Ranching for Profit advisor to present programs at Thedford, Valentine, Broken Bow, North Platte

Dave Pratt, a sought-after speaker on sustainable agriculture and profitable ranching, will present four day-long workshops later in January at Thedford, Valentine, Broken Bow and North Platte.

Pratt will discuss characteristics of highly profitable ranch businesses, and will show participants how to increase profits and sustainability through business, finances, and people management strategies. Strategies include trimming deadwood (money-draining enterprises) from the ranch; working in the business vs. working on the business; and techniques to improve communication at home and in the business to help keep and train employee/family members.

Dates and locations (Times are Central):

• Jan. 25: 2-8 p.m., North Platte, West Central Research and Extension Center Synder Classroom. Rick Funston, UNL Beef Specialist, will also talk about heifer enterprises.
  
• Jan. 26: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thedford, Thomas County Fairbuilding.
  
• Jan. 27: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Broken Bow, Broken Bow Country Club.
  
• Jan. 28: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Valentine, Cedar Canyon.

These business and people principles will relate to everyone, but focus will be toward ranchers starting out.

The workshops are sponsored by UNL Extension, Sandhills Cattle Association, Lincoln County and Nebraska Cattlemen, Security First Bank of Thedford and Valentine, the Bank of Broken Bow, Nebraska State Bank, Farm Credit Services of America, First National Bank of North Platte, Equitable Bank of North Platte, and Wallace State Bank.

Registration is $50 per person ($75 per couple). Pre-registration one week prior is requested for a meal count, but walk-ins are welcome that day.

Contact Randy Saner at 308-532-2683 for North Platte, Bethany Johnston at 308-645-2267 or 1-800-657-2113 for Thedford, Troy Walz at 308-872-6831 for Broken Bow, and Jay Jenkins at 402-376-1850 or 1-800-657-2188 for Valentine.

While businesses of all stages are welcome to attend at Valentine, Pratt will focus on ranchers starting up. All the same principles apply, but all start-up businesses, including ranches, face additional challenges that he will address in this workshop.

Growing up in California, Pratt worked on the family ranches. After receiving his degrees, he worked as a range and livestock advisor with the Extension Service in California. He was instrumental in developing the Sustainable Ranching Research and Education Project and teaches at the Ranching for Profit School held around the United States and Canada.

Visit Pratt’s website at www.ranchmanagement.com, to view articles or webinars.