December 6, 2007

Conference to sow seeds of laughter, teach ag profitability

Both Burkhart and Mason will be featured presenters at the 2008 Midwest Women in Agriculture conference on Feb. 20-21 at the Holiday Inn in Columbus, Ind. The conference is sponsored by the Women in Agriculture team of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.

Burkhart, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and author, started her life on a southern Indiana farm. In 2006 she authored "An Accidental Pioneer: A Farm Girl's Drive to the Finish," which will be the basis for her keynote presentation about her experiences along the path from the barnyard to the boardroom.

Mason's capnote address, "Sowing the Seeds of Laughter," will draw from his background and life experiences as a small farm owner, professional speaker and entertainer.

"We want to make sure that the women who attend the conference learn a lot, but that they laugh a lot as well, and we feel that our keynote speakers will be able to integrate a lot of humor and insight as they talk about their own life experiences," said Purdue Extension educator Kelly Easterday.

The conference, entering its seventh consecutive year, is designed to cater to women by addressing the parts of agricultural life that matter most to them: personal, family and farm issues that affect their lives, families and farm businesses.

"Our goal each year is to create an environment where women feel comfortable learning and asking questions," Easterday said. "We want them to have fun and to do a lot of networking with women who have similar lives and interests."

While at the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to choose one topic during each of the five sessions that best pertains to their interests and farming operations.

Participants also will be able to construct a business plan to take back to their own farms to help benefit their operations.

"Hopefully after attending, these women will be able to take what they have learned and implement some new ideas that will make their operations more profitable," Easterday said. "Past conference participants have told us that their overall knowledge of agriculture and awareness of current issues has increased, that they're doing a better job managing farm books, cash flow and property and that they are much more motivated to become politically involved."

Attendees may participate in either day, or both. Those who register early (before Feb. 1) may attend each day for $65 per day, or $75 for both days. After Feb. 1, registration will be $100 per day or $125 for both days.

A registration form is available online at https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/wia.

For more information or to request a printed copy of the registration form, contact Easterday at (574) 372-2340, keasterday@purdue.edu.

Writer: Jennifer Stewart Cummins, (765) 494-6682, cumminsjs@purdue.edu

Source: Kelly Easterday, (574) 372-2340, keasterday@purdue.edu

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