Women in Ag Conference

Learn from ag industry leaders and experts on topics relevant to women in agriculture.

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Engaging Minds, Igniting Conversations

Join us for an inspiring event that will educate, entertain, and provide opportunities to connect with other women from across the region.

The 2024 conference explores the power of communication with our family, friends, and communities for improved productivity and happiness in all facets of our lives as women in agriculture.

Registration is now closed.

Date

Friday, March 22, 2024

Location

Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort
1415 Grand Falls Blvd.
Larchwood, IA 51241
712-777-7777

A block of hotel rooms is available under Farm Credit Services of America.

Time

Registration: 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Conference: 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Optional Social Hour: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Meal will be provided.

Agenda

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. – Registration

9:30 - 9:45 a.m. – Conference Kickoff

9:45 - 10:45 a.m. – Discussing the Undiscussabull™, presented by Elaine Froese

Her superpower is helping families find harmony through understanding. Her expertise is discussing the Undiscussabull™ – the bull in the middle of the farm family that no one wants to talk about. Elaine will be sharing simple, practical, and actionable tools you can bring back to your operation. Expect to be WOWed and start courageous conversations to address conflict resolution.

10:45 - 11:00 a.m. – Transition to Breakout Sessions

11:00 - 12:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions

1. Building Your Annual Financials, presented by Laurie Johnson and Erin Yost
Knowing how to build your balance sheet, profit and loss projection, and cost of production are foundational for understanding the health of your operation. In this breakout session, you will review these different types of financial statements and practice building meaningful financial metrics to evaluate if your operation is on track to meet your goals. Creating sound financials is the first step to having meaningful conversations about where your operation is headed.

2. Finding Balance, presented by Linda Emanuel, AgriSafe
Women in agriculture have always known the significant role they play in the work, business, and future of agriculture. Farm culture, communication dynamics and the role in the family and community are just a few unique challenges experienced by the female producer who hustles through her day. Consider this coffee chat conversation an opportunity to hear and learn from women producers as they discuss their own work challenges and their affected roles both in and outside the workplace.

3. Words Matter!
How you say it is five times more important than what you say. Invest 45 minutes to achieve a lifetime of more effective and meaningful communication. Learn how eight skills, a few do's and don'ts, and a little psychology can positively impact your communication style and transform your ability to actively listen. It’s only 45 minutes, what have you got to lose?

12:00 - 12:45 a.m. – Lunch

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Breakout Sessions

1. Igniting Conversations Around Farm and Ranch Financials, presented by Laurie Johnson and Erin Yost
Whether meeting in the boardroom or around the kitchen table, knowing how to discuss farm and ranch financial metrics is a game-changer for your operation and family. This breakout session will focus on unpacking what the key financial metrics are telling you about your operation and how to discuss these with the farm team to better evaluate opportunities and/or challenges the operation is facing.

2. Discovering the Root of your Back Story: Prevention and Understanding of Back Injuries, presented by Linda Emanuel, AgriSafe
Back injuries are one of the most common forms of farm-related injuries. This training will focus on the effects of whole-body vibration, causes and prevention of back injuries/pain, and other important considerations.

3. Improve Conflict Dynamics for Better Risk Management, presented by Elaine Froese 
How powerful would it be for you to uncover your positive conflict behaviors, the destructive ones to let go of, and recognize your hot button triggers? Elaine will outline five key positive behaviors: creating solutions, expressing emotions, reaching out, adapting, and taking perspective so you can get better at conflict resolution as a business risk management skill. Many folks are struggling with managing transition conflict and unrealistic expectations of roles. This session provides language for navigating the in-law factor expectations, succession tension and understanding the questions needed to get clarity for better conflict resolution. Come prepared to unpack the issues you need to address. As a follow-up to this session, participants will have access to the Conflict Dynamic Profile guide, a tool to give clear awareness to farmers, ranchers and risk-takers who want to understand key questions to get better at resolving conflict. If you’d like to complete the online assessment before the conference, you can purchase it at elainefroese.com/shop.

2:00 – 2:15 p.m. – Break

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. – Producer Panel
Farm Credit Services of America producers will share their authentic stories.

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – NEW! Social Hour (Optional), Sponsored by AgDirect®
Ignite your own conversations and share what you’ve learned at our complimentary social hour!

Presenters

Elaine Froese 

Elaine Froese, CSP

Elaine Froese, CSP – Award-winning Certified Coach and Author
Elaine is Canada’s farm whisperer… finding harmony through understanding.™ She’s go-to expert for farm families who want better communication and conflict resolution to secure a successful farm transition.

Laurie Johnson web 

Laurie Johnson

Laurie Johnson - YB Relationship Officer, Farm Credit Services of America
Laurie grew up on a diversified crop and livestock operation north of Watertown, SD. She and her husband have three kids; raise sheep and cattle; and grow corn, soybeans, and small grain.

Erin Yost web 

Erin Yost

Erin Yost - YB Relationship Officer, Farm Credit Services of America
Erin serves customers in the west central region of South Dakota. She has worked in banking and ag business for the last 14 years. Erin collaborates with young farmers and ranchers to help them improve their financial confidence and prepare their operations for the future. She and her husband, Rodney, have two daughters, Remington and Gentry, and ranch in Buffalo County, SD.

Linda Emanuel 

Linda Emanuel

Linda Emanuel – Community Health Director, AgriSafe
Self-described as rooted in agriculture, Linda brings 37 years of nursing experience to rural American as a Community Health Director. She and her husband Tom manage a row crop farming operation near North Bend, Nebraska, where they’ve welcomed three generations of Emanuels into the family business. As a healthcare professional, Linda follows a “boots on the ground” method when she advocates for rural health and educates farming and ranching families on their unique health and safety needs. She also serves as project lead in five Midwestern states for the Total Farmer Health Coach program, which has a direct focus on mental and behavioral health programming.

Hotel Information

A block of discounted hotel rooms is available under Farm Credit Services of America. Attendees are responsible for purchase. Please contact the Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort to make a reservation.

Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort
1415 Grand Falls Blvd.
Larchwood, IA 51241
712-777-7777

Conference Contact

If you have questions about this event, use the Office Locator to connect with your local office or call 605-362-5218.