Midwest Women in Ag Conference set for Muncie

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Presentations by Jason Henderson, director of Purdue Extension, and Katie Dilse, a dynamic motivational speaker noted for her work in the agricultural industry, are among the highlights of the 2018 Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference, Feb. 20-22 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.

This year’s agenda is one of the most ambitious in conference history, covering a wide range of timely, critical issues for women in all sectors of the agricultural industry, said Courtney Stierwalt, county director of Purdue Extension-Fountain County and one of the conference organizers.

“Attendees leave the conference with new information and networks that in turn become vital resources for their operations,” Stierwalt said. “It does not matter if you are just starting out or have decades of experience. This conference has something for every participant.”

A pre-conference seminar on Feb. 20, 1-4:30 p.m., will focus on “Risk Management and Diversification for Your Farm Operation.” Topics include grain marketing with tight margins, strategic business planning – growth and diversification, and specialty markets for grain.

Henderson, a nationally recognized expert on agricultural market cycles and rural economic issues, will deliver the keynote presentation, “Positioning Agriculture for Success in the Next Stage of the Cycle,” Feb. 21. Breakout session topics for Feb. 21 include “Living Without a Will in Indiana,” “Opioids and Rural Indiana,” “Empowering Women Through Agriculture Technologies,” “Why Dig Herbs?,” “Small Flock Poultry Basics,” “Caring for the Caregiver,” “The Holistic Farm - Conservation Planning for Your Land,” “Hands-on Tractor and Machinery Program,” and “Using Alternative Feed Ingredients in Livestock Diets.”

Dilse’s presentation, “Life is a Highway … Roll On,” is set for Feb. 22. The day begins with a panel discussion focusing on “Life on the Farm – 2018.” Breakout session topics for the day include “Is an LLC Right for You?,” “Secrets to Aging Successfully – It’s All Greek to Me,” “4-H STEM - Growing Our Youth,” “Setting Up a Livestock Grazing System,” “Income Opportunities from Farm Woodlands, Mindfulness - A Way to Tackle Stress,” “Saving Money With Precision Agriculture,” and “High Tunnels - The Why’s and How’s.”

There will also be numerous opportunities to network with Purdue Extension educators, other participants and presenters from Farm Credit Mid-America, the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Farm Bureau.

The cost for the pre-conference seminar is $30, or $15 with conference registration. For those who register before Feb. 5, cost for one day of the conference is $90 and $100 for both days. After Feb. 5 the cost is $125 and $150.

For more information or to sign up, go to the conference website at https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/WIA/Pages/default.aspx. 

Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-8415, dpack@purdue.edu 

Source: Courtney Stierwalt, 765-793-6240, dickerso@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Darrin Pack, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, dpack@purdue.edu  
Agriculture News Page