Elite Membership Program

Top-Shelf Strategy and Conceirge Service

Your operation is too complex for generic advice. You need people in the room who understand agricultural finance, succession planning, capital strategy, and the operational realities that shape the future of your business. That's what Elite Membership delivers: a long-term strategic partnership with the Empire Ag team.

Elite Membership is our highest level of strategic support and is available by invitation only. Members are invited from within the Empire Ag membership community during select enrollment periods throughout the year, allowing relationships to develop before moving into a deeper level of strategic partnership.

This is not a workshop. This is not a subscription to content. This is ongoing access to agricultural strategists who have navigated these waters before.

What Elite Membership Includes

  • Quarterly Strategy Sessions

    Every quarter, you'll meet one-on-one with the Empire Ag Strategy team to evaluate where your business stands today and where it needs to go next. These conversations aren't status updates. They're dedicated time to step away from the day-to-day demands of your operation, work through significant decisions, and develop a clear strategy for the months ahead.

    Whether you're preparing for growth, navigating uncertainty, or planning for the future, these sessions provide the structure and accountability to keep moving forward with confidence.

  • Weekly Community Calls

    The best ideas don't always come from the boardroom. Sometimes they come from a conversation with someone who's walked the road before you.

    Each week, Elite members join the Empire Ag team and fellow business owners for honest conversations about leadership, operations, financial decisions, and the realities of running a rural business. These calls create space to ask questions, share experiences, and gain perspective from people who understand the challenges you're facing because they've lived them themselves.

  • Concierge Strategy Support

    Business doesn't wait for your next scheduled meeting, and neither do we.

    Elite members have direct access to the Empire Ag Strategy team throughout the year for strategic questions, feedback, and guidance as opportunities and challenges arise. Whether you're evaluating a new opportunity, working through a difficult decision, or simply need another perspective, our team is only a phone call or email away.

    This ongoing relationship allows us to provide advice that's informed by context, not assumptions.

  • Member-Only Strategic Projects

    Some business decisions require more than a conversation. They require focused project work.

    Elite members have exclusive access to strategic projects such as grant writing, succession planning, business planning, strategic growth planning, and other specialized initiatives. Because these engagements build on an existing relationship, our team is able to provide recommendations that are informed by a deep understanding of each business rather than a single introductory meeting.

    Strategic projects are scoped and quoted separately based on the needs and complexity of each engagement.

  • Financial Planning Tools

    Better decisions start with better information. Elite members receive access to budgeting and forecasting tools powered by Figured, helping them understand the financial performance of their operation, evaluate different scenarios, and plan with greater confidence.

    When paired with ongoing strategic guidance, these tools help transform financial information into practical business decisions.

  • Annual Elite Retreat

    Elite members receive preferred pricing for the annual Elite Retreat, where business owners from across the country gather for several days of focused strategy, learning, and relationship building.

    The retreat provides an opportunity to step away from the demands of your operation, invest intentionally in the future of your business, and strengthen relationships with fellow members and the Empire Ag team.

Who This Is For

Elite Membership is designed for rural business owners who are ready for more than education. They're looking for ongoing strategic partnership, meaningful accountability, and a trusted team that understands both agriculture and business. They recognize that the best decisions are made through consistent conversations rather than isolated meetings.

Most Elite members have already spent time inside the Empire Ag ecosystem and are ready to move from community and education into a deeper strategic relationship with our team.

How It Works

  • Annual Membership

    Elite Membership is built around an ongoing relationship, not a one-time project.

    Throughout the year, members receive direct access to the Empire Ag Strategy team through quarterly planning sessions, weekly community calls, concierge support, and practical business tools designed to strengthen their operations over time.

  • Invitation-Only Enrollment

    Elite Membership is intentionally limited. Rather than accepting direct enrollment, we invite members to move into Elite after getting to know them through another Empire Ag membership. This allows both our team and prospective members to determine whether the partnership is the right fit before making a long-term commitment.

    Invitation periods are offered several times throughout the year for eligible members.

  • Built for Long-Term Partnership

    We believe the best strategic decisions are made in the context of an ongoing relationship, not a single meeting.

