2024 FINPACK Lenders Conference

Principal, Fox St Advisors

Sam Miller is an experienced Agriculture and Agribusiness professional. Currently principal at Fox St Advisors, an Agricultural and Agribusiness consulting firm, Sam was formerly Managing Director of Agriculture Banking at BMO Commercial Bank, leading production agriculture and agribusiness-related banking activities. Sam has over 39 years of agricultural banking experience, the past 35 at BMO Commercial Bank. 

Associate Professor/ Extension Economist, Iowa State University

Dr. Alejandro Plastina is an Associate Professor and Director of the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri. His area of specialization is Agricultural Finance, with an emphasis on agricultural production and conservation practices. Prior to joining the University of Missouri in 2024, he was Associate Professor and Extension Economist at Iowa State University, where he served as Co-Director of the ISU-Iowa Bankers Association Agricultural Credit School, and in several other leadership roles. He has received numerous awards for his research and outreach.

Farmer, Highland Family Farms

Kristin Duncanson is an owner and partner at Highland Family Farms located in Mapleton, MN. Kristin and husband of 30 plus years, Pat, raise corn, soybeans, rye, oats, specialty corn and hogs with a commitment to a triple bottom line approach: economic profitability, environmental improvement and community engagement. Kristin is an advisor at the Meridian Institute’s AGree project, former chair and current board member of the MN AgriGrowth Council. She is past Chair of the Non-Profit Feeding Our Communities Partners, past chair of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, former board member of the American Soybean Growers, and a member of AAPEX, Moving Forward Advisory Council and several commodity groups.

Grain Specialist, Center for Farm Financial Management

Ed Usset is the Grain Marketing Economist for the Center for Farm Financial Management. Ed helped develop the “Winning the Game” series of marketing workshops which have been attended by more than 30,000 producers. In addition to the many presentations he does around the country, he manages Commodity Challenge, an online marketing education game that uses real-time cash and futures data. He teaches the “Commodity Markets” and “Futures & Options” classes at the University. The 3rd Edition of his book, “Grain Marketing is Simple (it’s just not easy),” was released in October 2023.

Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech

Dr. Dave Kohl is an academic Hall of Famer in the College of Agriculture at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. Dr. Kohl has keen insight into the agriculture industry gained through extensive travel, research, and involvement in ag businesses. He has traveled over 10 million miles; conducted more than 7,000 presentations; and published more than 2,500 articles in his career. Dr. Kohl’s wisdom and engagement with all levels of the industry provide a unique perspective into future trends.

Extension Economist, FINPACK

Pauline Van Nurden is an Extension Economist at the Center for Farm Financial Management in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. She has more than 15 year’s experience in farm management and credit analysis related careers. Pauline has a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Economics and a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education, both from the University of Minnesota. Professionally she has been an agricultural education teacher, a farm business management instructor, an agricultural lender, and now an extension economist with the center. Pauline’s interests include farm business analysis and financial management, benchmarking, and other topics related to assisting farmers to meet their operational and personal goals. 

Extension Economist, FINPACK

Robert Craven is an Extension Economist and Associate Director of the Center for Farm Financial Management, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota.  Areas of specialty include business management, credit analysis and grain marketing. His work for the Center has focused on development of FINPACK, nationally recognized ag credit analysis software. In addition, he has led a number of USDA projects that have developed practical tools and websites for farmers and the professionals who serve them. He has been an invited speaker at numerous conferences and seminars including the National ABA Ag Bankers Conference and the USDA Ag Outlook Forum. He has taught over 450 workshops on farm management and marketing. Bob Craven is also actively involved in a 1,200 acre family farming operation in southwestern Minnesota.