Registration

Registration for the 2025 OABA Industry Conference is NOW OPEN! Registration fees are outlined in the table below.

Click here for registration, sponsorship and exhibitors.

PLEASE NOTE: Registration may look slightly different this year. Once you click the link to register and find your contact info, you will be prompted to choose MEMBER, NON-MEMBER or SPONSOR. Member & non-member options are for conference attendee registrations ONLY. The Sponsor option is for conference sponsorship and exhibitor sponsorship ONLY. Please choose accordingly and follow the prompts. Reach out to Lauren with questions at lprettyman@oaba.net.

Cancelation Policy
Cancelations must be received by January 14, 2025, to be eligible for a refund. 

Program

Click here to download the full agenda, including sessions and speakers.

Updated 1-10-2025 – Session offerings or specific speakers may be subject to change

Agenda-at-a-Glance – Sessions & Speakers

Safety & Risk Management Day – Tuesday, January 28

10:45 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (immediately followed by the 5:30 p.m. Welcome Reception – NOTE earlier reception time)

9:30 – 10:30 am: Ohio Risk Coordinators – Member Meeting & Roundtable (CLOSED SESSION)

Tuesday SESSIONS OPEN to all January 28 - Single Day and Full Conference paid registrants

10:45 am: Ohio Department of Agriculture Updates
Daniel Kenny, Dan Walker, Ryan King, and Matt Cochran, Ohio Dept. of Agriculture
CCA: 1 PD; ODA: Comm CORE 1

11:45 am: Lunch and Networking

12:45 pm: 90% of the Time, Works Every Time - Behavior-Based Safety
James Dobra, Heritage Cooperative
CCA: 1 PD

2 pm: Above Ground Storage Tanks
Travis Smith, State of Ohio
CCA: 1 PD

3:15 pm: Driver Qualification Files and Recordkeeping
Allan Stevens, Berkley Agribusiness
CCA: 1 PD

4:30 pm: Business Insurance – Why Am I Paying More Premium for Less Coverage, and How Do I Make It Stop?
Shane Humphrey, Tom Brenner and Tony Rohrer, Hummel Group
CCA: 1 PD

5:30-6:30 pm: Welcome Reception & Exhibitor Showcase

Wednesday, January 29

January 29 – 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

7-8 am: Breakfast and Registration

8 am: Welcome

8:15 am: General Session – The Winds of Change For Agriculture
Joseph Lardy, CHS
CCA: 1 CM

9:30 am: Breakout Sessions
Expanding the Boundaries of H-2A: Integrating Temporary Ag Workers into Agribusiness Services
Heather Bustle, Growmark, Inc.
CCA: 1 CM

Midwest Grain and Feed Outlook
Bailey Elchinger, StoneX Financial Inc.
CCA: 1 CM

10:45 am: Breakout Sessions
Herbicide-Resistant Weeds: Fueling the Fire
Ramawatar Yadav, The Ohio State University
CCA: 1 PM; ODA: Comm 2C

Economic View from the Farm Gate
Bruce Clevenger and Barry Ward, OSU Extension
CCA: 1 CM

Top Workplace Challenges for 2025
Greg Logue, Crestcom International
CCA:  1 PD

12:15 pm: OABA Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon
Guest: Director Brian Baldridge, Ohio Department of Agriculture
CCA: .5 PD

1:30 pm: Breakout Sessions
What You Should Know About Drone Operations – Regulatory Guidelines and Operational Realities
Doug Gerber, Aerovantage Drones and Robert Mullen, Heritage Cooperative
CCA: .5 NM, .5 PM; ODA Comm 1

Grain Contract Law & Legal Issues for Grain Handlers
Eli Earich, BECE
CCA: 1 CM

2:45 pm: Breakout Sessions
Corn and Soybean Planting Impact – Alternative Utilizations
Madison Corbi, Ohio Soybean Association and Tadd Nicholson, Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association
CCA: 1 CM

Optimizing Grain Storage in the Present and Future
Brandon Hutchison and Mike Zawisza, Elevator Services and Storage, Inc.
CCA: 1 CM

