Friday, July 31 , 2026st
Meet the Team 1Todd DrakeGrant RathjeCEO and FounderPresidentBrandon Hinck Director of Production ServicesTiana McKeeDirector of People and CultureTaylor RuetherDirector of MarketingColten DrakeDirector of Sales Welcome to the 2026 Cattle Feeder Summit, On behalf of the entire Balance4ward team, welcome to the 6th Annual Cattle Feeder Summit! Whether you're joining us for the first time or the sixth, we're thrilled you're here. Today is all about connection - the chance to share ideas, swap stories, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the folks who share your passion for this industry. We're bringing you a lineup of speakers and breakout sessions designed to challenge your thinking, spark new ideas, and send you home energized about what's ahead. Thank you for being part of this community. Let's make it a great one! Here's to a fantastic day, Grant Rathje
9:00 AM 10:15 AM 11:00 AM 12:15 PM 1:00 PM 1:45 PM 2:00 PM 2:45 PM 3:00 PM 3:45 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 2:00 - 5:00 PM Registration Balance4ward Opening Remarks | Todd Drake Keynote Speaker | Robin Dreeke Sponsored by Elanco Animal Health Lunch Sponsored by Bank Iowa CattleFax Market Outlook | Mike Murphy 15 Minute Break Breakout Session 1 15 Minute Break Breakout Session 2 15 Minute Break Panel Social and Cocktail Hour Prime Rib Dinner Sponsored by Kapco Entertainment | Dueling Pianos Women’s Shopping Outing (Optional) Itinerary 2
Main Stage Speakers Capitol Ballroom - 10:15 AM and 1:00 PM Todd Drake CEO and Founder of Balance4ward Mike MurphyAs a Northern Colorado native, Mike Murphy, was raised on a farming and ranching operation and remains active in the cattle business today, with a summer stocker operation in Fraser, Colorado. Mike graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business. Prior to joining CattleFax, Mike worked in the cattle feeding industry in Texas and Colorado. Since starting in 1996, Mike has been involved with all facets of CattleFax, covering most all the regions and all of the sectors – feedlot, stocker and cow-calf – as well preparing feedgrain analysis. In Mike’s role as Chief Operating Officer, his focus is on Risk Management analysis for the beef, cattle, and grain sectors. Welcome to the 2026 Cattle Feeder Summit. As we gather with fellow cattle feeders, industry partners, and friends, we celebrate the hard work, determination, and innovation that drive our industry forward. We hope this Summit challenges you to think differently, equips you with ideas you can put into action immediately, and inspires you to find new opportunities to grow your business and strengthen your legacy. Along the way, take time to reconnect with old friends, build new relationships, and share experiences with others who understand the opportunities and challenges of our industry. Together, we can learn, grow, and shape a stronger future for the next generation. COO of CattleFax Todd Drake 3
Keynote Speaker Robin Dreeke Former FBI Spy Recruiter, Human Behavior and Trust Expert Cattle feeders operate in an industry where uncertainty is part of the job. Markets shift, generations transition, and trust carries weight in every decision. Robin Dreeke’s career was built around understanding people, building trust, and leading through uncertainty. As a retired FBI Special Agent, Naval Academy graduate, spy recruiter, and expert in human behavior, he understands what it takes to build meaningful connections and earn trust when the stakes are high. Robin’s keynote will bring insight to the people side of cattle feeding, including leadership, family transition, team dynamics, and the trust it takes to keep an operation moving forward. Capitol Ballroom - 11:00 AM 4 Sponsored by: Elanco Animal Health
Breakout Session Schedule Dodge, Douglas, Capitol 3, and Capitol 4: 2:00 - 3:45 PM 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM 15 Minute BreakBuilt to Last: The UnCommon Approach to Succession Planning Where Are You Headed? Building a Clear Plan for the Future Supporting What’s Next: USDA Funding Opportunities for Diversifying Your Ag Operation The Dollar Drain: Finding the Leaks in Your OperationMike Downey David Slobotski Gimmie Jo Jansonius Jarret Proctor & Kelby SudbeckDouglas Capitol 3 Dodge Capitol 4Built to Last: The UnCommon Approach to Succession Planning Where Are You headed? Building a Clear Plan for the Future Supporting What’s Next: USDA Funding Opportunities for Diversifying Your Ag Operation The Dollar Drain: Finding the Leaks in Your OperationMike Downey David Slobotski Gimmie Jo Jansonius Jarret Proctor & Kelby SudbeckDouglas Capitol 3 Dodge Capitol 4 5
