Partners in agriculture, business managers, producers, farm homemakers, absentee landlords, and helpers are encouraged to attend the Women Managing the Farm Conference Feb. 5-6 in Wichita.
Kristy Archuleta, Kansas State University faculty member, financial educator, and conference coordinator said the conference is intended for women who are involved in agriculture.
While more women are choosing agriculture as a career, women also sometimes land in agribusiness unexpectedly, by marriage or a change in responsibilities in managing a family farm or agribusiness, she said.
This year, the conference schedule includes five keynote speakers:
Ellie Kay, a military spouse, is currently based in Palmdale, Calif. She is an author, corporate educator and spokesperson, and mother of seven who worked to eliminate $40,000 in consumer debt in 2.5 years. She is founder of the Shop, Save, and Share Seminars, now lives debt-free, and will share her financial management tips in her presentation.
Roger A. McEowen is the Leonard Dolezal Professor in Agricultural Law at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he is also the director of the ISU Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation. Prior to accepting the position in Iowa in 2004, McEowen was an associate professor of agricultural law and an Extension specialist in agricultural law and policy at Kansas State University.
Dr. Tana Goering is a physician practicing in Wichita. Her practice includes obstetrical care, and focuses on family care and health education. Goering also is now working with KPTS Channel 8 and BIG TV to produce “On Call with Dr. Tana,” a weekly, 30-minute health program.
Shannon Ferrell is an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, where he serves as Extension agricultural law specialist and teaches a course on agricultural law. Ferrell earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics and a law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Oklahoma and specialized in agricultural, environmental, and commercial law before joining the faculty at Oklahoma State.
Kyle Bauer is general manager of KFRM 550 AM radio. In leading one of the nation’s largest farm radio signals, Bauer believes “everyone has a story.” For the conference, he will share agriculture stories and offer tips for attendees in sharing their story.
In addition to the keynotes, conference attendees can attend breakout sessions on a wide range of topics, Archuleta said. Examples include estate-planning, trusts, water rights, farm safety, beef quality assurance, and soil and crop rotation.
The cost to attend the two-day conference is $99 per person, if registration is received before Jan. 25, or $120, if received after Jan. 25. Single-day registrations are available for Feb. 5, $85 before Jan. 25, and $105 after. Feb. 6 $75 before Jan. 25, and $95 after. Registration and more information is available at www.womenmanagingthefarm.info For questions about registration, call (320) 224-0154 or e-mail wmf@ksu.edu.