Womens Ag Leadership Conference

To download the program PDF, click here

The 14th Annual

Women's Agricultural Leadership Conference

Agriculture 2012:

"Changing the Face of Agriculture"

Wednesday April 11th, 2012

At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, Minnesota

Agricultural leadership conference focused on the integral roles women play in agriculture; offering session on leadership, current events and issues in agriculture and skill-building opportunities.

8 -8:40 a.m. Registration, Networking

8:45 Welcome - Chelsea Vilchis, Minnesota FFA Association State Reporter

9 a.m. General Session - Changing the Face of Agriculture Panel Discussion

Betty Berning, Senior Buyer - Dairy, General Mills

Sangeetha Gummadi, Soil Conservationist, USDA NRCS Wright County, Minnesota
Pakou Hang, Executive Director, Hmong American Farmers Association

Kristin Weeks Duncanson, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council Chair & Owner/Partner Duncanson Growers

9:40 Roundtable discussion by conference participants on "Changing the Face of Agriculture" based on what the panellists discussed.

10 a.m. report back by tables

10:10 a.m. wrap up discussion

10:10-10:25 Break

10:30-11:15 a.m. Changing the Face of Agriculture mini-sessions - roundtables on different topics

Find out about issues, ideas and the next big thing on a wide range of topics. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in up to four mini-sessions.

There will be multiple sessions going on in the room simultaneously which will create substantial energy. Mini-sessions include: Common Ground; Eating for Equity; Minnesota Ag In the Classroom; FFA presentations; agricultural issues and much more

11:20-12:10 Breakout Session I

Sarah Dornink is originally from a sheep and swine farm in southeast Minnesota, but currently resides in St. Paul. She is employed as the Community Program Assistant for the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC), a government appointed organization that advocates and promotes agricultural education in the state of Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in Agricultural Education from the University of Minnesota. Dornink is currently serving as President of the Minnesota Agri-Women.

Dave Frederickson was appointed to the position of Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in January 2011. Frederickson's family roots in farming go back to 1873, and he and his wife, Kay operated a farm in Murdock for more than 20 years.
Commissioner Frederickson's farm background and his wide range of experience in public service have given him unique insights into the challenges facing Minnesota's agricultural industry.

12:15-1:10         Lunch

                        Welcome Sue Kruger, President, Minnesota Agri-Women

Remarks Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Dave Frederickson

9th Annual Agricultural Mentoring Awards recipients of this award honoring outstanding mentors in agriculture will be recognized during lunch hosted by Sarah Dornink, Past President Minnesota Agri-Women, awards presented by Commissioner Frederickson.

1:15-1:30           Speed Networking

1:40-2:30 p.m.   Breakout Session II

2:35-2:50 p.m.   Break and Networking

2:55-3:45 p.m. Breakout Session III

3:50 p.m.          Depart- Thank you for joining us!

Breakout Sessions

1)     Getting Agriculture off the Endangered List: one FFA chapter's efforts and insights into educating about agriculture - Natasha Mortenson, Morris Area FFA Advisor along with Kaitlin Van Horn, Jake Moser, Brooke Wente, and Tom Holland Morris Area FFA members

2)     Immigrant Women in Minnesota Agriculture - David Krueger, Associate Vice-President, AgStar Financial Services; Becky Balk, Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Ly Vang, Executive Director, Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in MN; Pakou Hang, Executive Director, Hmong American Farmers Association

3)     Changing the Face of Agriculture? - The New Farm Bill - Matt Wohlman, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

4)     How to be Outrageous: Speed Version - Peg Lonnquist, Director, University of Minnesota Women's Center

5)     Advocating for Agriculture/Grassroots Advocacy - Eunice Biel, Dairy Farmer Harmony, MN

6)     The New Urban Agriculture - Paula Westmorland - owner Ecological Gardens and co-founder of the Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate (PRI).

7)     Agriculture + Advocacy = Agvocacy - Emily Zweber, Executive Director, AgChat Foundation

8)     A Full Circle: Walking Alongside Maasai Women of Tanzania: agriculture and much more - Deb Pangerl, Executive Director, The IMAGE project and author

9)     Chocolate, Broccoli and Other Foods to Live By - Jodie Skolnick, MBA, DTR

Visit www.womensagleadership.org for more information or to register

Registration:

Includes a day filled with terrific sessions and networking, plus - breakfast, lunch and two breaks

$15 students by April 2 and $20 after April 2.

$30 non-student first time attendees and $40 after April 2

$30 Agri-Women members by April 2, and $40 after April 2

$45 regular rate by April 2, and $55 after April 2

FFA advisors scholarships are available for the conference contact Doris Mold, 612-414-7574 for more information.

Thank you to our 2012 Agricultural Leadership Conference sponsors:

Agricultural Computing and Consulting

AgStar Financial Services, ACA

Anglo-American Garden Products

Center for Rural Policy and Development

District 11 Agri-Women

Farm Fresh Designs

Fresh Flower Designs

John Deere

Minnesota Agri-Women

Minnesota Corn Growers

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Minnesota Farm Service Agency, USDA

Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation

Minnesota Farmers Union

Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council

Doris Mold Agricultural Consulting

Sunrise Agricultural Associates, LLC

United FCS

University of Minnesota Collegiate Agri-Women

To see past program brochures, click here.

Our History

The Women's Ag Leadership Conference started in 1999 under the banner of the A2k Conference Series, meaning 'Agriculture Going Into the 21st Century'. Over the years it has become a leading networking resource for women in agriculture.