An Ag Women's Day is being held June 15 at the Swiftel Center in Brookings, S.D.

"This program is designed to educate and inform farm women on a wide variety of production and management topics," says Gail Gullickson, state outreach coordinator and farm loan officer with the USDA Farm Service Agency.

"Attendees can share the day with other women engaged in agriculture and gain valuable knowledge to help improve their own farming operations."

The event begins at 9 a.m. with a presentation by Jerry Nelson, known for his "Dear County Agent Guy" routine. Gullickson says Nelson's humorous reflections about growing up on the farm will help to set the tone for the conference.

Patty DeZeeuw, of D&D Crop Insurance, Brookings, S.D., will share information about basic insurance protection for the farm "from the ground up."

Heather Gessner, McCook County, S.D., Extension Marketing /Farm Business Management Educator, will cover estate planning and transitioning family operation.

At noon, Brookings County, S.D., Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator Laurie Tangen will share some summer grilling tips. Lunch will be served, and then the Brookings County Extension Master Gardeners will host several breakout sessions that will result in a project to take home.

Gullickson will give participants information on what they need to know about the Farm Service Agency, with a presentation from FSA representative Mary Held on the basics of agricultural record keeping. The day concludes with a tour of South Dakota State University's McCrory Gardens.  

Registration is requested on or before June 1 and costs $5. To register, send payment and name, address, and telephone number to the Brookings County Extension office, 826 32nd Ave., Suite 101, Brookings, SD 57006-4715.

For other information about the event, call Brookings County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator Laurie Tangen at 605-696-8280, or Gail Gullickson, state outreach coordinator and farm loan officer with the USDA's Farm Service Agency at 605-692-8003.

The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service and USDA's Farm Service Agency are hosting the event.

Source: SDSU AgBio Communications