Three Starion business banking officers attended a three-day holistic agriculture school given by Seek First Ranch.
Three Starion business banking officers attended a three-day holistic agriculture school given by Seek First Ranch. Barbara Mothershead, Nevada Silha and Kordel Wolfe took part in order to learn more about upcoming holistic trends, as well as understand the questions and concerns of North Dakota farmers and ranchers.
The Holistic Management School, held near Menoken on October 19th-21st, 2021, was also attended by local agriculture producers, county extension agents and representatives from state agencies. The school was sponsored by the Burleigh County Soil Conservation District and the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition.
After attending, Barbara Mothershead and Kordel Wolfe stressed that Starion's support of all producers is stronger than ever. “While Starion is a pioneering financial partner in this new holistic arena, we’re still dedicated to producers who maintain more traditional farm and ranch practices,” says Wolfe. Mothershead adds, “This expanded learning helps us add more tools to help producers who are in the experimental, transitional, and established stages of holistic management. We want producers to know we are here to support them whether they are holistic, traditional, or a mix”
Seek First Ranch is run by Josh and Tara Dukart. They are local North Dakota ranchers and sought-after agricultural educators who run holistic management schools around the U.S., as well as in Canada and Australia. The schools aim to give producers new decision-making frameworks they can use to improve soil health, yields, and overall quality of life.
Nevada Silha said the school ultimately centered on one crucial, foundational fact. “Soil health benefits so many things in our lives. The better soil health and soil biology gets, the more moisture is retained and more productive it becomes,” he says, “That means you can reduce costs while increasing productivity. This, in turn, can increase profit margins, which can reduce stress while creating a healthier life.“
Starion Bank is trailblazing a new range of agricultural financing products that are tailored to the needs of producers who may be curious about, or already using, holistic farm and ranch practices. In addition, Starion will partner with the Dukarts to offer new schools and seminars that focus on the four key pillars of a healthy agricultural operation: soil health, lifestyle, finances, and succession planning. The first of this series is expected to run in summer of 2022.