4 pm: General Session – When Everything Matters, What Really Matters?
Chuck Benson, BASF - US Agricultural Solutions
CCA: 1PD

5-6:30 pm: Industry Networking Reception & Exhibitor Showcase

Thursday, January 30

January 30 – 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

6:45-7:30 am: Breakfast and Registration

7:30 am: General Session – Decision-Making Weather: Recent Events and Updated Trends
Aaron Wilson, The Ohio State University
CCA: 1 CM

8:45 am: Breakout Sessions
Battle for the Belt - Which Crop Should Be Planted First?
Osler Ortez, Laura Lindsey and Taylor Dill, The Ohio State University
CCA: 1 NM

Renewable Energy in Agribusiness: The Outlook for 2025 and Beyond                    
Michael Reginelli, Advance Trading, Inc.
CCA: 1 CM

10 am: Breakout Sessions
What’s Coming Around the U.S. Agricultural Bend?
Veronica Nigh, The Fertilizer Institute
CCA: 1 NM

Energy Development Briefing
Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
CCA: 1 CM

11:15 am: Breakout Sessions
Non-Point, But Non-Ag? Overlooked Sources of Phosphorus Losses
Andrew Margenot, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CCA: 1 SW

Livestock Outlook
Luke Wells, Professional Ag Marketing
CCA: 1 CM

Evolution of the Farm: Meeting the Needs of Farmer of the Future
Brady Brewer, Kansas State University
CCA: 1 CM

12:15 pm: Luncheon and Closing Session – Coaching for Success(ion)
Greg Logue, Crestcom International
CCA: 1 PD

Accommodations

The 2025 OABA Industry Conference will be hosted at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel - 409 Altair Parkway Westerville, Ohio 43082.

Please note: The conference hotel is now out of availability for Tuesday night. Several rooms remain in the group block for Wednesday night and additional rooms are currently available outside of the group block.

Click here to book your hotel room for the 2025 OABA Industry Conference.

Sponsors

Click here for registration, sponsorship and exhibitors.

We know you are looking for innovative new ways to reach the industry and the 2024 Industry Conference is well-equipped to connect you with decision-makers. Whether your company is looking to fill the top-tier Premier Sponsor or to engage with participants as an Exhibitor Sponsor, there are options to fit every budget and need. Details on each sponsor level are available below. Click here for additional sponsorship information.

Please note: The deadline for sponsors to be included in the printed program has passed. However, sponsorships are still available, and sponsors will be recognized in remaining promotional and informational conference materials.

Premier Sponsor - $7,500

• Premier conference sponsor – co-branding on conference collateral
• Conference presented by…
• 2-3 minute company overview at start of each general session (in-person or pre-recorded video)
• Promoted throughout conference as premier sponsor
• Featured sponsor on app homepage
• Sponsored social media posts before event
• Company profile page on event app
• Two free conference registrations

Conference Plus Sponsor - $3,000

• 2-3 minute company overview at start of general session (in-person or pre-recorded video)
• Promoted throughout conference as sponsor
• Featured sponsor on app sponsor page
• Company logo on app session page
• Sponsored social media posts before event
• Company profile page on event app

Conference Sponsor - $2,000

• Promoted throughout conference as sponsor
• Featured sponsor on app sponsor page
• Sponsored social media posts before event
• Company profile page on event app

Reception Sponsor - $1,500

• Promoted at Welcome & Industry Receptions
• Company profile page on the event app

Breakfast Sponsor - $1,000

• Promoted at Conference Breakfasts
• Company profile page on event app

Breakout Session Sponsor - $1,000 

• 2-3 minute company overview at start of breakout session (in-person or pre-recorded video)
• Company logo on app session page
• Company profile page on event app

Exhibitor Sponsor - $1,000 (member) or $1,500 (non-member) - CONTACT LPRETTYMAN@OABA.NET 

• One exhibitor booth
• Company profile page on event app
• One free conference registration

Lanyard Sponsor - $1,000 - SOLD OUT

• Logo on attendee lanyards, provided by company
• Company profile page on event app

Sponsorship commitments must be confirmed by December 20 to guarantee inclusion in event promotional materials.