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ACE Summit Agenda |
2024 ACE (Advocate, Cultivate, Empower) Summit
Washington, DC
June 3-5, 2024
**The Holiday Inn Capitol is the host hotel and will host the majority of the general sessions, breakout sessions, meals, and other events. Others will be held in AFBF offices.**
Monday, June 3, 2024
Casual, wear your state WLC gear (if applicable) and/or name badge
4:00 – 6:30 PM Capitol Foyer, Holiday Inn Capitol
Registration
4:30-5:30 PM AFBF Offices-Washington ABC
First Timers Session
First time attending an AFBF Fly-In or ACE Summit and wondering how to best utilize your time? Look no further than the First Timers Session! This session will walk you through the schedule and help you navigate your advocacy journey!
6:00 – 7:30 PM Congressional Ballroom, Holiday Inn Capitol
Welcome Reception
Network and meet fellow ACE Summit attendees and AFBF staff while enjoying light hor d’oeuvres. Attendees will receive one drink ticket.
7:30 – 9:00 PM
Dinner on Your Own
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Encourage Business Casual Attire
8:00 – 8:45 AM
Breakfast on Your Own
9:00 – 10:15 AM Capitol Ballroom, Holiday Inn Capitol
Opening General Session
Featuring: Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Xochtil Torres Small
Remarks from AFBF President, Zippy Duvall
To start the ACE Summit, we will hear from the Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Xochtil Torres Small, as she shares about her role, USDA programs, her leadership journey and the role of women in community and government. She will be introduced by AFBF President Zippy Duvall, after his remarks on the Women’s Leadership Program and Women in Advocacy.
10:30 – 11:45 AM
Breakout Sessions
How to Begin the Advocacy Journey Congressional II, Holiday Inn Capitol
Tom Donnelly, Senior Director, Grassroots Program Development
Whether it is your first time traveling to Washington, D.C., and meeting with your legislators, or you simply need a refresh on where to start in your advocacy journey, this session is for you! This session will help prepare you to advocate at the local level as well as nationally.
Storytelling with Confidence Congressional I, Holiday Inn Capitol
Dee Dee Bass Wilbon, Partner, Bass Public Affairs
We say ‘Tell Your Farm Story’ but how do we do that convincingly and with confidence? In this session, learn how to tell your farm story with a boost of confidence from Dee Dee Bass Wilbon. Her public affairs firm helped run Dr. Ben Carson’s past presidential campaign. She has plenty of stories to tell!
Cultivating Conversations AFBF Offices, Washington ABC
Johnna Miller, Senior Director, Media & Advocacy Training
It can be tough talking about controversial agricultural topics with non-farmers, but it’s necessary. This breakout focuses on building trust and encouraging productive discussion. It will give you the tools to make it easier to tackle those tough topics without being “unfriended” or getting blocked on X (formerly Twitter).
Issues on the Forefront of Politics and Economics AFBF Offices, Jefferson AB
Betty Resnick, Economist, AFBF
Bernt Nelson, Economist, AFBF
Did you know that American Farm Bureau had an economic analysis team? This team produces resources such as Market Intel that provides market and policy insight and analysis for our members. Hear from two of our economists on what they do, and what is currently happening in farm economics nationwide.
12:00 – 1:30 PM Capitol Ballroom, Holiday Inn Capitol
Luncheon Program
Featuring: Women Representatives in Congress
These women have stepped up, raised their hands, run the race…and won! Hear their leadership stories, challenges, successes and how they got involved at the local level.
*Includes plated lunch
1:30 – 1:45 PM
Break
1:45 – 3:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
Pixar Storytelling Congressional I, Holiday Inn Capitol
Cody Lyon, Managing Director, Advocacy & Political Affairs
Storytelling is essential for advocacy and influencing policymakers. In this lesson you’ll learn how
the Pixar Model for storytelling helps deliver your advocacy message.
