Editors' Notebook

I'm not one to usually wax thoughtfully, on these pages at least, about holidays or other broadly shared social events. But due to the unlikely alignment of completely unrelated circumstances, I'm spending much of my Turkey Day looking forward, rather than with the reflective, stock-taking posture families usually have as they "give thanks" this time of year.

It's not that I'm dismissive of the many blessings I've had since the last time I sat down to heaps of turkey and other traditional treats. It's just that future events, not the past, will be front of mind.

So I want to be thankful for the future. I suspect, given general conditions out there in farm country at the close of 2019, many of you might feel the same. We've certainly had our share of events this year that we'd probably just as soon forget.

Among the many things I'm thankful to look forward to is our upcoming DTN Ag Summit, which takes place Dec. 9-11 in Chicago. I always look forward to Summit, but this year in particular I'm excited about the program the many hands at DTN and our partners have put together.

That's probably because this year we're keenly focused on looking forward as well. Our theme, chosen way back before the planters were pulled out of the shed last spring, has been unusually prescient: "Winning Strategies to Overcome Obstacles." Oh, we've had obstacles.

Yet with that theme as our guideposts, we've pulled together one of the most forward-focused Summits ever. We'll hear from John Deere economist Luke Chandler, who will lay out the global economic outlook from that company's long reach and view.

We'll hear from "No Man's Land" author and business management guru Doug Tatum, who will focus on the things successful business owners do to bring in new enterprises or products while also tending to those existing pieces that are core to the business' survival.

You'll be challenged, by professional speaker and Minnesota farm-boy David Horsager, to think about how trust, in all areas of your business and personal life, can help move your business forward when others stumble.

There are sessions on using unusual sources of capital, on how new market models can help guide commodity strategies, how to bring and keep bright talent to your farm, and how to build a farm's brand to help work with landlords, attract employees and be a respected part of community.

And perhaps the coolest part of Summit, which I marvel at every year, is the camaraderie, communion and networking with peer farmers from around the country. So many attendees tell me how that refreshes their minds and their souls, and we've set up plenty of opportunities for that.

If you haven't yet registered, you can do so here

http://www.cvent.com/…

And due to the prolonged harvest in many areas, we're extending our early bird discount, more on that, too, on our registration site.

So enjoy this coming holiday with your family. Take stock in the things you're thankful for, past, present and future. Then consider looking toward that future by joining us in Chicago Dec. 9-11. I'd love to see you there.

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To hear more about the event and speakers, check out these two DTN Reporter's Notebook videos:

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

and

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Greg D. Horstmeier can be reached at greg.horstmeier@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @greghorstmeier

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