Registration is due April 15. Hotel reservations at the lower conference rate are due April 4.
Presented by WSU Extension in cooperation with a number of local and statewide sponsors, the program’s theme is “Cultivating Our Reality” and addresses subjects specifically requested by women working in agriculture, according to Margaret A. Viebrock, WSU Douglas County Extension director.
“The majority of the workshops chosen are a result of input from past participants,” Viebrock said. “Women involved in agriculture in Washington State are part of a growing statistic. The number of women counted as the primary operator of a farm is on the rise. This conference recognizes their role as owner, operator, partner or family member of an agriculture business.”
Elaine Froese is the Keynote speaker for the conference. She is a farmer and farmer’s daughter who has been writing and speaking about life balance and farm issues since 1987.
Her presentation, “Discuss the Undiscussabull,” includes a practical tool kit to help families talk about the challenges involved in running an agricultural business together, such as trust, fairness, work style, retirement, space and ownership.
The conference also features a series of workshops on topics ranging from how to transition to organic production to writing a business plan to immigration reform. A new feature this year are lunchtime Table Topic discussions, opportunities to informally learn from other women’s farming experiences.
Viebrock emphasized the partnerships that support the annual conference. “We could not do this without the help of our sponsors,” she said.
Sponsors include the WSU Western Center for Risk Management Education, the Chelan/Douglas Farm Bureau, COUNTRY Insurance and Financial Services Agent Nancy Jarmin.
