Lay of the Land® Arkansas Conference

Current Trends and Challenges in Arkansas Agriculture
The panel will offer insights into the latest developments and trends shaping Arkansas’s vibrant agricultural landscape. This session aims to highlight the challenges, innovations, and opportunities driving growth and sustainability in the state's agricultural sector.

• Brandon Durant, Agriculture Managing Director & Business Development - Saunders Real Estate
• Chance Creighton, Land Advisor - Saunders Real Estate
• Mark Lambert, Director of State Affairs - Arkansas Farm Bureau
• John L. Conner Jr., Founder & President - Holden Conner
• Matthew Pope, Partner - Cultura

Arkansas’s Forestry Outlook
Experts will dive into the heart of Arkansas’s robust wood products, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities that define the forestry industry.

• Greg Hay, ACF, CF, RF, Senior Advisor - Saunders Land
• Dr. Matthew H. Pelkki, Director, Arkansas Center for Forest Business - University of Arkansas System

Tax Reform & Estate Planning - Opportunities & Strategies
As conversations around federal tax reform continue to unfold, this panel explores the latest changes shaping estate planning, property sales, and business investments. Topics include updates to estate tax exemptions, new tools like farm sale tax deferrals, expanded rural opportunity zones, and the return of full bonus depreciation. With so many moving parts in today’s tax landscape, this session offers practical insight every landowner should hear.

• Tyler Davis, ALC, President - Saunders Real Estate

Economic Update for U.S. Agriculture

• Dr. Bruce L. Ahrendsen, Professor of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness - University of Arkansas

Lay of the Land® Market Update
The Lay of the Land Arkansas Market Report has become a trusted benchmark for tracking annual land sales and market performance across the state. Building on that foundation, and backed by the most current data collected by the Saunders Research team, this session offers a real-time look at the state’s various land sectors. Panelists will highlight buyer activity, commodity pressures, and recent events shaping values, giving attendees a clear view of where the market stands and where it’s headed.