Education and Experience

I have spent years studying and teaching in the field of agricultural economics, so I am uniquely qualified to assist you with whatever challenge you're facing. I'm including a page on my education and work experience to assure you that I am the person for the job.
Please click on any of the links below to learn more about my work:

· Summary of Qualifications

· Education

· Professional Experience

· Volunteer Activities

· Professional Organizations

· Published Works

· Foreign Travel & Study

· Accomplishments & Honors

· College Courses Taught

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS Photo of Elton Tophoj

Certified Nebraska Community Development Block Grant Administrator
Experienced Researcher and Grant Writer
Successful farm manager, consultant, and business entrepreneur
College Instructor: Agribusiness and Farm Management
Accomplished Extension Educator-Presenter on farm management issues
Demonstrated community leadership by holding elected and appointed positions

EDUCATION

Ph.D. ABD, Agricultural Education-Extension, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 1997-current
M.S., Agricultural Economics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 1993
B.S., Farm/Ranch Management, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 1990

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BUSINESS CONSULTANT, 1991-present, Oshkosh, Nebraska

Prepares and writes grant applications and project proposals for businesses
Conducts feasibility studies regarding value added agriculture projects and business start-ups
Conducts SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to a business) and writes a strategic business plan
Business Assistance Center, University of Wyoming

BUSINESS OWNER/MANAGER, 2000-present, Campbell Drug, Oshkosh, Nebraska

Develop financial analysis tools to evaluate and monitor drug/variety store business
Prepare budget, cash flow, and financial statements
Interview, hire and manage employees; also conduct periodic employee reviews
Determine retail price, allocate shelf space, and control inventory
Interface with the business community concerning economic and social issues
Wrote a funded Community Development Block Grant

AGRIBUSINESS/FARM MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTOR, 1998-1999, Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, Iowa

Successfully assumed responsibility for teaching college courses mid-semester
Developed lesson plans, student assignments, and evaluated performance
Conducted lectures on Agribusiness, Farm Management, and Agricultural Economics
Successfully worked through a classroom interpreter to teach foreign non-English speaking students
Worked with faculty to plan and develop agricultural curriculum and program

FARM MANAGEMENT FIELD SPECIALIST, 1996-1998, ISU Extension, Ames, Iowa

Responded to farmer educational needs by working with seven County FSA Directors and County Extension Directors to deliver 10 educational programs to 645 crop producers regarding Loan Deficiency Payments and marketing during September 1998
Designed, promoted, implemented, and evaluated 44 successful educational programs to farmers and agribusinesses from September 1997 to September 1998
Consulted with 125 farm clients regarding farm management decisions from September 1997 to September 1998
Received a grant to research bison as an alternative livestock enterprise

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT/AG ECON, 1995-1996, KSU, Manhattan, Kansas

Admitted to Ph.D. program in Ag Econ
Successfully conducted applied economics research
Co-wrote documents for publication
Studied economic theory, finance, and quantitative methods

BUSINESS CONSULTANT/GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, 1991-1993, Business Assistance Center and Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming

Designed, developed, and implemented first statewide live video business education program to 7 remote sites
Developed, implemented, and taught seminars on conducting feasibility studies and writing business plans
Analyzed business enterprises and made problem solving recommendations
Successfully conducted primary research on agricultural finance and wrote thesis

FARMER/STUDENT, 1987-1990

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES (PAST/PRESENT)

Laramie Plains Civic Center, Chairman, Joint Powers Board		School Board Member
Laramie Plains Federal Credit Union, Board Member		4-H Club Leader
Garden County Chamber of Commerce, Vice President		Church Elder and Deacon
Assistant Boy Scout Leader

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education
National Association of County Agricultural Agents

PUBLISHED WORKS

Albright, Martin L., and Elton K. Tophoj. "Landowners' Erosion-
     Control Costs in Eastern Kansas: A Five-Year Study, 1991-
     1995." Research Report #21. Department of Agricultural 
     Economics: Kansas State University, June 1996. 
Held, Larry J., Elton Tophoj, and Alan Schroeder. "Anticipating
     Success or Failure with Financial Ratios." Reflections. Vol.
     6, No. 1. June 1996. 
Tophoj, Elton K., Larry J. Held, and Alan Schroeder. "Predicting 
     Successful Versus Unsuccessful Borrowers with Financial 
     Ratios." ASFMRA Journal. 1995.

FOREIGN TRAVEL & STUDY

Jalisco, Mexico. University of Guadalajara, Agricultural Education tour, March 1998

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & HONORS

Co-taught Ag Lender School, Iowa State University, 1998
Invited to present research paper at National Bison Association Annual Meeting, 1996
Small Business Institute Outstanding Case Award, 1st Place Region VIII, 7th Place National, SBA Business Consulting Paper, 1992
Alpha Zeta, National Agriculture Honorary Fraternity
Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society
Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture
Golden Key, National Honor Society
Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, 1990-91

COLLEGE COURSES TAUGHT (PARTIAL LIST)

Introduction to Agribusiness Economics

Introduction to Agribusiness Economics deals with management skills, financial records, economic principles of production levels, input-output combinations and cost concepts. Students also explore enterprise, partial, whole farm and cash flow budgeting; farm organization; risk management; investment and farm analysis.

Agribusiness Sales Management

Agribusiness Sales Management examines sales records systems, advertising promotion, accounts receivable, age analysis, collection procedures, and supervision methods. This is an agribusiness emphasis course.

Agriculture Methods Management

Agriculture Methods Management encompasses agriculture business and farm management techniques, including supervisory and leadership methods, studies of periodic business record closing procedures and financial statement preparation and analysis. This course includes the development of a production agriculture business plan.

Fundamentals of Agriculture Selling

Fundamentals of Agriculture Selling emphasizes sales and merchandising techniques for feed, seed, fertilizers, agriculture chemicals, equipment and supplies. It also covers products sales presentations, preparation of point of sales notebooks and territory analysis for both farm management and agribusiness students.

Supervision and Leadership

Supervision and Leadership presents the basics of supervision methods, leadership principles and total quality management practices (TQM).