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Iowa ag women set annual conference

By Staff | Jul 11, 2016

ANKENY – Sharing Solutions is the theme of the 10th annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference set from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. July 26 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

The Conference will offer opportunities for valuable take-aways on an array of current farm challenges – marketing strategies for low commodity prices, financial risk management, transition hurdles, high cash rental rates, and bootstraps for beginning farmers.

Karey Claghorn, chief executive officer of the Iowa Soybean Association, and former Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will kick it off with a presentation titled, Navigating the New Normal: the 2017 Ag Outlook.

Leslie Miller, vice-president of Iowa State Savings Bank, in Knoxville, will follow up talking about fine-tuning farm finances.

The luncheon speaker, April Hemmes, a United Soybean Board director, and former Iowa Women in Agriculture president, will entertain and encourage women to seek out leadership roles in agriculture.

Other elements of the conference include;

  • Wired to Win: Highlightng digital data usage, making ag technology pay, and new rules for UAVs. Terry Johnston, HTS Ag, and Dennis Bogaards, Flying Ag, will offer advice on the latest information available.
  • Meeting Marketing Challenges with Angie Setzer, Citizens LLC, in Algona.
  • Get Ready for New Livestock Antibiotic Rules with Niesha Muller, Elanco Animal Health, and Amber Knudsen, Purina Animal Nutrition.
  • Agronomy, Conservation, and Leases: A Natural Fit with Angie Rieck-Hinz, Iowa State University Extension.
  • Ag Forum Q & A on Transition Tight Wires. Non-family successors, off-farm heirs, and expansion growing pains will be explored by a panel featuring Dr. Neil Hamilton, director of the Drake University Agricultural Law Center; and Northwood, Iowa farmers Al Johnson and Brent Keene.

Tour set

Participants also have a unique pre-conference opportunity to attend a water quality tour on from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., July 25, hosted by Jamie Benning, ISU water quality program manager, and Madeline Schultz, Women in Agriculture program manager at ISU Extension.

The motor coach tour will feature innovative urban and rural water-quality improvement demonstrations. The tour begins at the Courtyard by Marriott, 2405 SE Creekview Dr., Ankeny.

A wine and cheese welcome networking reception will be held on from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. July 25 at Courtyard by Marriott Ankeny.

Nicole Jonas from Red Granite Farm, near Boone, will share the story of how she and her husband, Steve, traded in conventional agriculture backgrounds to launch a diverse operation of produce and eggs, and shrubs and perennial flowers.

Early-bird Conference registration is $50 before July 18. After July 18, the Conference registration cost is $70.

Conference registration includes the water quality tour, evening welcome networking reception, continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks. (No refunds.)

On-site registration runs from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. July 26.

Early bird registration before July 18 is required for those attending the Water Quality Pre-Conference Tour.

For questions about the water quality tour, contact Madeline Schultz at (515) 294-0588.

All early-bird paid Conference registrants are eligible to win a free mini i-pad.

The premier sponsor of the 2016 Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference is Farm Credit Services of America. Other sponsors include the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa State University Extension, Women in Agriculture Program.

For more Conference information, contact IWIA president Cheryl Tevis at (515) 353-4425 or visit www.iowawomeninag.org for a full conference agenda and registration details.