I’m looking forward to the ARA Conference & Expo in San Antonio from Nov. 30 to Dec 2. It will be great to see so many people in person and not through a small black-lined box on my computer monitor.
Click here to learn more and register–discounted early bird registration ends Oct. 15!
ARA has put together an engaging agenda with very timely topics—for example, the preconference workshop, “Ransom Attack: Could You Be Next?”
Experts estimate a ransomware attack will occur every 11 seconds, and your ag retail business could be next. On the heels of the news of NEW Cooperative and Crystal Valley Cooperative being involved in ransomware attacks, American Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall was on “AgriTalk” and spoke to the threat posed by these attacks to the essential industry of ag retail.
“Ransomware is another one of those areas we’re very concerned about. When it hits these processing places that our commodities or animals go to, it definitely can stop that food chain and give us a short-term interruption like COVID has during the last 18 months,” Duvall said.
The preconference session will be led by EFC Systems and one of its ag retail partners, so they can share an experience of an attack, and you can learn how to combat the threat that many businesses are facing today.
Another session gives us an opportunity to look back at the past 18 months and look ahead. It’s the panel discussion I’ve been invited to moderate, “COVID-19 Practices - Temporary and Permanent Changes.” It’s a stellar panel of ag retail leaders:
- Harold Cooper, president - Premier Companies
- Matt Carstens, CEO - Landus Cooperative
- Clay Houchin, CEO - Buttonwillow Warehouse
And I’ll share from our pre-event calls, this group has some very valuable and thought-provoking experiences to share. See you all soon!
