Saturday, March 9

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Three Paths to Embracing Grassroots Agriculture Advocacy – Megan Richner, Seth Earl, Russ Kohler - Consumer Engagement
Room 213
Join us for an engaging and enlightening workshop, where three passionate advocates will share their unique approaches to grassroots advocacy, each making a meaningful impact in their communities. From agritourism to open farm days and classroom initiatives, this session promises to inspire and equip attendees with actionable ideas to enhance their advocacy efforts through three distinct “paths” to advocacy.

Transfusions R Us: Recruiting New Blood onto Boards – Dr. Ken Culp, III & Kelsey Evans - Leadership
Room 214
Is your county board over-worked and burned out? Do members lack energy, enthusiasm, vitality, drive, and vision? Do you have trouble attracting, recruiting, engaging, or retaining 'new blood' onto your board? Do they continue to conduct the same programs that they’ve done for the last quarter century? This workshop will focus on identifying 10 proven methods for identifying and recruiting new board members and re-energizing your current board. Additionally, participants will gain specific information on transfusing these 10 proven methods into their county Farm Bureau organizations, injecting new blood and energy boards and its programs.

A Will Does Not a Transition Plan Make – Lisa Quist - On the Farm
Room 203
You have gone to your attorney and had your will written. You also have a trust in place. But do you really have everything that's needed to successfully transition your operation to the next generation? Over the next 20 years, 70 percent of farmland will transfer to the next generation. It is estimated only 30 percent will stay as family farms. Ensuring that farming and ranching operations can continue to the next generation has become of paramount importance in rural America. The stakes are high - especially for the incoming generation. In this session, Lisa Quist will talk about the difference between an estate plan and a transition plan.

Tips for Success for the Young Professional – Anne Schwartz & Jackie Mundt - Collegiate/On the Farm
Room 204
Join this panel to hear feedback and advice for young professionals. This session is ideal for those getting ready to enter or have just started their professional career. The panelists have an extremely diverse background and bring a great deal of experience and advice. There will be a few predetermined questions to get things started, but please make sure to bring your questions too to keep the conversation going. 

 

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Empowering YOU to Ignite Agriculture Advocacy – Jason Fellows, Laura Haffner, Ben Menges, Dana Stewart - Consumer Enagement
Room 213
In the world of “influencers” and Insta-perfect lives, do you feel like you’re never enough? In this session, we draw inspiration from the powerful concept of being the one to drive positive transformation in the agricultural landscape, just by making personal changes and embracing the “seemingly ordinary”. We will define your advocacy voice, and identify personal inflection points – those smaller, transformative moments in our own lives. This workshop is tailored for farmers and ranchers who are passionate about making a lasting impact on their families, communities and or industry.

Giving and Receiving Feedback with Confidence – Elizabeth Galbreath - Collegiate/On the Farm
Room 201
“Feedback” can be a scary word to those of us who have gotten some harsh feedback or criticism at a challenging time. However, feedback is the key to personal and professional growth and can be one of the most useful tools we have in order to get better. In this session, learn more about how to make the process of both giving and receiving feedback less intimidating and more effective through tangible steps and tips to use in your relationships at work and at home. Gain confidence and set yourself apart from your peers by having important conversations for everyone’s benefit, including your own.

Building Membership from the Ground Up – Jon Iverson & Jocelyn Anderson - Leadership
Room 203
Membership is the life blood of Farm Bureau but how do you maintain, let alone increase, it? Led by the 2021 YF&R National Committee Chair Jon Iverson (Oregon) and Vice Chair Jocelyn Anderson (California) this interactive session will focus on ideas to attract new YF&R.

Generational Groove: Crafting Workplace Harmony Across Generations – Mercedes Roesch - Collegiate
Room 214
Dive into the dynamic landscape of today's workforce with our interactive workshop on "Generational Groove: Crafting Workplace Harmony Across Generations." In this session, we'll explore the diverse perspectives, values, and communication styles that each generation brings to the table, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z. Unlock helpful tools for fostering collaboration and understanding across generations, as we uncover strategies to leverage the unique strengths of each cohort while navigating potential challenges.

