2024 National School for Beginning Ag Lenders

Fundamentals of Ag Lending

June 24-27, 2024

Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D.

Openings are now full for this year's Beginner Ag School and the waitlist has been implemented. If you wish you add your name to the list, please register using the link below.

Print Details & Registration | Register Online: WAITLIST |Schedule | Session Descriptions | Core Instructors

Fundamentals of Ag Lending: National School for Beginning Ag Lenders is an intensive school designed to train in all facets of agricultural lending with emphasis on credit analysis, credit scoring, risk rating, problem loans and group case study. The school, sponsored by the South Dakota Bankers Association, will be held on the campus of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., on June 24-27, 2024. Attendees will receive personalized instruction and continual peer interaction fostered through a limited class size, case study and group exercises.

Set in beautiful Spearfish, S.D., right in the center of the United States, students will have ample time to enjoy the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota. Whether you enjoy hiking in Spearfish Canyon, rock climbing in the Black Hills National Forest, viewing monuments such as Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, or just testing your luck at the tables in historic Deadwood, S.D., Spearfish has you covered! Visit www.visitspearfish.com.

CURRICULUM

Click here to see the full agenda.  

Click here to see session descriptions.

LODGING

Students will stay on campus in new student housing in private rooms, with two units connected by a shared bathroom. Rooms are air conditioned with gorgeous views of the Black Hills. On campus housing is strongly encouraged; however, it is not required. There are also hotel room blocks at the following locations for those who wish to stay off campus. 

Spearfish Holiday Inn Convention Center

If you are staying off campus, you are responsible for making your own accommodations.  Please note that Spearfish is heavily impacted by tourism.  We recommend booking your room early.

Includes tuition, on-campus housing, breakfasts and lunches on June 24-27, and student materials. Everything you need for the school is provided in the registration fee!

• State Banking Association Members: $1,995 per person
• Non-Members: $2,095 per person
• A $250 cancellation fee will be charged if canceled after May 1, 2024.
• No refund if canceled after June 1, 2024.
• Substitutions are allowed at any time.

This school is limited to 72 students and is now FULL. A waitlist has been implemented and will be pulled from on a first-come, first-served basis.

FACULTY

ROBERT CRAVEN is an Extension economist and associate director of the Center for Farm Financial Management, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minn. 

DENNY EVERSON is retired from First Dakota National Bank in Yankton, S.D., where he served as president of the agri-business division and director of branch administration. 

NATE FRANZEN is president of the agri-business division at First Dakota National Bank in Yankton, S.D., where he and his team service more than $1.1 billion in agricultural loans for the bank. 

SAM MILLER is managing director, group head of agriculture banking for BMO Harris Bank in Appleton, Wis., where he coordinates and leads production agriculture and agribusiness-related banking activities. 

JACKSON TAKACH is the chief economist and senior director of strategy, research and analytics at Farmer Mac.

EDWARD USSET serves as a grain marketing economist for the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minn.

PAULINE VAN NURDEN is an Extension economist for the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minn. 

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