Program Overview

In a world of tight margins and dynamic marketplaces, financial goals are gaining increased visibility throughout all aspects of the agribusiness value chain. Today, it’s more important than ever for non-financial managers to understand how their decisions impact company profitability. During this three-day interactive program, Drs. Brady Brewer and Chad Fiechter will provide you with an increased understanding of key financial ratios needed to analyze the financial standings of your business, how to help customers see a return on investment in your offerings and much more.

This program is designed for non-financial managers seeking to develop their understanding of business from a financial standpoint. Attending this program would be beneficial for anyone possessing decision-making responsibilities in their organization, especially agribusiness managers and directors making operating financial decisions that impact near and long-term outcomes of their firm, those with sales and marketing responsibilities working with farmers and agribusiness customers, and those with financial responsibilities seeking to enhance their knowledge of decisions specific to the agriculture and agribusiness industries. Past attendees have included leaders responsible for managing and maintaining budgets, capital purchases and personnel costs, or other decisions that affect the company’s bottom line.

For questions about this program or more information on who should attend, please contact Taryn Nance at tnance@purdue.edu or (765) 496-2447.

Key Benefits

During this seminar, you will:

• Learn to link your daily decisions to company profitability.
• Connect your product and service offerings to customers’ profitability.
• Clarify financial terminology and enhance your communication with financial managers.
• Apply practical financial tools for examining profitability to relevant agribusiness industry situations.
• Discuss the current financial market and its impact on agribusinesses.

Program Content

• Financial Analysis Relevance for Agribusinesses: Learn from Practical Case Studies
• Balance Sheets, Income Statements and Cash Flow Statements
• Thinking Like an Agribusiness CFO
• Earns, Turns and Returns on Assets
• Cash Conversion Cycle, Accounts Receivable and Inventory Turnover
• Debt Leverage and Return on Equity in Food and Agricultural Business

Program Agenda

*Please note that Indiana is on Eastern Standard Time (EST) during this conference.
*A printable pdf of the agenda can be downloaded here.

Tuesday, September 26

7:30 a.m.
Registration

8:00 a.m.
Program Kick-off and Introductions
DeShea Wallace, Purdue University 

8:30 a.m.
Financial Analysis Relevance
Dr. Brady Brewer, Purdue University
Dr. Chad Fiechter, Purdue University

9:30 a.m.
Balance Sheets
Chad Fiechter 

10:45 a.m.
Income Statements
Brady Brewer

12:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.
Thinking like a CFO
Brady Brewer

2:30 p.m.
Earns/Margins
Chad Fiechter

3:45 p.m.
Turns and ROA
Brady Brewer

5:30 p.m.
Depart for Reception 

5:45 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Reception at Harry’s Chocolate Shop

Wednesday, September 27

7:30 a.m.
Classroom open

8:00 a.m.
Reflection of Day 1
Brady Brewer
Chad Fiechter

8:30 a.m.
Earns, Turns and ROA Assignment

9:30 a.m.
Cash Flow Statements
Brady Brewer

11:00 a.m.
Cash Conversion Cycle, Accounts Receivable and Inventory Turnover
Chad Fiechter

12:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.
Leverage and Debt Use
Brady Brewer

2:30 p.m.
Leverage & Debt Use Assignment

4:00 p.m.
DuPont Identity Recap
Brady Brewer
Chad Fiechter

5:00 p.m.
Work Groups – Develop Recommendations, Answer Questions and Create Presentations

Thursday, September 28

7:30 a.m.
Classroom Open

8:00 a.m.
Convince the CFO Presentations

10:00 a.m.
State of the Agricultural Economy
Chad Fiechter

10:45 a.m.
State of the Agricultural Credit Markets
Brady Brewer

11:30 a.m.
Wrap-Up & Debrief

12:00 p.m.
Boxed lunches to go

Safe Travels!

Travel and Information

Program location

Purdue University
Krannert Building, Room 758
403 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907

Hotel

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Union Club Hotel located at the heart of Purdue’s campus in West Lafayette. Contact the Union Club Hotel at (765) 494-8922 or click here to make your reservation. Remember to mention that you are with AAFD 2024 to receive the $179/night room rate. Check-in is 4:00 p.m. and check-out is 11:00 a.m. The room block and discounted rate will expire at 5:00 on August 30.

Union Club Hotel
201 Grant Street, West Lafayette, IN
(765) 743-2100
Across the street from Krannert
Locate with google maps

GETTING TO PURDUE UNIVERSITY: DIRECTIONS AND MAPS

Parking during the program

Parking during the program will be available in the Grant Street Parking Garage (101 N. Grant Street). You will take a ticket upon entering the garage and be given a swipe ticket to get out of the garage. The Grant Street Parking Garage is a 1-min (0.1 miles) walk from the Krannert building.

Meals

Please plan to eat breakfast before attending the program. Lunch will be provided each day. Coffee, soft drinks and refreshments will also be available throughout each day.

What to wear

The attire for the program is business casual. The average temperature in September in Indiana ranges from a high of 66 degrees to a low of 45 degrees. Layers are recommended for the classroom.

Seminar Payment/Cancellation

Payment for the program is due upon registration. Please refer to our cancellation policy for full details and information.

For more information, contact:

DeShea Wallace
Event Manager
(765) 496-3099
wallaceda@purdue.edu

Program Cancellation Policy

If a participant is unable to attend a Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business program, the participant may choose to: 1) transfer their registration fee to another participant within the same company, or 2) choose to receive a credit for the same program or another program that takes place within the 12 months following the originally booked event. However, a request to use a credit must be received no less than 30 days prior to the program start date, otherwise the credit will not be valid. No refunds will be issued regardless of cancellation date.

The Center for Food and Agricultural Business reserves the right to cancel a program due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the program non-viable. If a program is cancelled, registrants will be offered a full refund. Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of a program, the Center for Food and Agricultural Business has the right to either issue a full refund or transfer registration to the same program on the new future date. The Center for Food and Agricultural Business will not be responsible for reimbursement of any participant expenses related to the cancellation or postponement of an event.