Meeting Minutes 101 – Amy Newton - Leadership
Room 202
Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with the task of drafting accurate yet concise meeting minutes? Fear no more, this session will cover time-saving tips and tricks for effective minute taking. We will discuss best practices for advance preparation (think templates), documenting discussions and committee reports, recording actions, handling corrections and more. You’ll leave feeling excited for your next meeting and ready to show off your newly acquired skills.

Successful Side Businesses to Diversify Farm Income – Reed & Heather Graham, Meggie Gibbs, Jackob Beck - On the Farm
Room 204
We hear “diversification is key” often. But what does that look like? Join YF&R members as they share their journey of diversifying their farming/ranch operations. You’ll hear from farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. and how they’ve changed from doing just traditional ag (row crops, cow/calf, etc.) and added unique/non-traditional ventures (firewood, equipment dealership, vegetables, consulting). This will be an interactive session with comments and questions from the audience welcomed!

 

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Navigating Generational Differences – Elise Cruce - On the Farm
Room 203
Generations aren’t simply separated by years. People divided by generations experience gaps in culture, technology and life experience. These gaps can produce either barriers or opportunities depending on how equipped you are to understand what’s behind them. This workshop will help you better understand generational differences that affect how people approach life, work and volunteering. This workshop will better equip you and your Farm Bureau to appreciate and use the diversity of talents that each generation brings.

Developing Active Members and Volunteers in Rural Communities – Dr. Ken Culp, III & Kelsey Evans - Leadership
Room 214
Developing active members and volunteers in rural communities is very different than in metropolitan areas. Rural communities often fail to recognize resources available to them locally. Recruitment activities successful in one community may be unsuccessful in others. Likewise, members and volunteers in rural communities should be different from the roles in which they serve in larger, metropolitan communities. This workshop will guide participants through exploration, discovery, and identification of local resources and of potential member and volunteer audiences. Additionally, methods of recruiting, motivating, and mobilizing rural volunteers will be identified and practiced.

New Census of Agriculture Data Shows Latest Trends in American Ag – Bryan Combs - On the Farm
Room 213
What's happening in agriculture and rural America? Hear from members of AFBF’s government affairs team in a panel discussion of issue updates regarding Farm Bureau priorities. Learn more about considerations of the next Farm Bill, the latest from the Biden administration, what happened in the first session of the 118th Congress, and what’s to come in the second Congressional session.

Public Policy Hot Topics: What’s Happening In Washington? – Joe Gilson, Emily Buckman, Shelby Hagenauer - Policy
Room 204
What's happening in agriculture and rural America? Hear from members of AFBF’s government affairs team in a panel discussion of issue updates regarding Farm Bureau priorities. Learn more about considerations of the next Farm Bill, the latest from the Biden administration, what happened in the first session of the 118th Congress, and what’s to come in the second Congressional session.

 

Sunday, March 10

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Golden Ticket; Writing A Winning Resume  – Elizabeth Galbreath - Collegiate
Room 213
Your resume may be the first or only impression a company or person may have of you, which means it has the potential to be the gateway or “ticket” to your next professional opportunity. This session will provide you with practical tips on how to describe the value you bring to a team on paper, guide you in self-reflection about your professional experiences so far, and provide you with a recruiter’s perspective on what’s most important in a candidate resume.

Business Basics for Beginning Farmers - Gary Matteson - On the Farm
Room 214
You know that you need to get a better understanding of your farm business finances. This session will show you basic tools for gathering financial information, what records you need and why, and how to make better business decisions based on your data and not your intuition. Plan for the things you want to accomplish, the profit you want to make, and the money you need to spend to make it happen. Understanding the direction you want to go and the essential record keeping you should have will give you a start on developing your own business management system.

Practical Economic Impacts of Policy in the Livestock Industry – John Newton & Bernt Nelson - Policy
Room 204
Join two national policy and economic leaders as they discuss the current state of the livestock industry. Whether you are a long-time rancher or a newcomer in the show ring, policy being made today will have economic impacts tomorrow and the young farmers who are the future of this industry are a critical voice in this discussion.

Getting to the Table – Edie Doane - Consumer Enagement
Room 203
Join us for this session where we'll help you identify community issues that matter to you, learn how to get to tables that will allow you to make a difference and discover how you, specifically, can make an impact in your community and beyond. 

