Purdue News

February 18, 2000 Ag Innovators conference to cultivate leadership WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Current and future trailblazers in agriculture will gather in West Lafayette on Feb. 25 and 26 for the second annual Ag Innovators Conference. The Friday-Saturday conference at the University Inn is designed to stimulate the leadership potential of agricultural business people, farmers and others whose professions are tied to the agricultural industry. Expert speakers from a variety of backgrounds will discuss topics including goal-setting, management decision-making, agricultural business trends and value-added agriculture. One of the conference highlights is a session featuring specialty grains producer Vance Ehmke of Healy, Kan. He will talk about producers' opportunities to get involved in processing and other value-added enterprises. As a charter board member of a farmer cooperative called the 21st Century Alliance, Ehmke launched ventures in wheat milling, dairy production and dry edible bean processing. The conference's final session, "What Do I Do Monday Morning?" will feature Purdue ag alumnus Kevin Eikenberry, president of the executive training and education firm The Discian Group of Indianapolis. He will help participants develop their own action plans so they can immediately begin putting conference information to use. Registration is $75 for each individual or each couple, according to Donya Lester, executive secretary of the Purdue Ag Alumni Association. "Spouses are not only invited, but they are encouraged to participate," Lester said. "Those who don't have a spouse, but who have a business partner or the equivalent of a spouse, may include them on their registration. There's no extra cost for spouses or partners, and they'll each receive their own set of conference materials." The $75 registration covers all meals, child care, and one night's lodging at the University Inn on U.S. 52 in West Lafayette. The conference cost is being subsidized by the Purdue School of Agriculture and the Ag Alumni Association. For more information or to register, contact Lester at (765) 494 -8593 or via e-mail at dcl@agad.purdue.edu Compiled by Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page