The 2013 Women Managing the Farm Conference is scheduled for Feb. 7-8 and will be held in Manhattan at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The popular agriculture conference for women will be the eighth in a series. It began as a regional offering before becoming a multi-day conference held in Hutchinson and in recent years in Wichita.
Moving the conference to Manhattan allows greater access to resources at Kansas State University and K-State Research and Extension, said Janet Barrows, who, with Robin Blume, are serving as volunteers for the educational effort.
Moving the conference also provides an opportunity for adding a pre-conference session, which Barrows dubbed “Blue Jean Basics” on Feb. 6. The session is being planned as a less formal introductory and interactive opportunity for participants to learn from K-State crops and livestock specialists.
The conference is recommended for women who are land owners, farm or ranch managers, partners or employees, absentee landlords, or career women engaged in agricultural careers.
Women new to production agriculture – by inheritance or marriage – find the conference to be informative and reassuring, Barrows said. And, while geared to women, spouses and others appreciate conference topics and time to network with women moving into leadership roles in agriculture.
The 2013 edition of the conference promises a full agenda with featured speakers and more than two dozen breakout sessions considering financial risks; human risks; estate planning and legal issues; insurance; production; drought management; social advocacy; retail agriculture and, yes, even farming in the city.
Jolene Brown, a champion for agriculture and consultant for family-owned businesses will blend humor with tips into two conference presentations.
Her topics, “If We Huff and We Puff Will We Blow Your House Down?” and “The Balancing Act: 10 Ideas to Relieve Stress and Bring Renewal to Our Farm and Family Life” promise a realistic look at agriculture and family life in today’s world and offers ideas for moving forward successfully and keeping peace in the family.
The cost to attend the two-day conference is $145 for registrations received by Jan. 23, and $170 for registrations received after Jan. 23. Registration includes conference sessions, materials and packet, two lunches, one breakfast buffet, and refreshment breaks.
More information about the conference and online registration is available at www.womenmanagingthefarm.info.
The conference hotel (Hilton Garden Inn) will offer a limited number of rooms at a conference rate ($104 plus 15.05 percent tax). Reservations can be made online as part of the registration process or by phone at 1-785-532-9116. The conference code is WMFC.
The conference typically attracts more than 200 attendees, and early registration and reservations are recommended, Barrows said.
Conference sponsors and partners include the USDA Farm Service Agency; K-State Research and Extension; Kansas Farm Bureau; Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, which includes Frontier Farm Credit; American AgCredit; Farm Credit of Ness City; High Plains Farm Credit; Farm Credit of Western Kansas, and Farm Credit of Southwest Kansas, Kansas Dairy Commission, Kansas Wheat, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Kansas Agri-Women and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.