How to Plan a Farm Tour for Legislators – Tom Donnelly - Consumer Enagement
Room 201
In this session, we will delve into the steps to take in organizing an impactful and informative farm tour that allows legislators to connect with their agricultural constituents. From selecting the right dates and coordinating logistics to crafting a compelling itinerary that highlights key agricultural practices and issues, participants will gain valuable insights into creating an immersive and educational experience. 

Flexing the Resilience Muscle – Ben Sand - On the Farm
Room 202
Resilience is critical for long term success, but you are not expected to figure things out alone. In this interactive session, you will have the opportunity to create a list of go-to people to reach out to for both personal and professional support. You will explore the criteria for selecting your support network, learn how to approach people about the opportunity and consider how to maintain valuable connections over time. Whether navigating personal challenges or seeking professional guidance, attendees will leave empowered with a plan for building a support network of trusted individuals to turn to when needed most.

 

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Not a Farmer? Not a Problem! Advocating for Agriculture – Heather Lifsey, Rachel Harman, Eileen Jensen - Consumer Enagement
Room 201
Join us for a dynamic workshop that explores the crucial role non-farmers play in advocating for agriculture. Hosted by three non-traditional advocates with over 30 years of experience, this session is your ticket to uncovering savvy strategies for impactful advocacy, tailored for those who prefer their agriculture with a side of modern flare. Explore how diverse perspectives light up the path to a resilient and sustainable ag industry and discover hacks to crank up the volume on your voice, rallying support for farmers and rural communities. Gear up for a session that's not just about agriculture; it's about revolutionizing the way we advocate, connecting with the heartbeat of modern farming while unveiling the game-changing role non-farmers can play in championing agriculture.

Avoiding the Mistakes of Farm Succession Planning Failures – Ron Hanson - On the Farm
Room 213
Most multi-generation family farming operations start out with the best of intentions for keeping their farm in the family and allowing their adult farming children to gain ownership that continues their farming legacy. But often that never happens. Mistakes in the planning process by families can cause these intended succession plans to fail and derail any hopes of passing on the family farm to the next generation. Often ending a young beginning farmer’s dream of taking over the family farming operation. This session provides young farmers with planning ideas and solution strategies to implement that help prevent succession planning failures to enable farm ownership transition success.

Leadership 101: I'm a Farm Bureau Leader, Now What? – Jon Iverson - Leadership
Room 214
Whether you are newly elected, appointed, have been voluntold or hoping for a leadership position in the future, this session will help you learn what it takes to be a leader. Led by the 2021 YF&R National Committee Chair Jon Iverson, he will share things he has learned from being a Farm Bureau Leader for over a decade.

Be an Ag Literacy Champion in Your Community – Chris Young & Paula Peterson - Consumer Enagement
Room 202
Frustrated with the lack of ag literacy in your own community? Learn how you can be part of the Foundation Outreach Team and a leader within ag literacy. In this session, you will get hands-on experience with the newest resources and tips to engage in ag literacy learning. Hear from an Outreach Team member, help brainstorm new and needed resources, and connect with fellow passionate Farm Bureau members about helping others understand agriculture.

Knowledge You Won't Learn in College – Roger Hall and McKenna Bush - Collegiate
Room 203
Through an interactive mock interview, participants will participate in a live case study discussing the DOs and DONTs of the entire interview process and the power of an effective personal brand. We will have a live interview take place between Roger and one of Texas's Collegiate Farm Bureau Presidents. Participants will pre-screen the candidate's resume and social media profiles prior to the live interview, participate in moderated discussion throughout the interview, and discuss best practices for following up post-interview

Work Life Balance: No, We're Really Not OK! – Jackie Mundt & Jocelyn Anderson - Consumer Enagement
Room 204
Do you feel like you’re constantly juggling responsibilities and can’t seem to keep all the balls in the air? Work, farm, family, volunteer organizations, and you can’t seem to finish your to-do list. This session will remind you that you’re not alone. Join us for a conversation about how to recognize when you’re off-balance and learn some strategies to help with the constant juggle. We promise laughter, encouragement and companionship as we all continue our journeys to find the elusive balance!