Agenda

Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 (Pre-Conference)

Pre-conference Workshops (optional)

Rise and Renew: Wellness & Resetting in Agriculture
Time: 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Location:  Hilton Garden Inn - McDowell-Tuttle
Cost: $25 

Blending personal stories of her family’s life in agriculture with her clinical expertise as a former therapist, Kaila Anderson’s genuine, knowledgeable and inspirational style educates and motivates participants to consider the importance of and how to pay attention to our behavioral health. Kaila developed The LandLogic Model℠ to creatively incorporate the land into the clinical treatment for the agricultural population.

Join Kaila as our featured speaker, and enjoy other health resources to improve your quality of life on the farm and in your community. Then, top off your day with a fun, creative activity with Melinda Sinn and Marsha Jensen. These two women have been recharging their batteries with stamping and other paper arts for more than 20 years. They are creating a couple of fun stamping and paper activities just for you, so come prepared to discover your creative side. Participants will leave with some special gifts to help them reset long after the conference!

Pre-Conference Tours: The Sunflower State Showcase!
Time: Varies by Starting Location 
Cost: $25 

This year we are excited to offer you a new experience as you make your way to the 2024 Women Managing the Farm conference! The rides on us this year, all you must do is make your way to the nearest pick-up location and we will take it from there! We are offering 6 different pick-up locations across the state that have fun tours and stops highlighting agritourism and rural tourism along the way! Each van will be leaving mid-morning on Wednesday the 14th. All tours will get you to Manhattan, KS for the main conference and back home! 

WaKeeney:

Good Karma Micro Dairy (Russell, KS)
Our little slice of heaven consists of a Micro Dairy, Airbnb, and farm store. Tour our milking facilities, interact with our farm animals and learn about our agritourism operation!

Eagle Ridge Ranch (Abilene, KS)
Eagle Ridge Ranch is a small acreage, regenerative agriculture farm located in the Flint Hills of Kansas. We focus on healthy and sustainable animal husbandry and land management practices by raising multi species of livestock with rotational grazing practices mimicking natural grazing patterns.

Hays, KS:

South Bend industrial Hemp Tour Facility- Great Bend (Great Bend, KS)
South Bend Industrial Hemp is a family run farm, helping pioneer a new outlet of a crop in Central Kansas. Tour their facilities and learn about this versatile crop!  

Eagle Ridge Ranch (Abilene, KS)
Eagle Ridge Ranch is a small acreage, regenerative agriculture farm located in the Flint Hills of Kansas. We focus on healthy and sustainable animal husbandry and land management practices by raising multi species of livestock with rotational grazing practices mimicking natural grazing patterns.

Kinsley, KS:

Ellinwood, underground tunnels (Ellinwood, KS)
Take a step back in time and tour the underground tunnels of Ellinwood! These tunnels tell a very tall tale of what once was a bustling underground town!

Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home (Abilene, KS)
One of Abilene’s most iconic attractions, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is a must-see attraction! Visit the all-new exhibits at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum and experience Ike and Mamie’s story in their own words!

El Dorado, KS:

Pioneer Bluffs - Matfield Green KS, 66862 (travelks.com) (Matfield Green, KS)  |
“Come home” to Pioneer Bluffs and take time to enjoy a simpler life. This tour offers history, background stories, and a bit of education about this and other ranches, and the generations of ranchers who shaped the Flint Hills.

Hildebrand farms (Junction City, KS)
We love the girls that give us our delicious milk and look for opportunities to share them with you! A visit to Hildebrand Farms Dairy will show the complete life cycle of a delicious glass bottle of milk.

Stockton, KS:

North 40 Alpacas (Osborne, KS)
North 40 Alpacas has a herd of alpacas and a retail store on the property. Get up close and personal interaction with alpacas then an opportunity to shop for luxurious products made from the alpaca such as coats, hats, socks, blankets, rugs etc! 

MarCon pies Lincoln (Lincoln, KS)
Baked in tradition, MarCon Pies first served up a slice of heaven over 30 years ago. Using heirloom recipes and delicious ingredients, these mouthwatering desserts are the true definition of Midwestern hospitality.

Garnett, KS:

Valley View Elk Ranch (Garnett, KS)
We are a small family farm enjoying our elk herd of 130-140 animals. On the tour you are guaranteed an elk sighting and later can taste samples of delicious lean elk meat products and buy some to take home!

456 Wineries (Wamego, KS)
456 Wineries has multiple wineries under one roof, all individually licensed, and all "startup" wineries utilizing space and equipment inside this business incubator. Come along, take a tour, and try some amazing local Kansas wines!  

4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 15th, 2024

Welcome and Keynote Session - Flint Hills/Kings (Junior Ballroom)

MARK MAYFIELD - "FIND YOUR DAY"

Perspective. It’s a key to survival. And during times like these, when the challenges from the pandemic seem never ending, perspective is vital for our personal well-being. In this inspiring AND hilarious presentation, Mark will discuss his personal experience with gaining perspective during difficult times, while providing people with valuable insights and skills on coping and thriving. Frustration, anxiety, and depression are the new pandemic variants. Mark will give you skills to manage your mental health and reset your baseline for happiness and success.