Breakout Session Speakers For room assignments and session times, see page 5. Mike Downey Mike Downey will lead a breakout session on succession planning and what it takes to prepare for a smooth transition from one generation to the next. His session will share insight on protecting the future of the operation while carrying forward the legacy that has already been built. UnCommon Farms: Farm Succession Expert Mike Downey serves as Manager of Succession Planning at UnCommon Farms, where he specializes in helping farm families build stronger businesses and successful transition plans. With roots on his family's grain and livestock farm and years of experience working alongside agricultural producers, Mike brings practical insight into the financial, business, and family decisions that shape the future of an operation. His passion is helping producers create a clear path for the next generation while protecting the legacy they've worked hard to build. Jarret Proctor Contract Nutritionist for Balance4ward: PhD Nutritionist Jarret Proctor is a consulting nutritionist based in Conrad, IA, alongside his wife, Shelbi, and son, Morrison. Jarret holds a PhD from Texas A&M University in ruminant nutrition with a focus on feedlot production and protein metabolism. Today, he works with feedyards in 8 states and has served as a nutritionist for Balance4ward for 3 years. Jarret works closely with the Balance4ward Feedlot Performance staff to optimize nutrition and fundamental process management for their growing customer base. Kelby Sudbeck and Jarret Proctor will lead a breakout session on where profits may be quietly slipping away in producers’ cattle feeding systems. While feed is the largest input cost in cattle production, small inefficiencies in the daily processes can add up to significant losses over time. The session will encourage attendees to take a closer look at their entire systems leading up to feed delivery and identify opportunities to improve consistency, efficiency, and cattle performance. Through practical examples and real-world observations, Kelby and Jarret will show how attention to detail can help operations capture value that might otherwise go unnoticed. 6
Kelby Sudbeck leads the Feedlot Performance team at Balance4ward, partnering with independent cattle feeders to improve profitability through practical nutrition, operational management, and data-driven decision making. Raised on a small, diversified family farm in northeast Nebraska, Kelby experienced firsthand the challenges of balancing family dynamics, business decisions, volatile markets, and weather while caring for livestock. Those experiences sparked his passion for helping cattle feeders build stronger, more profitable operations. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kelby spent nearly 11 years in feedlot management, leading operations involved in custom feeding and diversified family-owned cattle operations. His experience spans feedlot management, employee management, feed and cattle inventory planning, cattle marketing, process improvement, enterprise growth and developing systems to optimize both operational efficiency and the performance of individual animals, not just the average performance of a pen. Today, Kelby leads Balance4ward's Feedlot Performance team, helping independent cattle feeders identify opportunities to improve cattle performance, increase profitability, and strengthen their operations for the next generation.Kelby Sudbeck Balance4ward Feedlot Performance Manager Kelby Sudbeck and Jarret Proctor will lead a breakout session on where profits may be quietly slipping away in producers’ cattle feeding systems. While feed is the largest input cost in cattle production, small inefficiencies in the daily processes can add up to significant losses over time. The session will encourage attendees to take a closer look at their entire systems leading up to feed delivery and identify opportunities to improve consistency, efficiency, and cattle performance. Through practical examples and real-world observations, Kelby and Jarret will show how attention to detail can help operations capture value that might otherwise go unnoticed. Breakout Session Speakers For room assignments and session times, see page 5. 7
David started his entrepreneurial journey at 12 years old, cold calling to sell newspaper subscriptions. By 16, he was leading and managing teams—an early start that sparked his lifelong focus on growth, development, and learning by doing. As his career progressed, David discovered a natural ability to connect with people and drive performance. That strength propelled him into leadership, where he built and managed sales teams with a focus on accountability and execution. Under his leadership, revenue grew by 37%, and in his final year, the team hit $22 million in annual sales—the highest in company history. Later, David joined a company in the midst of implementing EOS®. It was there that he was introduced to Traction®, a book that transformed his view of leadership and business. Inspired by the clarity and discipline of the EOS system, he went on to help 83 entrepreneurial leadership teams