Mark July 26 for the Iowa Women in Agriculture Annual Conference
“Sharing Solutions” is the theme of the 10th annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on July 26. The Conference will offer opportunities for valuable take-aways on an array of current farm challenges: marketing strategies for low commodity prices, financial risk management, transition hurdles, high cash rental rates, and bootstraps for beginning farmers.
The one-day Conference runs from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Karey Claghorn, CEO of the Iowa Soybean Association, and former Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will kick it off with “Navigating the New Normal: the 2017 Ag Outlook”.
Leslie Miller, vice-president of Iowa State Savings Bank, Knoxville, will follow up on Claghorn’s keynote with “Fine Tune Your Farm Finances: What your lender expects in 2017”. Luncheon speaker April Hemmes, United Soybean Board director, and former Iowa Women in Agriculture president, will entertain and encourage women to seek out leadership roles in agriculture.
“Wired to Win” will highlight utilizing digital data, making ag technology pay, and new rules on the horizon for UAVs. Terry Johnston, HTS Ag and Dennis Bogaards, Flying Ag will offer advice on the latest information available.
Scheduled workshops and presenters include:
Meeting Marketing Challenges; Angie Setzer, Citizens LLC, Algona, Iowa
Get Ready for New Livestock Antibiotic Rules; Niesha Muller, Elanco Animal Health and Amber Knudsen, Purina Animal Nutrition
Agronomy, Conservation, and Leases: A Natural Fit Angie Rieck-Hinz, ISU Extension.
The conference will conclude with an Ag Forum Q & A on Transition Tight Wires. Non-family successors, off-farm heirs, and expansion growing pains will be explored by a panel featuring Dr. Neil Hamilton, director, Drake University Agricultural Law Center; and Northwood, Iowa farmers Al Johnson and Brent Keene
Participants also have a unique pre-conference opportunity to attend a Water Quality Tour Monday, July 25, hosted by Jamie Benning, ISU Water Quality Program Manager and Madeline Schultz, Women in Agriculture Program Manager at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The motor coach tour, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., will feature innovative urban and rural water-quality improvement demonstrations. The tour begins at the Courtyard by Marriott Ankeny, 2405 SE Creekview Dr., Ankeny, IA.
A wine and cheese welcome networking reception will be held on Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott Ankeny. Nicole Jonas from Red Granite Farm near Boone will share the story of how she and her husband Steve traded in conventional agriculture backgrounds to launch a diverse operation of produce and eggs, and shrubs and perennial flowers.
Conference registration includes the water quality tour, evening welcome networking reception, continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks. (No refunds.) On-site registration runs from 7:15 a.m. - 8 a.m. on the day of the conference.
Early bird registration before July 18 is required for those attending the Water Quality Pre-Conference Tour. For questions about the water quality tour, contact Madeline Schultz at 515-294-0588.
The premier sponsor of the 2016 Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference is Farm Credit Services of America. Other sponsors include the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Women in Agriculture Program.
For more Conference information, contact IWIA president Cheryl Tevis at 515/353-4425 or visit our web site www.iowawomeninag.org for a full conference agenda and registration details.