Breakout Session 1

Mother Nature - She's a real biscuit -  McDowell-Tuttle
Melody McCurry & Katie Carlton - Farm Credit Services 

Woody Encroachment & Invasive Species in Grasslands - Kaw Nation
Doug Spencer - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Telling the Story Behind Trending Ag Facts - Big Basin
Lexi Wright, Back Pocket Social

From Concept to Consumer: Selling Food Products in Kansas - Alcove
Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research & Extension

Planning for the Future of the Farm Part 1 - Konza Prairie B & C
Ashlee Westerhold, Office of Farm & Ranch Transition, K-State

Breakout Session 2

Farm, Ranch, and Rural Home Financing Options - McDowell-Tuttle
Farm Credit, FSA, Community Bank 

Raising and Grazing Cover Crops – Are they the right fit for your farm? - Kaw Nation
Jaymelynn Farney and DeAnn Presley K-State Research & Ext.

“MORPH”-There’s a name for you in agriculture if you don’t accept and manage change: extinct.
Mark Mayfield - Big Basin

So My husband Wants to Start a Pumpkin Patch...~one wife & mother's experience of starting an agritourism business at her farm & home - Alcove
Jamie Kaminkow

Planning for the Future of the Farm Part 2 - Konza Prairie B & C
Kay Strong Prather, Kansas Ag. Mediation Services, K-State

LUNCH - Flint Hills/Kings (Junior Ballroom)

MATT ROBERTS - TERRAIN "The Agricultural Economy in 2024 and Beyond"

With all of the volatility in the world, from wars in Europe and the Middle East, to droughts and floods, how do we make sense of what lies ahead?  Terrain Senior Analyst Matt Roberts will help you understand where we are at and where we are going with markets and the global economy.

Break-Visit Vendor and Exhibitors

Networking Reception & Roundtables

1.) 2nd Shift Farm Women- working on and off farm (Kaw Nation)
2.) Navigating Multi-Generational Farm Transitions (Konza Prairie B & C)
3.) Eldercare on the Farm (Konza Prairie A)
4.) Mental Health/Emotional Wellbeing  (Big Basin)
5.) Working on the Farm with Small Children (Alcove)
6.) Respect as Farm Women (McDowell- Tuttle)

 BREAK

Breakout Session 3

Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Farm Employees - McDowell - Tutlle
Jonie James & Aaron Meisenheimer, Kansas Farm Management Association

Skeptical Grounds: Soil Health Impacts on Nutrient Cycling, Climate Adaptation, and Water Conservation - Kaw Nation
Katie Glanville, Natural Resource Conservation Service

Keeping it Real - Big Basin
Laura Haffner, Dana Ladner, Kansas Farm Bureau & Kansas Department of Ag.

Using QuickBooks More Efficiently and Effectively to Achieve Farm Life Balance
Tammy Bryant - Varney & Associates, CPA's - Alcove

Business Entities for Agricultural Producers
Mark Dikeman, Kansas Farm Management Association - Konza Prairie B & C

Women Managing the Farm 20th Year Celebration

Flint Hills Discovery Center

Heavy Hors-d'oeuvres and Cash Bar
Activities: Swing Dancing Lessons, Barn Quilt Coaster Painting
Self-Guided Tours of Discover Center 

Friday, February 16th, 2024

Breakfast - Flint Hills/Kings (Junior Ballroom)

General Session - Flint Hills/Kings (Junior Ballroom)

Panel - Kansas Master Farmer Homemakers

Donna Pearson-McClish, Rhonda Perry, Laryce Schwieterman

BREAK

Breakout Session 4

The Basics of Grain & Livestock Marketing - Konza Prairie C
Tom Leffler- Leffler Commodities & Ag. Consulting

The Messaging on Methane...Can We do Better? - Flint Hills/Kings
Kim Bremmer-Ag Inspirations

Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate - Konza Prairie B
Carol Ann Crouch and Nancy Honig - K-State Research & Extension

Hobby Farming as a Business - Alcove
Cynthia Domenghini - Kansas State University

Checkoffs: What They Are and The Value They Bring to Your Farm - Konza Prairie A
Jancey Hall- Kansas Soybean Association

Beef Quality Assurance Certification - McDowell - Tuttle
Tera Barnhardt, DVM, MS

Breakout Session 5

Understanding Your Farm’s Profitability - Konza Prairie C
LaVell Winsor & Robin Reid - K-State Ag. Economics

The Business of Raising Beef - McDowell - Tuttle
Tera Barnhardt, DVM, MS

Meals in the Field - Konza Prairie B
Kaitlyn Hildebrand- K-State Research & Extension

Leading Others to Ag Knowledge - Alcove
Shannon Martin- Kansas Farm Bureau

Ag. Policy 101 and Farm Bill Update - Konza Prairie A
Jenny Ifft - K-State Ag. Economics

Lunch and Keynote Speaker - Flint Hills/Kings (Junior Ballroom)

KIM BREMMER - AG INSPIRATIONS "The Power of Women in Agriculture... Advocating Our Language of Leadership"

 I can think of no better time than now to work together to share the real story of agriculture! Women can play an extra special role in connecting people to where their food comes from and representing the great successes in American agriculture today. This session is about speaking up and sharing the real story of agriculture while celebrating strong women…may we know them, may we raise them and may we be them.