2026 Big "I" Nebraska Spring Conference: March 24-26, 2026 Sessions

Join Us for a Local Farm Tour! FREE for Big I Nebraska Members & Partners!

Experience two thriving agricultural facilities north of Kearney in Pleasanton, NE! We’ll visit Sprout House, a family-run greenhouse growing high-quality culinary herbs, and Sweetwater Hemp Company, a pioneering hemp cultivation and extraction operation known for its full-spectrum products.

Tour Details:
📍 Meeting Location: Big I Nebraska Registration Desk at 4:30 PM for those who want to carpool (transportation is on your own)
🕔 Tour Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM

Don’t miss this chance to see these innovative growing operations up close!

Included in your registration is a delightful pre-conference gathering that promises a perfect blend of good company, delectable bites, and a relaxed atmosphere so plan to join us at Fyre Modern Grill (onsite at the Crowne Plaza) Tuesday evening! This informal social event is specially curated for conference participants like you, providing an excellent opportunity to unwind and connect with fellow attendees before the main event kicks off. While the first round of appetizers is complimentary, please note that beverages and additional food will be available for your purchase at the venue, allowing you to choose and pay for what you fancy.

Fyre Modern Grill

Start your conference day on a delicious note with our Continental Style 'Breakfast On-the-Go.' It's designed for busy conference attendees who want a delightful and convenient start before diving into a day of classes and networking.

Visit our All-Day Conference Registration and Information Hub to get the support and information you need to make the most of this exciting event! Whether you're a first-time attendee or a conference veteran, our friendly staff is here to provide personalized assistance, making your experience enjoyable and stress-free.

Farm/Ag accounts have coverage options that are available to other commercial insureds but using a different set of forms. We review these ISO forms as they relate to Farm/Ag exposures and some of the endorsements available for coverage modification: Equipment Breakdown Protection Coverage (endorsement) FP 05 60 04 16, Livestock Coverage Form FP 00 40 04 16, Mobile Agricultural Machinery & Equipment Coverage Form FP 00 30 04 16. As an added bonus we’ll very briefly take a look at the expanding use of drones in farm/ag – both owned and provided by 3rd parties.

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Explore commercial property and general liability coverage and policies. Understand why liability coverage is vital and the options you have when recommending a solution, including personal and advertising injury, workers compensation, breakdown, commercial crime, and more. Learn how small businesses meet their needs with businessowner policies, as well as how homeowners and personal auto coverages address your clients’ needs.

Skills You'll Gain:
• Explore Commercial Property Coverage
• Understand other essential commercial coverage solutions including workers comp, breakdown, commercial crime, and more
• Help your small business clients meet their coverage needs
• Dive into the coverages offered by the homeowners policy
• Explore the personal auto policy and how to customize it with endorsements

Must attend ALL DAY to receive CE credit and/or designation credit. NO printed Learning Guide will be provided for you in the classroom at conference so be sure to download your own if you wish. An optional exam can be taken on your own for an additional fee if you wish to work toward the Professional Risk Consultant™ (PRC) designation through The Institutes.

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Don't miss this unique opportunity to savor exquisite cuisine while staying informed about the critical issues shaping the insurance industry and our agricultural landscape. Hear from industry leaders about things that matter to you! Join us for a lunch program that satisfies both your appetite and your curiosity.

Ever wondered what actually drives carrier decisions—and how those choices impact you and your clients? Join industry expert, Brian Lopata, AU & AIS, President and Chief Executive Officer of Farmer's Alliance Insurance Company, for a fast-paced, one-hour session that pulls back the curtain on the financial and market forces shaping today’s insurance landscape and what’s coming next.

In this session, we’ll explore:

🔍 Industry Update: How We Got Here & What’s Ahead Get a clear, plain-English breakdown of the market cycle—what led us into the hard market, how insurance companies have turned obstacles into opportunities, and what independent agents should realistically expect over the next 12–24 months.

📊 AM Best: What Financial Strength Really Means Learn how AM Best evaluates strong-performing carriers, why financial ratings matter more than ever, and how carrier stability directly impacts your agency, your book of business, and your clients’ long-term protection.

🌐 Reinsurance: The Invisible Force Behind Carrier Decisions Discover how the reinsurance market shaped the hard market, where it stands now, and how it influences underwriting appetite, pricing, and capacity. We’ll also discuss why understanding risk transfer helps independent agents better explain carrier decisions—and protect their clients.

Why attend? You’ll leave with practical insight, industry context, and a deeper understanding of the forces driving carrier behavior—so you can better anticipate change, position your agency, and confidently guide your clients.

Farmers markets, roadside stands, direct sales to consumers – each of these provides the farmer with increased revenue streams but also added exposures to loss. In addition, what happens if the products they are selling need to be recalled due to contamination…where’s their coverage. Yes, this is a wide ranging discussion that MUST include Risk Management. Forewarned is Forearmed (credit to Miguel de Cervantes) – and that is very necessary for our 2026 farm risks.

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Networking is the backbone of career growth, and our event provides the perfect platform to connect with like-minded professionals and forge meaningful relationships! Join your fellow agents in meeting with 50+ industry partners during our IIAN Spring Conference Partner Showcase while you enjoy a delicious variety of hors d'oeuvres.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of networking and fun at the NExtgen Hospitality Suite! After a day filled with enriching discussions and valuable insights at the conference, we invite you to unwind and connect in a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere. The NExtgen Hospitality Suite is the perfect setting to forge new connections, share ideas, and build lasting relationships with fellow conference attendees.

Visit our All-Day Conference Registration and Information Hub to get the support and information you need to make the most of this exciting event! Whether you're a first-time attendee or a conference veteran, our friendly staff is here to provide personalized assistance, making your experience enjoyable and stress-free.

A hearty breakfast is the key to a productive day. Our warm sit-down buffet ensures you start your conference sessions with the energy and focus you need. Enjoy!

Your farmer helps out a neighbor…is that a neighborly exchange of services, custom farming, or something else? What if something happens that requires your farmer to borrow or lease additional equipment? Does their property coverage form and liability coverage help or hinder them in this endeavor? Finally, think of the workers that your farmer employs. Independent contractors, employees or some other business relationship that needs to be addressed? This will not be a dull three hours, I promise!

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Enjoy a delicious lunch while learning how the Big I of Nebraska can support you and your agency through today’s challenges, then put your conference knowledge to the test in a fast-paced, fun Kahoot! competition.

Earn 2 Ethics credits while focusing on E&O Exposures that affect your ag clients!

Our farmers are just like most businesspeople insofar as they will undertake just about anything that can make their land and/or business more profitable. When this occurs it often falls outside the contemplated coverage that is provided when using the ISO Farm Liability Coverage form, FL 00 20. We’ll look at what they may be doing, how we can discover what they are doing, and some alternatives to risk treatments.

We’ll review:

1. FL 00 20 04 16, Farm Liability Coverage form
2. “Farming” defined – it limits coverage
3. Don’t forget property concerns

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