At Symposium, Producers Learn To Build Farm Business MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff WILLOW STREET (Uncas ter Co.) Approximately 60 pro ducers and industry representa tives recently gathered ideas to build a thriving farm business, the theme of a symposium organ ized by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The varied sessions allowed at tendees to leam about financial analysis tools, employee manage ment, public relations, business succession, and business plans. Beverly Wise Hill, Professional Services Group, a division of the Bank of Lancaster County, dis cussed the link between people and profits during her presenta tion. Hill asked the audience to think about the impact of em ployee loyalty, turnover, and em ployee morale as it impacts the end product. In fact, research conducted over the last years shows that linkages between employees and profitability has been objectively proven, she said. One study found that critical components to how employees feel about where they work are fairness, care and concern for employees, satisfaction with day to-day activities, reputation of the business, and trust in employ ees, noted Hill. YOUR FULL LINE KUBOTA PRODUCT HEADQUARTERS • INVENTORY • PRICE • KNOWLEDGEABLE SALES STAFF « SERVICE EXPERIENCE # HELLER BBQS* ____________________ Or Cash ■K U B I T P VSSSf ' N ’ S X M [jgACTORS & EQUIPMENT | LEBANON MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 - 5:00 LANCASTER . iL # Z; B £ x SATURDAY 8:00 - 12:00 , 19 50FruitWlePike Lebanon, PA 17042 Lancaster, PA 17601 Rt. 419 1 Mile West Serving Central PA Since 1921 Aißoute3o& Of Schaeffarstown Frultville Pike 717-949-2000 717-569-2500 or Toll Free KELLER BROS. or Toll Free 877-4Kubota - AIRPORT 877-3KUBOTA MSfl-PRBPI 2550' RUNWAY 600' From Dealership (358-2682) Visit our web site at www.kubolaparls.com • E-mail us at kubota@nbn.net VkVkVi >Sat>k t'j'iVtVUbUUllWV “Help employees understand what it is they do and how that impacts the business,” said Hill. The employee mindset, she said, is “if I’m going to put this much energy into it, I want to know that it is making a difference.” She also encouraged business leaders to not just lay out policy, but also “address the why. They may still not agree with your de cision but at least they’ll see that there was rationale behind it, in stead of a parental list of do’s and dont’s,” she said. “You (as a supervisor, manag er, or owner) have a tremendous amount of influence on employee loyalty, performance and reten tion,” said Hill. She encouraged the audience to set goals and standards, and hold people accountable, but do it in a way that is coaching, men toring, and developing. Michael Peachey, Miller and Miller, CPAs, LLP, Lititz, dis cussed financial analysis tools for management success. Peachey talked about using ratio analysis as a tool for diag nosis and planning. Ratios, which represent the re lationship between two or more financial or operational elements, according to Peachey, can be ap plied to working capital, debt-to equity, return on equity, asset yields, and cash flow coverage. Lunchtime session panel members in cluded, from left, George Hurst, Oregon Dairy Farm; Luke Brubaker, Brubaker Farm; and M. Patricia Wood, William Green and Associates. Photos by Michelle Kunjappu among others, to evaluate finan cial strengths and weaknesses. Jay Clark, founder of law firm James Clark and Associates, Willow Street, presented his ideas on business succession and farm estate planning. Clark began with a discussion about the planning process and timeline. He also discussed wills, revocable living trusts, and feder al estate tax changes. M. Patricia Wood, senior ac count manager, William Green & Associates, presented “The Pub lic Eye: What Does It See?” dur ing a lunchtime session. “Don’t wait until you have a problem,” she advised. “Go sit in Dutch Country Soft Pretzels e e Avai pretzels for your company, anniversary, open house, employee functions & sales meetings. 4 miles east of Ephrata along Route 322 Website dutchcountrysoftpretzles com E-mail' lke@dulchcountrysoftpretzels com Ike StoUzfus 717*354*4493 Fax 717*354*5125 lIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII It's Been a Cold Winter!!! TAKE YOUR CHOICE!!! 1. It’s 1 a.m. in the 9. Trudge to the barn morning. 1 q. Everythings okay. 2. It’s very cold outside. 11. You’re now wide 3. It’s very warm in bed. awake. 4. Bessie may or may 12. Trudge back to the not be freshening. house. 5. Get outta bed. 13. Reverse your dress 6. Pull on some duds. i n 9 procedure. 7. Pull on the shoes. 14 - Crawl back in bed 8. Get on a coat. 15. Try to go back to sleep. 1. Stay in bed. 4. Click off the remote. 2. Click on the remote. 5. Go back to sleep. 3. Check on Bessie. “ROSTECH WIRELESS CAMERA SYSTEM" AvaUbli At All Our Locations We Ship Parts Daily UPS • 24 Hour Service • On The Farm Route Service jgST fishery dairy & MILKING JjT' TtonMPOTN EQUIPMENT jf , HU IV„. . UN SALES & SERVICE MAIN OFFICE 15 Newport Rd., Leola, PA 17540 717-656-3307 MW*.* on a township meeting” and get to know the offi- cials in charge of making decisions for the area. “Stick together as an agricul ture community. It’s not just about hogs or just about dairy, it’s about the whole infrastruc ture of farming.” In addition, talk to legislators. “Call them up, tell them you have a farm and offer to be a contact for them?” or offer a tour, she suggested. In addition, “lobby is not a dirty word,” said Wood. “You not only have the right to lobby, but you also have an obligation.” She encouraged the audience 2758-1 Division Hwy New Holland, PA 17557 fi OR Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 22, 2003-A35 Jeffrey Hyde, Penn State, and Sarah Roth, farm business management spe cialist with Dairy Alliance, presented “Strategic Planning For A Successful Farm Business” during the day. mile. Shirks Animal Health Supply Store New Ownership Stop in to check out our best prices. 134 Bridgeville Rd. Just off Rt. 23 Goodville, PA 717*445 # 5323 r I v OA Dry Cow Booster That Costs 70 a Day Hoffmans Horse and Cattle Powder is an ideal tonic for cows over freshening. Feed 6 wks. before freshening. 1 Tablespoon a day. (Two weeks over freshening, feed 1 Tablespoon in the morning & 1 Tablespoon in evening) This is an over-all good booster if fed to dry cows, and it will pay you big dividends. Sugar Valley Collar Shop Elvin Zimmerman 18 Wagon Wheel Lane 18051 Ridgewood Ave Loganton, PA 17747 Barnett, MO 65011 D & J Farm Store 573-378-2658 65 Hess Rd ... , . , Quarryville, PA 17566 Supply Daniels Farm Store 200 Maple Ave 324 Glenbrook Rd Bird-In-Hand, PA 17505 Leola, PA 17540 717-656-6982 Gap Repair Shop 994 Gap Rd Kmzers, PA 17535 717-442-4781 by saying that “you (as produc ers) are on the high road you are feeding people. You have to learn how to leverage that. “Agriculture is very late in waking up to this problem. If you want to win in the courts of pub lic opinion, you really need to be out there. The most important thing is personal contact,” according to Wood. Anticipate problems and make phone calls or write letters before (Turn to Page A 37) Gideon F. King 5465 Elam Rd Kinzer, PA 17535
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