Registration is underway for the Women in Ag Leadership conference that will meet Nov. 27 and 28 at the Scheman Building on Iowa State University’s campus.
The conference is sponsored by Iowa State’s Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Program, which offers activities unique to Iowa, takes advantage of university expertise and supports the community of women in agriculture. The conference is designed for women who wish to be active leaders within their farm families, create an agribusiness career path, or influence local agricultural boards and committees. The event will bring women together for inspiration, informal mentoring, new ideas and expanded skill sets around leadership.
Early registration through midnight on Nov. 22 for the Nov. 28 main conference session is $60 per person. Late or on-site registration is $85 per person. Students with a college/university identification can attend the full-day conference for $30. Registration for the optional Nov. 27 dinner and workshops is an additional $20 per person. A limited number of registration scholarships are available to assist with attending this conference.
The Monday, Nov. 27, evening workshops will focus on specific skill sets for professional and personal development, including “Becoming a Cooperative Board Influencer,” “Discover Your Ag Leadership Strengths” and “Bring Out the Leader in You.”
The main conference will open on Nov. 28 with a keynote address on “Winning in Complex Conversations” and a presentation on “There Are No Glass Ceilings” during a general session from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. During the day, participants can choose to attend three presentations from 11 different topics offered in three concurrent sessions. Topics include the benefits of mentoring, becoming a servant leader, leading through change, mapping a leadership journey, and how to have tough conversations.
Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, will present “Making a Difference through Public Service” during the first concurrent session from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. on Nov. 28.
The conference will also include a lunch with a musical performance and a closing session featuring a panel presentation on “Balancing Roles in the Family, On the Farm, Off the Farm and in the Community” and a capstone address on “How Remarkable Women Lead with Confidence.”