"Women Power Up: Countdown to Success" is the theme of the 16th annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on August 4.The 2022 conference will address an array of ag challenges, offering timely advice as well as networking opportunities. A powerhouse combo 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, and climate-smart initiatives* Tips for ag business beginners* Mentoring advice for ag womenThe Conference kicks off at 8:15 a.m., 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 keynote with her message, Roots Run Deep: Cultivating Connections Through Prairie Strips. 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 in her presentation: Ag Lender Outlook.Afternoon breakout sessions include: Rena Striegel 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 can they exert their influence.Kristin Stien, Broker/Grain Marketing Advisor 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 on, 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 ISU Extension farm & 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 Maggie Holub, in her conference capstone, Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone: 7 Steps to Getting to Your Growth Zone! Holub made the difficult decision to return to the family farm near Scribner, Nebraska, 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 to encourage health and wellness for rural women and foster a greater sense of community.The 2022 IWIA Conference features a complimentary Welcome & Networking Reception on Wednesday, August 3, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m at Winterset Cidery, 1638 Highway 169.Participants also will have the opportunity to attend a pre-conference tour on August 3, hosted by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Agriculture Program. In addition to Allendan Seed Company, the Cedar Covered Bridge, and the Winterset Cidery, the tour continues south on Highway 69 to the family owned and operated cattle waterer business, Cobett Company.Due to Covid concerns, tour participants are asked to provide their own transportation. Route information and addresses (along with the reception venue) will be included in tour registration materials.Early bird registration is $55 until August 1 and $75 after that date. Registration includes the pre-conference tour, evening welcome reception, continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Register online in advance on our IWIA web site, by mail, or from 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 on the day of the conference. A room block has been set up at the Courtyard by Marriott at 2405 SE Creekview Drive in Ankeny; please contact for a reservation at the conference rate prior to July 13.First-time attendees: IWIA is holding a drawing on August 4 to award Early Bird registration refunds to 10 first-time conference attendees.Early bird registration is required for those attending the Pre-Conference 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 www.iowawomeninag.org 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.

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