By NANCY VORIS
Indiana Correspondent

MONROVIA, Ind. — Sarah Beth Aubrey knows a thing or two about farming and what it takes to keep a family farm in business. Sometimes it means getting out of the day-to-day operation and into the bigger picture.

Aubrey grew up on a farm and said she is first and foremost “a farm girl.” She and her husband, Cary, raise cattle in Morgan County. They love the farm life but have used agriculture as a springboard to careers that help others expand and succeed in their own operations.
As a grant writer and owner of Prosperity Ag & Energy Resources, Aubrey has helped hundreds from 29 states receive grants totaling nearly $50 million, to create or expand ventures on their farms or small businesses.

She is also a Farm World correspondent and has written two books on entrepreneurship and farm business development: Starting and Running Your Own Small Farm Business and The Profitable Hobby Farm: Creating a Sustainable Local Foods Business.

Aubrey will share her experience with other farm women as the keynote speaker for the 10th Annual Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference on Feb. 24-25 at the Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel, 700 W. Riverside Drive in Jeffersonville, Ind.

Her talk, “Born to Fly – The Ups (and Downs) of Being a Farm Woman Entrepreneur,” will be the luncheon address at noon that Thursday. She follows the keynote address with a breakout session on “USDA REAP Energy Grants: What Are They and Tips for Applying.”

The two-day conference is designed to define the woman’s role in making the family farm profitable; strengthen the role of a woman as she deals with the emotional well-being of the farm family; and build a network of support among women in agriculture.

“We hope the ladies gain information in areas that are important to the success of their agriculture enterprises, network with others and leave motivated to return to their farm or agribusiness,” said Purdue University extension educator Elysia Berry, an organizer of the conference.

Twenty educational topics in five breakout sessions will cover topics in farm management and marketing, health and well-being, small farms and niche marketing, “green” livestock operations and agricultural advocacy. Scouting for crop diseases, estate planning, marketing sheep and goats, commodity marketing for beginners, preparing children for the 21st century workforce and managing forest lands are just a few of the sessions.

Also included are two panel discussions. Farm women will discuss how they can find their place in the farm operation, and a panel of agriculture entrepreneurs will look at how a business can move forward.

Marshall Stewart, associate director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, will be the capnote speaker on Friday afternoon with “Spreading the Message … Promoting Your Vision, Your Operation and Our Industry.”

Lunch and dinner on Thursday, as well as lunch on Friday, are included in the registration fee. Before Feb. 7, the fee to attend both days is $90 or $80 to attend just one. After Feb. 7, the cost is $140 for both days or $115 for one.
Registration information is available at local county extension offices or visit its web site at www.agriculture.purdue.edu/wia

Additional information is available at 888-398-4636. Lodging at the Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel is available for the conference rate of $89 per room per night if reservations are made by Feb. 15. Call 800-325-3535 or 812-284-6711 and mention the WIA conference to receive special rates.