Women in Ag Conference to explore farming issues

Sayde Rayburn

WEST LAFAYETTE — Farm women can stay updated on changes in the industry by attending the 2010 Purdue Women in Agriculture Conference.

The conference takes place Feb. 24 and 25 at the Hilton North in Indianapolis. The conference begins at 10:30 a.m. the first day and 8:30 a.m. the second day. Registration on both days occurs before the conference starts.

"The conference allows women to learn about current issues in agriculture and also provides networking opportunities with other farm women," Margie Zoglmann, educator, Purdue Extension Perry County said.

Participants can choose a topic from among the five workshop sessions to attend. They include:

n Session one topics - Raising poultry, health care for women, the struggle of agriculture today and health insurance information for farmers.

Isabella Chism of Indiana Farm Bureau will speak on the struggle of agriculture today. She will address misconceptions that consumers have about agriculture, misinformation about the agriculture industry and how to become an agriculture advocate.

"This topic will help participants correctly portray information to the non-farm public," Zoglmann said.

n Session two topics - How to successfully communicate with a lender, software decisions, commodity issues and social media opportunities.

Denise Scarborough and Natasha Cox with Farm Credit Services of Mid-America will speak about what lenders and farmers can expect from one another. They also will cover the changes that have occurred in agriculture and with women in agribusinesses in the past 10-20 years.

"These ladies will assist farm women on how to talk to their banker and what is needed to be prepared when they go see their banker. Farmer-banker relations is what this session is going to focus on," Zoglmann said.

n Session three topics - Organic and conventional foods, meals in minutes, agriculture in the media and planning for the unexpected.

"Session three's topic of planning for the unexpected will focus on having a plan and knowing how to carry out the farming operation if something major went wrong," Zoglmann said.

n Session four topics - Rules and regulations of market selling, managing farm records, online social networking and record keeping.

"Social media is a new tool available for telling agriculture's story," Zoglmann said. "If utilized correctly it can be a very beneficial tool."

n Session five topics - Creative marketing, travel, estate planning and basic commodity marketing.

"The commodity session will highlight the basics of commodity marketing, how to market grain products and what to look for in the future," Zoglmann said.

Two keynote speakers also will provide additional insights.

Bruce Vincent, a third-generation logger from Libby, Mont., will address change and leadership.

"Bruce Vincent will be delivering a message about the importance of networking with people outside their own industry and what that can do for the future," Kelly Heckaman, educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County said.

Susie Oberdahlhoff was born and raised in the city and married a farmer, learning the ways of farm life firsthand. She will discuss coping with the everyday life of a farm wife.

"We were happy to have gotten Susie as a speaker," Heckaman said. "Her speech has some humor that will allow the participants to leave on a good note."

Chuck Hibberd, director of Purdue Extension and associate dean of Purdue's College of Agriculture, will speak about the future of Extension as its clientele changes.

Conference registration is due by Feb. 5 and is $90 for both days or $80 for one day. Registration after Feb. 5 is $140 for both days and $115 for one day. A down-loadable registration form is available at the Purdue Women in Ag Team Web site at http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/wia

Checks should be made payable to the Wayne County Education Fund and mailed with the registration form to Midwest Women in Ag Conference, Wayne County Extension Office, 401 E. Main St., Richmond, Ind.

Hotel registration is due by Jan. 24 and is $85 per room. Call 1-800-HILTONS or 317-849-6668 to make reservations. Reservations can be made by following the link on the Women in Ag Team Web site.

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