Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Younes Conference Center - Kearney

Optional Farm Tour - 1:00pm - 5:00pm

CSS Farms – potato farm, Minden

C Lazy B Cattle – feedyard, Pleasanton

Bus sponsored by Nebraska Potato Commission

Tour guides: Steve Martin and Potato Industry representative

Tentative itinerary:

1:15pm – Leave Kearney, Younes Conference Center North

1:30pm – Arrive at CSS Farms

1:30pm – 2:30pm - Farm Tour

2:30pm – Load Bus

3:00pm – Arrive at C Lazy B Cattle Feedyard

3:00pm – 4:00 Feedyard Tour

4:00pm – Load Bus

4:30pm – Arrive Kearney, Younes Conference Center North

Reception and Banquet - Hosted by the Nebraska Diplomats, sponsored by NetChoice

6:00pm - Reception -- 7:00pm - Banquet & Awards

Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Younes Conference Center - Kearney

Summit Agenda

7:00am – 8:00am: Registration

8:00am – 8:15am: Welcome - Governor Jim Pillen

8:15am - 9:00am: Opening Plenary – Jack Hubbard - "Threats to U.S. Agriculture" (funding, media perception, environmental groups, animal groups, educating the public on misinformation)

9:00am – 9:15am: Break

9:15-10:30am: Session 1 Breakouts

Track 1 – Strategies for Communities in Meeting the Affordable Housing and Child Care Challenges (focus will be on creative solutions to address housing and childcare needs in Nebraska communities. He discussion will also highlight the ongoing challenges and generate ideas for new solutions.

Track 2 – People Attraction: Priority #1 to Grow the Good Life (Nebraska's vibrant economy is generating great jobs, but we lack people to fill them. Recruiting and retaining talent is mission critical for the growth of our state. Learn how you can engage with strategic, targeted initiatives to attract talent to your community.

Track 3 – Transforming Nebraska’s Water Management to Cultivate Tomorrow’s Ag & Economic Vision

Track 4 – Nebraska's New Vision for Economic Development (The time is now to design an economic development strategy that sets Nebraska apart to take advantage of unprecedented opportunity)

Track 5 - Unlocking Productivity (Learn the latest on using technology and upskilling our workforce to innovate, boost efficiency and inspire investment in Nebraska manufacturing

10:30-10:45am: Break

10:45- 12:00pm: Session 2 Breakouts

Track 6 – The Nebraska BioEconomy: Feeding the world, fueling the future, saving the planet (The Nebraska BioEconomy holds the potential to align Nebraska's (and Nebraskans) strengths with everything our nation is demanding. This panel engages stakeholder perspectives for an honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities of translating potential into reality).

Track 7 – Supporting Local Governments in the Pursuit of Federal Discretionary Funds (The NDOT will highlight current and future projects, discuss the impact of enhanced mobility on economic development and how the Agency is working to decrease the time it takes to deliver infrastructure improvements. NDOT will also introduce and detail a new initiative to bolster the pursuit of federal discretionary funds at the state and local levels. The Nebraska Infrastructure Hub will support state and local governments in pursing federal funds with emphasis on developing projects that will have a regionally significant impact on economic development. The session will review strategies for LPAs seeking funding to assist with roads, bridges, transportation safety, etc.)

Track 3 – Transforming Nebraska’s Water Management to Cultivate Tomorrow’s Ag & Economic Vision

12:00-1:00pm: Lunch & Keynote Speaker

12:00am – 12:00pm: Lunch

12:20pm – 12:45pm: Keynote – Troy Dannen, Nebraska Athletic Director

1:00 – 2:15 – Session 3 Breakouts

Track 4 – Nebraska's New Vision for Economic Development (The time is now to design an economic development strategy that sets Nebraska apart to take advantage of unprecedented opportunity)

Track 5 - Unlocking Productivity (Learn the latest on using technology and upskilling our workforce to innovate, boost efficiency and inspire investment in Nebraska manufacturing

2:15-2:30pm: Break

2:30- 3:30pm: ACTION HOUR – breakout discussions to create follow-up action items:

Track – Housing

Track – Childcare

Track – Workforce

Track – Bio Economy

3:30pm - 4:00pm: Wrap-Up & Closing - Governor Jim Pillen

Friday, August 9th

8:00am – 12:00pm: Bio Economy Special Session – Julie Bushell

Nebraska BioEconomy Accelerator - “Good for Business, Good for the Planet”

From the potential to the challenges, this session is intended to start conversations and build relationships that will impact the future and launch Nebraska’s BioEconomy roadmap. Join Nebraska’s businesses, startups, stakeholders, utility managers, farmers and ranchers, water-users, researchers, policymakers, next- generation thought leaders and federal agency partners dedicated to accelerating Nebraska’s BioEconomy leadership.

Registrations are closed

2024 Governor's Ag & Economic Development Summit - Wed. 8/7 - Fri. 8/9