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Indiana women heading to Plymouth for 8th gathering

By NANCY VORIS
Indiana Correspondent

PLYMOUTH, Ind. — The eighth annual Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference returns to Swan Lake Resort on Feb. 4-5, bringing some brain-tickling speakers and topics to Indiana’s dreary winter.

“New this year is a special track of sessions focused on the new generation of agriculture producers,” said Stacy Herr, conference chair. “From ethanol to wine, agriculture has many faces and these sessions will highlight how producers of today and tomorrow are working to build a unique role for themselves in the agriculture industry.”

The mission of this conference is to assist women in agriculture by addressing the personal, family and farm issues that affect their lives, their families and their farm businesses. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Feb. 4, with opening welcome at 10:30 a.m. The conference ends at 3 p.m. Feb. 5.

Three high-powered keynote speakers will entertain and motivate women in agriculture to appreciate their role in the industry. Michelle Payn-Knoper hopes to inspire attendees to “fight back” for the future of agriculture and celebrate rural America in the opening session.

Part activist and part humorist, she’ll use some kickboxing moves and share stories from her life on the farm to emphasize the positives of agriculture. Payn-Knoper will advise how to fight misinformation and uphold truths about the value of agriculture.
At Thursday’s general session, Beth Bechdol will speak on the importance of agricultural trade in today’s economy.

Nan Crockett Valentine will cap the conference with a presentation on using humor to sooth life’s problems. She’ll share her personal story about how she used humor to get her through mental illness, divorce, alcoholism – and even a yearlong case of hives.
Valentine’s work in the field of stress management grew from her desire to help others who struggle.

Attendees can choose from several options for each of five breakout sessions, including a track focused on the new generation of agricultural producers. Topics, led by Purdue University experts (unless noted), include:

•”Margin Risk: Is it Manageable?”
•”Strong Women Stay Strong” – strength training fundamentals
•”Have Idea … Need Cash” – funding a new agricultural enterprise
•”New Generation Agriculture – A Fresh Cut on a Family Tradition” by Nikki Royer, Royer Farm Fresh Meats of Clinton
•Estate planning
•”Preserving Foods with Safety First”
•”Connecting Kids with Cows” dairy farm tours with Amy Kelsay, Kelsay Farms of Whiteland
•”New Generation Agriculture – Foraging Profits” by Dustin Johnson of Frankfort and Jeremy Sweeten of Peru, Ind.
•”Is Professional Farm Management Right for Me?” by Howard Halderman, Halderman Farm Management
•”Going Native with Rain Gardens and Wildlife Habitats” by Nancy Brown, Master Gardener in Elkhart County
•”Basic Steps to a Specialty Foods Start-Up”
•”New Generation Agriculture – Going ‘Greene’ with Sunflowers” by Sawyer Sparkis, BioGreene, LLC of Bloomfield
•Flexible cash rent and farmland leases
•Farm Safety 4 Just Kids, Tammy Eades of Logansport
•Wind Energy
•”New Generation Agriculture – Creating a Trail of Unique Tastes” by Meredith Easley, Easley Winery of Indianapolis
•”Joining Together for a Common Good” by Deb Trocha of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center
•Arthritis and Agriculture
•”Telling Your Story – Public Relations Training for Your Operation” by Liz Woodruff, American Dairy Assoc. of Indiana and Dairy and Nutrition Council
•”New Generation Agriculture – Engaging Generations”

On Wednesday evening, attendees can participate in roundtable discussions, watch a movie, join a water aerobics class, visit the Swan Lake Spa or relax alone.

“We hope our Women in Agriculture family, old and new, will join us as we reunite to network with each other, get rejuvenated and leave motivated for agriculture,” Herr said.
Conference fees before Jan. 16 are $75 for both days or $65 for one day. After that date, costs are $125 for both days and $100 for a single day. Registration and a brochure may be obtained at www.agriculture.purdue.edu/wia or by calling Herr at 765-973-9281 or e-mailing sherr@purdue.edu

Room reservations for Swan Lake Resort are $79 per room per night and must be made by Jan. 20 by calling 800-935-5616. Mention the conference to receive the special rate.

December 31, 2008
1/7/2009