    By working alongside our members over time, we're able to provide guidance that's informed by trust, context, and a deep understanding of each business. That allows us to move beyond solving today's challenges and focus on helping build healthier businesses that strengthen families, create opportunity, and support thriving rural communities.

“The Empire Ag Elite Program isn’t just about spreadsheets and strategy. We look at the whole picture—mental health, physical health, business health. Because if we’re not checking everything under the hood, we can’t honestly say we’re setting ourselves up for financial success.

We have to evaluate our relationships. We have to make sure we’re being good humans, good dads, good partners. We’ve got to be honest about our books and willing to do the work.

Every part of your life impacts how you run your operation. This program is about making sure it all gets stronger—so you don’t just survive, you lead.

If you’re ready to dig in, ask better questions, and build something that actually lasts, we’ve got a seat for you.”

— Jonathon Haralson

  • Lucas Criswell, Pennsylvania

    As an Elite member, I’ve really enjoyed working with Jonathon. He has a down-to-earth personality and explains things in a way that actually makes sense—no jargon, just straight talk. I’m working with Jonathon on marketing, business growth, and expansion planning, and we’re just starting with Figured this year. Whether it’s financial strategy or big-picture decisions, I never feel like there’s a dumb question with him. Jonathon might be 10 years younger than me, but he communicates like he’s got 10 years more experience. His insight and practical approach have been invaluable to my business.

  • Jordan Morris, Iowa

    I’m a first-generation farmer who started with nothing—just one pig barn. During the past 11 years, I’ve built my operation from the ground up expanding into a custom feedlot. I’ve done in a decade what most do in a lifetime. But I hit a point where my vision outgrew my banker’s mindset. That’s where Jonathon and Empire Ag changed everything. They’ve kept my vision alive and refueled my path. I’ve dealt with a lot of bankers who don’t understand the reality of agriculture—who won’t let you have a bad year, month, or even a week. No bank around me has experience with a custom feedlot operation. They don’t understand the cash flow. Jonathon does. With him, it’s not just about numbers on a spreadsheet. He helps me align my business, my books, my cash flow, and my vision to create the life that works for my family. When I go to the bank wanting to invest in an asset, the answer is always “no.” With Jonathon, we take a deeper dive—he helps me identify the root cause of financial challenges and align everything to fix it. Because of Empire Ag, my bookwork is clean, my business is stronger, and my mental health is a priority. Jonathon doesn’t just understand how the business works—he understands how to keep my vision going.

Your Path to Elite Starts Here

Elite Membership is designed for business owners who are ready for a deeper strategic partnership with Empire Ag. Enrollment is by invitation only and begins inside one of our membership communities. As we get to know your business, your goals, and the challenges you're working through, we'll help determine whether Elite is the right next step.

If you're ready to begin that journey, start by exploring the Empire Ag membership that's right for you today.

Explore Other Memberships

FAQs

  • How do I become an Elite member?

    Elite Membership is available by invitation only. To be eligible, you must first be an active member of another Empire Ag membership tier. During select enrollment periods throughout the year, eligible members are invited to explore whether Elite is the right next step for their business.

  • Can I join Elite Membership directly?

    No. We intentionally build strategic relationships over time. Beginning in another Empire Ag membership allows both you and our team to develop the context and trust that make a long-term strategic partnership successful.

  • What is included with my membership?

    Elite Membership includes quarterly strategy sessions, weekly community calls, concierge strategy support, access to financial planning tools, and the opportunity to attend the annual Elite Retreat at a preferred member rate. Members also receive exclusive access to additional strategic project work as their business needs evolve.

  • Are grant writing and succession planning included in my membership?

    Strategic projects such as grant writing, succession planning, business planning, and growth planning are available exclusively to Elite members but are not included in the annual membership fee. Each project is scoped and quoted individually based on the needs of the business.

  • When do invitation periods open?

    Invitation periods are offered several times throughout the year. Eligible members will receive additional information directly from the Empire Ag team when enrollment opens.

  • Why is Elite Membership invitation only?

    We believe the best strategic partnerships are built on relationships. By getting to know business owners through another Empire Ag membership first, we're able to provide more meaningful guidance that's informed by context, trust, and a shared understanding of their long-term goals.