Captive Insurance for Agriculture Workshop Agenda

Workshop Agenda 

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Day One – December 2, 2025

Insurance Market Conditions, Foundations, and Framework for a Different Approach

Noon-12:45 p.m. Registration

12:45-1 p.m. Welcome & Workshop Objectives

• Speaker: Cory Walters, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Introductions
• Workshop goals and structure

1-2 p.m. Session 1: Current Insurance Market Trends, Issues, and Concerns

• Panel: 
  • Ron Hilliges, General Manager, Norfolk Mutual Insurance, Norfolk, NE
  • Vallery Eisenmann, Sr. Field Training Consultant, American National Insurance, Des Moines, IA
  • Moderator: Cory Walters, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
• History and evolution of agricultural insurance
• Key issues and concerns today

2-2:45 p.m. Session 2: Alternative Insurance Capital Management Opportunities

• Speaker: William P. White, Owner and Managing Principal, Acuity Strategic Consulting LLC, Westampton, NJ
• What is a captive? Basic definitions and concepts
• Why companies form captives: pros and cons
• Costs and expected fees
• White has provided a one-page document summarizing the key benefits of captive insurance. Download it here.

2:45-3 p.m. Break

3-3:45 p.m. Session 3: History and Scope of the Captive Insurance Market

• Speaker: Connor Brach, Associate Director, AM Best - Rating Service, Oldwick, NJ
• Global Evolution of captives
• Current scope of the market

3:45-4:15 p.m. Session 4: Captive Insurance Solutions for Agriculture

• Speaker: Ken Harrison, Co-Owner, The Eliason Group, Olathe, KS
• Captives in agriculture: examples and approaches

4:15-4:30 p.m. Break

4:30-5:30 p.m. Session 5: Using Captives in Agriculture

• Speakers:
  • Marc Arnusch, President/CEO Marc Arnusch Farms, LLC, Prospect Valley, CO
  • Nolan High, Farmer, Bertrand, NE
  • Bill Garrelts, Bassen Livestock Company, Bassen Ranch, and A&B Cattle Company, Arcadia, NE
  • AC VanRaden, VanRaden Agency LLC, American National, Hawley, MN
  • Moderator: Phil High, Farmer, Bertrand, NE
• Practical applications for farm risk management
• Experiences and lessons learned

5:45-7:30 p.m. Networking Reception

• Location: Scarlet Hotel (light appetizers and drinks)

Day Two – December 3, 2025

Captive Insurance Applications and Strategy

7:30-8:15 a.m. Networking Breakfast

8:15-915 a.m. Session 6: Captive Management Concepts (Including Tax and Audit Considerations)

• Speaker: Peter Dawson, Tax Attorney and 831(b) Institute Advisor, Santa Clara, Utah
• Risk mitigation
• Tax treatment and compliance requirements

915-10 a.m. Session 7: Ten Questions to Ask a Captive Manager

• Speaker: Mary M. Belka, Owner and CEO, Eisenhart Consulting Group, Inc., Lincoln, NE
• Aligning quality, expertise, and interests

10-10:15 a.m. Break

10:15-10:45 a.m. Session 8: Long-Run Captive Wealth Strategy – A Historical Perspective

• Speaker: Cory Walters, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
• Building farm wealth with and without a captive
• Historical data and strategy comparisons

10:45-11:30 a.m. Session 10: Strategic Uses of Captives in Agriculture – Where Do We Go From Here?

• Panel:
  • William P. White, Owner and Managing Principal, Acuity Strategic Consulting, LLC, Westampton, NJ
  • Phil High, Farmer, Bertrand, NE
  • Vallery Eisenmann, Sr. Field Training Consultant, American National Insurance, Des Moines, IA
  • Moderator: Ken Harrison, Co-Owner, The Eliason Group, Olathe, KS

11:30 a.m.-noon Session 11: Closing Session – Key Takeaways & Action Steps

• Recap of both days
• Q&A and next steps
• Resources for continued learning

Agenda subject to change.