Transferring a Negative to a Positive AFBF Offices, Washington ABC
Johnna Miller, Senior Director, Media & Advocacy Training
Most citizens, including our lawmakers, are three generations removed from the farm. This makes telling our farm story incredibly difficult, and we often hear negative reactions or triggering words. In this session, learn how to turn the negative around when discussing agriculture and your farm story.
Why Not Me? AFBF Offices, Jefferson AB
Mike Sistak, Director, Advocacy & Political Management
‘Would you like to speak to the man in charge, or the woman who knows what’s going on?’ There is a statistic that says a woman must be asked 7 times to run for office before considering it, but a man will consider it after only being asked one time. If you have thought about running for elected office, being appointed to local office, or serving on boards, this session is for you. Learn about AFBF campaign school, and resources available for you to succeed.
Women in Urban Agriculture Congressional II, Holiday Inn Capitol
Farmer Tiara, Farm Manager & BOD President, Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm
Karma Francis, Chief of Marketing, Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm
Urban agriculture is popping up as urban sprawl continues to hit rural areas. How do we support our urban neighbors in their agriculture journey, while we also continue to fight to keep our rural lands and way of life?
3:15 – 3:30 PM
Break
3:30 – 4:30PM Capitol Ballroom, Holiday Inn Capitol
AFBF Issue Briefing
Farm Bill Update: Ryan Yates
Farm Labor Update: John Walt Boatright
Rural Health Update: Emily Buckman
4:30 – 5:30 PM Capitol Ballroom, Holiday Inn Capitol
Message Development & Hill Training
Cody Lyon, Managing Director, Advocacy & Political Affairs
Tom Donnelly, Senior Director, Grassroots Program Development
Mike Sistak, Director, Advocacy & Political Management
Work with AFBF staff to develop your message and farm story for your meetings with your Senators and Representatives.
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Dinner on Your Own
*We encourage you to plan dinner out with attendees from your region
7:30 – 9:15 PM AFBF Offices, Washington ABC
Ag ConnectHER LIVE
*optional participation
Attendee’s who wish to participate in the recording of the LIVE AG ConnectHER event with LIVE Q&A should arrive to AFBF offices by 7:30 pm. We will begin recording promptly at 8:00pm and will not allow entry after recording has begun.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Encourage Business Professional Attire
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast on Your Own
8:30 – 9:30 AM Capitol Ballroom, Holiday Inn Capitol
Closing General Session
Featuring: Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author & CEO of Something Major, Randi Braun
Remarks from AFBWLC Chair, Isabella Chism
Get ready to take on Capitol Hill as we hear not one, but two dynamic women leaders in our closing general session. AFBWLC Chair, Isabella Chism, will discuss her advocacy journey and why it is important for women to be at the table. Randi Braun will get you fired up to take on Capitol hill with her keynote “Quieting the Inner Critic”. You do not want to miss this closing session!
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Break
9:45 – 10:45 AM
Regional Meet-Ups
Northeast Region Congressional I, Holiday Inn Capitol
Midwest Region Congressional II, Holiday Inn Capitol
Southern Region AFBF Offices, Washington ABC
Western Region AFBF Offices, Jefferson AB
11:00 – 11:15 AM
Break
11:15 – 12:00 PM Capitol Ballroom, Holiday Inn Capitol
Hill Visit Practice
Cody Lyon, Managing Director, Advocacy & Political Affairs
Tom Donnelly, Senior Director, Grassroots Program Development
Mike Sistak, Director, Advocacy & Political Management
Work with AFBF staff to make the most of your time meeting with your senators and representatives.
12:00 – 1:00 PM
To-go Lunch
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Hill Visits
4:00 – 6:00 PM AFBF Offices, Washington ABC
Hill Visit Debrief Reception
After visiting with your Congressional Members, stop by the AFBF offices for snacks and a debrief. We want to hear how your visit went, what follow-up items you have, and what more we can do to increase your relationship with your Member.
*Snacks or appetizers served
