The 16th annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference will be held on Aug. 4 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny with the theme, “Women Power Up: Countdown to Success.”

The 2022 conference will address an array of ag challenges, offering timely advice as well as networking opportunities. A powerhouse combination of general sessions and workshops, led by a select cadre of speakers, will focus on equipping women with bottom-line tools, including marketing strategies, global trade forecasts, risk management skills, ag advocacy success stories, cover crop, soil health, climate-smart initiatives, tips for ag business beginners, and mentoring advice for ag women. The conference kicks off at 8:15 a.m. Aug. 4 and concludes at 4:45 p.m.

Lisa Schulte Moore, Iowa State University professor of natural resource ecology and management and recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, will be the keynote speaker with her message, “Roots Run Deep!” She’ll highlight her work with farmers through the STRIPS (Science-based trials of row crops integrated with prairie strips) Project, and outline steps for farmers to expand practices to capture soil carbon and boost soil health.

Krysta Harden, the first woman president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, will share her impressive career journey, from growing up on a small Georgia farm to advancing to USDA deputy secretary. Her presentation, “Women Leading the Way for Sustainable Agriculture,” will offer advice for mentoring and supporting women, pursuing opportunities for leadership and influencing sustainability in agriculture.

Angie Treptow, senior vice president, lending operations, Farm Credit Services of America, will do a deep dive into 2022 farm finances, set the stage for lender expectations in 2023 and advise how to position your farm for profitability.

Afternoon breakout sessions

Rena Striegel of Transition Point Business Advisors will present, “Can We Talk? Best Practices for Successful Family Farm Relationships.” Striegel will draw on her experience with difficult family dynamics and generational relationships, lay out communication pathways leading to consensus, and advise on achieving accountability. She’ll also suggest effective tools in situations when women don’t have a seat at the table, and how and where they can exert their influence.

Kristin Stien, broker and grain marketing adviser at ever.ag, will tackle the topic “War, Weather & the World’s Impact on Ag Markets.” Kristin grew up on a family farm and is involved in farm operations with her husband and family near Atkins, Iowa.

Melissa O’Rourke and Beth Hoffman will team up to present “Getting Started: Moving Forward with Your Farm Business.” Hoffman, a journalist and college professor, will tell the story of how she left San Francisco with her husband, John, to create a new vision for his family’s farm in southern Iowa — and how it’s working out after almost three years. Next, O’Rourke, an attorney and Iowa State University Extension farm and agribusiness management specialist, will share basic guidelines of how to establish a framework and formulate strategic working plans for other new or expanding farm business enterprises.

Finally, prepare to learn a lot — and be inspired — by capstone speaker Maggie Holub, who made the difficult decision to return to the family farm near Scribner, Neb., in 2014, after tragedy struck. Today she combines crop farming with a position at Farm Credit Services of America, as well as an entrepreneurial pursuit aimed at encouraging health and wellness for rural women and fostering a greater sense of community.

Conference details

The 2022 IWIA Conference features a complimentary welcome and networking reception on from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at Winterset Cidery, 1638 Highway 169, Winterset.

Participants also will have the opportunity to attend a preconference tour on Aug. 3, hosted by the ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Agriculture Program. In addition to Allendan Seed Co., the Cedar Covered Bridge and the Winterset Cidery, the tour continues south on Highway 69 to Cobett Co., the family-owned and operated cattle waterer business.

Due to COVID concerns, tour participants are asked to provide their own transportation. Route information and addresses will be included in tour registration materials.

Early bird registration is $55 until Aug. 1 and $75 after that date. Registration includes the preconference tour, evening welcome reception, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks. Register online in advance on the IWIA website, by mail, or from 7:15 to 8 a.m. on the day of the conference. A room block has been set up at the Courtyard by Marriott, 2405 SE Creekview Drive, Ankeny; please contact the hotel for a reservation at the conference rate prior to July 13.

For first-time attendees, IWIA is holding a drawing on Aug. 4 to award early bird registration refunds to 10 first-time conference attendees.

Early bird registration is required for those attending the preconference tour. For questions about the tour, contact Madeline Schultz at 515-294-0588.

For conference information, contact IWIA President Cheryl Tevis at 515-353-4425, or visit iowawomeninag for a full conference agenda and registration details.

The premier sponsor of the 2022 Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference is Farm Credit Services of America. Additional sponsors include Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Women in Ag, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and NEW Cooperative.

Source: Iowa Women in Agriculture which is responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren’t responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.