Keeping up with the wants and needs of our clients is one thing. Then add on top of that, all the changes that are happening in our market areas, our state, and even the world…. it’s a lot to handle.
That’s why this meeting is designed for the members of ISPFMRA….to help provide the information and tools YOU WILL NEED to stay ahead of it all.
Event Snapshot
- Dates: Wednesday, February 4 – Thursday, February 5, 2026
- Location: President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Springfield, IL
- Hotel Booking Deadline: January 13, 2026
- Registration Deadline: January 22, 2026
Wednesday, Feb. 4: Education Sessions
1. Appraisal Education (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Note: This session stands alone and requires separate registration.
- Course: 7-Hour Appraisal Course, Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations (A112)
- Instructor: Dennis Badger
- Details: This comprehensive 7-hour course provides an in-depth exploration of valuation bias in the real estate sector. Participants will delve into historical and contemporary aspects of real estate bias and gain insights into different forms of valuation bias, including explicit, implicit, and structural biases.
- CE Credits: This course is licensed for Appraisal CE in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, and Minnesota.
- Exam: An optional exam will be available if needed.
2. Management Education (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
This is a “Three-Fer”….three programs with one registration cost.
- Addressing Nutrient Loss on Illinois Farmland: An overview of IL’s progress to date, key factors for nutrient loss from row crop acres, and pragmatic steps to address loss through agronomic, in-field changes and edge-of-field solutions.
- Farmer and Farm Manager Panel: A panel discussion to address everything from negotiating leases and adopting new agronomic practices to working with various types of landowners and ways that we can collaborate through the ongoing consolidation.
- Commercialization of Pennycress as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Source: Dr. Winthrop Phippen will discuss the field pennycress breeding program focused on germplasm collection, field evaluation, and controlled crosses to domesticate pennycress for commercial production.
Thursday, Feb. 5: General Annual Meeting Program
From handling conflicts, to the weather to the politics of solar energy to farmland values to grain markets and ice cream and an auction and even the FBI….. plus membership recognition and a meeting with Amanda De Jong, the new Executive VP/CEO of ASFMRA. It’s all here on 1 DAY!
Session Highlights:
- Conflict and Leadership (Cheryl B. Mitchell): When landowners and operators pull in opposite directions, farm managers are caught in the middle. The real question isn’t how to avoid the conflict — it’s whether you can step in, reset the dialogue and move everyone forward.
- Farmland Values and the Farm Economy in the 7th District (David Oppedahl): We live and work with Illinois every day. But what’s happening in the other states in the 7th Federal Reserve District and what does it mean for you?
- The Sun Is Still Shining on Solar in Illinois (Colleen Callahan): Changes in federal policy could be casting a shadow over the future of solar energy projects across the state. Colleen promises an up-to-this-morning look at the current status of letting the sun shine in, including new Illinois legislation.
- And Now for a Look at Our Weather (Greg Soulje): What treats does Mother Nature have in store for us?
- Let’s Go Surfing Now….. Riding the Waves of Commodity Prices (Naomi Blohm): Or would you rather be on a roller coaster? Trying to “stay on top” with world-wide pricing volatility.
- Agro-Terrorism in Illinois — How Real is the Risk? (FBI Special Agent Rick Box): Agro-terrorism is an escalating threat to global stability; with complex supply chains and cross-border animal movements, agriculture remains a vulnerable target. Even here, in Illinois.
Networking & Activities:
- Recognition Luncheon & Business Meeting
- Ice Cream Social (3:15 p.m.)
Live Memorial Scholarship Auction
Thursday, Feb 5 @ 4:30 p.m.
Join us for the main event!
Cash bar, food provided.
Registration & Costs
ALL REGISTRATIONS WILL CLOSE AT END OF DAY ON JANUARY 22.
| Event | Members | Non-Members |
|---|---|---|
| Appraisal Education (Wed) | $300 | $350 |
| Management Education (Wed) | $50 | $75 |
| Annual Meeting (Thu) | $150 | $175 |
CE Credits: Attendance for the full program on Thursday qualifies for 8 ASFMRA CE credits.
Lodging
All activities will be held at the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 701 E. Adams Street, Springfield.
- Rate: A block of rooms has been booked at $125 single or double, $135 triple, or $145 quad.
- Deadline: The last day to book a reservation as part of this block is January 13, 2026.
- Book by Phone: 217-544-8800
- Book Online: Click Here to Reserve Your Room
We look forward to seeing you in Springfield!