Women’s farm conference marks milestone 

An annual conference to help women farm managers is reaching a milestone when it convenes in mid-February. 

The 20th Women Managing the Farm Conference is set for Feb. 14 to 16, at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Manhattan, Kansas. The conference began in 2005 with the early years being in Wichita but since has transitioned to Manhattan and features speakers, breakout sessions and an opportunity for women to network with other farmers, rural business leaders and landowners. 

Keynote presentations will be given by comedian Mark Mayfield, inspirational speaker Kim Bremmer and Terrain economist Matt Roberts. Attendees will also hear from a Master Farmers and Homemakers panel. 

LaVell Winsor, a farm financial analyst at Kansas State University, has been helping to plan the conference for about 13 years and it has been rewarding to watch how the conference has grown. 

“There has been a lot of women who have attended and they thrive in an environment where they are together and can learn together. It’s really becoming a nice bonding experience for the attendees.” 

Winsor said about half of the attendees are new. Attendees come from various backgrounds but generally are from the professional sector, agricultural backgrounds, producers themselves, they take care of the operation’s books, or are absentee landowners. 

Breakout sessions are designed to benefit all categories and she said they can help attendees whether they have limited knowledge or an extensive background. 

“Most of the women who are attending they’re definitely there to gain more knowledge and then also to find women in similar situations to themselves,” Winsor said. “There’s been a lot of professional relationships that have been built through this conference and we know they stay connected in-between the conferences.” 

Agriculture is an industry that continues to change and evolve, she said. A rural conference can share information and discuss new programs that can be helpful. Learning together means addressing matters of importance regardless of experience. 

Farming and ranching can be a lonely enterprise and Windsor said the conference has brought together mothers and daughters and small groups from the same community and in turn that can help lend support to each other. What has been encouraging is those participants can go back to their communities and serve as a resource for others. 

Jill Seiler, a member of the planning committee and a digital marketing consultant with American Ag Credit, said the curriculum team set a goal to provide opportunities for women to take home actionable resources and strategies that are practical for their operation. 

“Whether it is with managing mental health, stress or change on the farm we have a keynote speaker and pre-conference sessions that cover these topics as well as breakout sessions,” Seiler said. “We can really dive into those subjects and I think that’s something that we have seen in agriculture and in rural America that in the last five to 10 years.” 

By learning more about managing a farm in a conference setting, for example, it does help because rural communities are often in expansive areas and that can make men and women managers feel lonely, she said. “Giving them resources to help them manage the farm, whether it’s financial resources, understanding your farm’s profitability, or how to retain talent and manage people because we all know that labor sources are increasingly shrinking in rural America.” 

Winsor said what has made the Women Managing the Farm Conference unique in her eyes is it stresses network sessions and there is always room for new people who add perspective. This year is an opportunity to split into smaller segments and participants can share commonalities with each other. 

Seiler said the conference has a theme of “Rise” to build on the 20th year commemoration. The conference raises the bar because participants are growing and learning together and that leads to improving farm operations. 

“We know that the number of women who are producers has increased over the past 20 years, and we’re excited to walk along with them and provide them resources and opportunities to learn more about managing their farm,” she said. “In general, just being able to come together once a year and make those connections that last throughout the year is really important.” 

Winsor and Seiler encourage attendees to take part in six pre-conference tours in The Sunflower State Showcase. In partnership with local K-State Extension units, attendees can ride a bus from their corner of the state and stop at pre-selected locations on their way to Manhattan. They said the Kansas agritourism and tourism entities are working together to provide a fun and memorable experience for attendees. A social gathering to celebrate the 20-year milestone is planned for 5:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Flint Hills Discovery Center.  

Early registration runs through Jan. 15, at $175 with scholarships available to those who apply before that deadline. A student rate of $75 for any high school or college student will also be offered. After Jan. 15, registration is $200. Additional pre-conference sessions are available for $25, including a session on emotional wellness and pre-conference tours. 

For additional information and to see an agenda, visit http://womenmanagingthefarm.com/ 

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].