Master Marketer Program Moves to Vernon, Texas in January of 2014

How would you like to increase your net returns more than $250,000 dollars over the next ten years? If so, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension may have the program that can help you do it – the Master Marketer Program. The  Master Marketer Program is a national award winning, in-depth, intensive risk management education training that teaches participants how to develop marketing plans, evaluate marketing alternatives, manage production and price risk, and helps teach the skills and discipline necessary to execute a risk management and marketing plan.  The 64 hour curriculum is offered as four, two-day sessions held every two weeks, and is the most intensive marketing/risk management training provided by Extension anywhere in United States.   

The next Master Marketer program will be in Vernon, Texas starting in January.  In 2 ½ post training surveys, 186 previous Vernon Master Marketer participants indicated their gross income increased on average $34,000 annually based on what they had learned in the training. “There is no reason that program graduates shouldn’t receive this level of increased returns for the next ten years” according to Stan Bevers, Extension Economist and coordinator for the Vernon program. “Interested participants should weigh carefully the registration fee, the time commitment and travel costs associated with the program against the potential of a $250,000+ increase in returns over the next ten years before signing up for the program. Personally, I think it is a no brainer.”

“It’s been six years since the last Master Marketer Training was held in Vernon and in all likelihood, it will be the last.  If a producer ever thought about attending the training or a past graduate wants a refresher they need to sign up early. It may be their last change,” says Bevers.

The instructors for the training consist of top professionals from industry and universities from around the country.  A wide range of topics are covered to enhance marketing/risk management skills.  Case studies, group discussions and simulation exercises will be used wherever possible to provide students with experience using real tools that they can use on their own farm and ranch operations when they leave the class.

The Master Marketer Program will be held near Vernon, Texas, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center.  The first two-day session will begin on January 22 - 23, 2014.  The registration fee for the program is $340 which includes all meals and materials.  The registration fees fall short of covering all costs of this program.  Most of the cost of the program is covered by grants from and partnerships with other organizations including the Texas Corn Producers Board, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board, Texas Farm Bureau, the Cotton State Support Committee, and Texas Wheat Producers Board.  Anyone interested in attending or learning more about this program can get more information by contacting the Wise County Extension office at (940) 627-3341 or by calling Stan Bevers at (940) 552-9941, ext. 231.  In addition, interested persons can register on line at http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu.   Due to the hands-on nature of the course, attendance is limited. The deadline for registration is January 15, 2014.