January 27, 2005

Women in ag conference expands to second location

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Farm women have another opportunity to network with their peers and hear about topics important to them thanks to Purdue and Ohio State universities.

Every year farm women gather at the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference, and this year women also have the opportunity to attend a regional meeting in east central Indiana. The regional meeting on March 4 in Centerville will cover topics similar to those at the larger conference.

"Women can attend both events, in fact, I would recommend it," said Stacy Herr, a Purdue Extension educator in Fayette and Wayne counties who is a conference organizer. "The regional meeting is only one day long, and there are different speakers and more networking time at the larger conference."

The meeting runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Centerville Christian Church. Registration fees are $40 prior to Feb. 14 and $50 after that day. All registrations are due by Feb. 25.

Donya Lester, executive secretary of the Purdue Agriculture Alumni Association, will give the keynote address, "Farm Income is an Oxymoron - and Other Things I've Learned from Being a Farm Wife." Lester and her husband operate a specialty grain farm in Montgomery County.

There also will be breakout sessions, including:

• What your banker really needs to know about you.

• Grain marketing.

• Relaxation and stress reduction.

• Passing on the family farm.

• Agricultural outlook 2005.

"There are more and more women involved in their farms, and even taking a leading role," Herr said. "This is a way for them to get together and learn about topics that interest them."

Registration includes lunch and materials. Space is limited. To register, contact the Purdue Extension office in Wayne County at (888) EXT-INFO.

Writer: Kay Hagen, (765) 494-6682, kjh@purdue.edu

Source: Stacy Herr, (765) 825-8502, shankins@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page

To the News Service home page