Friday Afternoon Workshop
How to Start a Farm Business: Building the Books and Benefits
Whether you are taking over a transitioned farm, growing your own from the ground up, or starting a farming side hustle, you won't want to miss PART TWO of "How to start a Farm Business: Building the Books and Benefits."
We will kick off with Michelle Stinnett, account executive from Experient Health, presenting options on the hot and somewhat costly topic of small business and self-employed health insurance.
After lunch, Rob Goodling, an agriculture business consultant with Horizon Farm Credit, and over 19 years of experience helping producers grow their operations, will take us on a deeper dive into accounting, from picking software to setting up your books to work harder for you, especially when pulling reports and monitoring business production to keep your whole team on board!
Michelle Stinnett, CPIA
Account Executive
VAFB Health Insurance Solutions
Michelle has over 24 years of experience in providing benefit solutions to small business and farm owners in Virginia. Using a consultative approach and cost benefit analysis, she provides cost-saving solutions to employers. Employees have access to quality, value-added benefits that protect themselves and their families.
Michelle works to gain trust and build lasting relationships. She offers group health, dental, vision, life and disability to her clients.
Michelle holds the following designations and licenses:
➢ Certified MEWA Agent
➢ Certified Professional Insurance Agent
➢ Life and Health License
➢ Property and Casualty License
Rob Goodling
Ag Business Consultant
Horizon Farm Credit
Rob Goodling is an agricultural business consultant with Horizon Farm Credit in the Lewisburg office. Rob has over 19 years of experience helping producers understand their farm business records and analyses to grow their operations. His specialties include financial business analysis, cost of production analysis, cash flow planning and budgeting, QuickBooks consultation and troubleshooting, dairy record evaluation, and team facilitation.
Saturday Workshop -- General Session
Using Storytelling for Effective Advocacy
Storytelling is essential for advocacy and influencing policymakers. In this lesson you’ll learn how the Pixar Model for storytelling helps deliver your advocacy message.
Mike Sistak
Director, Advocacy & Political Management
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
Mike Sistak is AFBF’s Director of Advocacy and Political Management. In this capacity he assists state Farm Bureaus with their Political Action Committee management, conducts political analysis, engages candidates for federal office, teaches campaign management seminars and supports all AFBF advocacy initiatives.
Mike has over 15 years of political experience. He has previously worked on Capitol Hill, in senior government relations roles in Arizona and has worked on multiple campaigns for the House, Senate and White House. He was previously AFBF’s Director of Grassroots Program Development.
Mike graduated from The University of Arizona with a BA in Political Science and MA in International Security Studies.
Mike and his wife Maddy are originally from Phoenix, Arizona and now reside in Fairfax, Virginia.