implement EOS in their companies. Seeing those business owners reach their full potential reignited David’s entrepreneurial drive and deepened his passion for building strong, scalable organizations. Since starting his EOS practice, David has held over 250 full day sessions with clients and he leverages that experience to help leadership teams align on vision, gain traction, and build healthier businesses.David Slobotski EOS Worldwide: Certified EOS Implementer David Slobotski will share how the Entrepreneurial Operating System can help business leaders bring more structure and focus to their operation. His session will cover delegation, task prioritization, and practical tools for working more effectively as a team. Breakout Session Speakers For room assignments and session times, see page 5. 8
sAdd Pic Gimmie Jo Jansonius Chief of Staff for the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) for Rural Development Gimmie Jo serves as Chief of Staff for the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) for Rural Development. Previously, she served as USDA Kansas Director of Rural Development. As a sixth- generation Kansas rancher, Jansonius is actively involved in production agriculture, working alongside the seventh generation of her family’s business consisting of a cow-calf herd, small row crop farm, and direct-to-consumer beef sales. Gimmie Jo holds an MS in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from Emporia State University and a BS in Education from Newman University. Beginning her professional career as a teacher and coach, she went on to serve as faculty for community vitality with Kansas State University’s Research and Extension Services. Gimmie Jo is also a competitive horsewoman who conducts a Cowboy Church ministry and treasures time being with her family on the ranch, playing the piano, serving in her church, and tending to her horses. Gimmie Jo Jansonius from the USDA will lead a breakout session focused on Rural Development programs that can help create new opportunities for cattle feeders and agricultural businesses. Her session will give attendees a better understanding of funding options, resources, and programs that can support growth, improve infrastructure, and strengthen their operations for the future. Bob Campbell Panel Chairmen Senior Leader and Executive Coach Bob Campbell is the founder and principal of GrowLeadAchieve LLC, a company dedicated to helping leaders grow, lead with clarity, and achieve meaningful results. Bob is an ACC certified coach with the International Coaching Federation and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. He brings a practical, real- world approach to leadership development grounded in experience and accountability. Bob spent his career leading leaders and teams responsible for growing market share for one of the largest agricultural lenders and crop insurance providers in the United States. He has led and supported a multi-billion-dollar portfolio across the Midwest and understands what it takes to succeed in complex, results-driven environments. Breakout Session Speakers For room assignments and session times, see page 5. 9
Bob CampbellGrowLeadAchieve LLC: See Bio (pg 9)Panel for Audience Q&A Capitol Ballroom - 4 PMTodd DrakeCEO and Founder of Balance4wardMike MurphyCattleFax: See Bio (pg 3)Mike DowneyUnCommon Farms: See Bio (pg 6) 10
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To the producers attending the Balance4ward Summit: Kapco Futures is proud to support Balance4ward because we believe independent cattle producers deserve more than market predictions and generic advice.They deserve straight answers.They deserve a risk management plan built around their operation, their margins, and their goals.Most importantly, they deserve an advisor who understands that the decisions made today can affect an operation for years.Luke Frantz works closely with Balance4ward clients and has earned their trust by being available, candid, and focused on helping producers make disciplined decisions in volatile markets.That is how we believe brokerage should work.We are not here to tell producers what they want to hear.We are here to help them make the decisions they need to make.Thank you to Balance4ward and its clients for allowing Kapco Futures to be part of that process.Jeff Kaprelian Chief Executive Officer (815) 680-5088 jeff@kapcofutures.comLuke Frantz Director of Business Development (815) 680-5404 luke@kapcofutures.comTrading futures and options on futures involves a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors or producers. Past performance is not indicative of future results.Prime Sponsor
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Let us know how we can improve Summit Thank you for attending the 6 Annual Cattle Feeder Summit. th Scan for more information about Balance4ward Get in touch with Balance4ward now Follow us @balance4ward