Women in Agriculture Seminar is March 23

MOLINE — Are you married to a farmer, or are you a woman working in agriculture? If so, then this conference might be for you! This one-day journey helps to empower woman in agriculture. The keynote speaker, Michele Payn Knoper, CauseMatters.com, will teach women how to lead through the significant changes facing agriculture in the 21st century and leave a legacy. Event-goers can listen to Knoper along with great break-out speakers who all have a mission to empower the women in agriculture on March 23 at the iWireless Center in Moline.

The Women in Agriculture Conference will begin with registration at 8 a.m. followed by Knoper’s keynote address on “Celebrating Agriculture” at 9 a.m. The keynote address will be followed by a wide variety of breakout sessions, including:

• Eileen Fisher, University of Iowa, “Motivating Families to Create Safe Play Areas on Farms”

• Adam Nielsen, national legislative director, Illinois Farm Bureau, “A Woman’s Place is on the Hill”

• Penny Lauritzen, certified financial planner, Farm Financial Strategies, “We Bequeath to You…”

• Cathy Ekstrand, market advisor, Stewart-Peterson Group, “Are you the Gatekeeper to your Farm’s Financial Future?”

• Lori Laughlin, director of issue management, Illinois Farm Bureau, “Connecting Urban Moms with Illinois Farmers”

• Jennifer McGarry, certified public accountant, Winkel, Parker, & Foster, “Managing Farm Finances”

Lunch will be served along with a panel discussion titled, “So You Married a Farmer ... Now What?”

The conference is March 23 at the iWireless Center, 1201 River Drive, Moline, Ill. 61265. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The conference will begin at 9 a.m. and will wrap up around 3 p.m.

The cost of the program will be $50 which will include a breakfast and a luncheon buffet. Registration materials must be received by March 1. Any registrations received after March 1 will be $60. Walk-ins the day of the conference will be $75. To register, contact the Rock Island County Farm Bureau office at 309-736-7432 or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/scott/news/womeninagriculture.

If you need a hotel room, there has been a block of rooms reserved at the Stoney Creek Inn, 101 18th St., Moline. To make your reservation, call 309-743-0101 by Feb. 22 and ask for the Women in Agriculture Conference on March 22.