving your business forward.

Your budget is an important management tool and key to making important decisions on your operation such as cash-flow planning, marketing goals, risk management, and land rental decisions. Tune in as Maggie and Dylan as they walk through why a budget is so important and how to develop a solid budget plan that can help you navigate decision-making as well as effectively communicating with your lender.

Knowing your cost of production is essential to making sound business decision. Cost of production can inform important decisions like whether to expand your operation, make new investments, and even help drive marketing decisions. Tune in as Betty and Shayla walk through the importance of knowing your cost of production and how to get started.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, managing your finances is crucial for farmers and ranchers. When considering your farm team, your accountant plays a key role in ensuring your operation’s financial health. The right accountant should be a strategic partner that can help you navigate big decisions like tax planning, expansions, and large purchases. Tune in as J’Nan Ensz, CPA walks through how to find a good accountant and questions you should ask along the way to make sure it’s a good fit.

The loan application process can sometimes feel daunting. Our experts walk through how to prepare an application and what goes on behind the scenes after it’s submitted. We also discuss opportunities that exist specifically for young and beginning producers.

Whether it’s a conversation with your lender, your landlord or another member of your farm team, successfully navigating these important meetings can lead to building your professional reputation. Young, Beginning and Small (YBS) relationship officers Nate Gebel and Evan Babcock offer insights and strategies to differentiate yourself as a producer.

Jim Knuth, senior vice president of business development, highlights eight business negotiation principles, common negotiation pitfalls, and tips for strengthening your negotiating skills.

In this episode, we’re recapping key takeaways from our Balance Sheet Best Practices webinar presented by Nick Bauer, a financial services officer, and Kevin Hicks, a credit operations analyst. Nick and Kevin share helpful best practices for building your balance sheet.