Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Spring is the time of the year when the weather is supposed to get better and nature opens back up for new bloom and growth.
The flora and fauna aren’t the only things growing; however, so is the personal growth of women in agriculture around the Sidney area.
With spring also brings the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Sidney Extension Office’s annual Women in Agriculture Conference.
This year the conference is called, “Denim & Diamonds” and is scheduled for April 5 at the Holiday Inn located at 664 Chase Blvd. in Sidney.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch will be served to guests.
The registration fee for the event is $30 by March 28, and any registration after that date will cost $40. The fee covers conference materials, booth breaks and lunch, according to extension office staff. The fee can also be paid at the door.
According to Lynn McKinney, Office Manager of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Cheyenne County Office, this is approximately the 12th year the event has been hosted in Sidney.
“The conference is open to anybody in the community but it is Ag. based,” said McKinney.
“Information, inspiration, humor and advice are on tap at the Women In Agriculture Conference. It is intended for women who are involved in day-to-day farm and ranch business decisions who want to learn more about farm & ranch management, who are landowners, or who want to broaden their knowledge of agribusiness,” said extension office representatives.
The seven-hour event covers a vast basis of agricultural information including, info from knowledgeable guest speakers, government program updates and fun seminars such as one about how using Pinterest can help businesses, and speeches from business owners themselves.
“It’s about spreading basic knowledge,” said McKinney. “The government programs bring them up to speed on new programs that are happening, and there are also entrepreneur speakers presenting. It shows Ag. women different options for their farming and ranching businesses.”
The keynote speaker of the event will be Bea Fiala, a woman who found her inner strength through laughing while battling Fibromyalgia back in 1996.
Three speakers will educate the guests with government program updates. One speaker is a District Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Sidney, Kristin Miller, and Rod Horn, the General Manager of the South Platte Natural Resources District will also speak; as will Michelle Studnicka from the Farm Service Agency.
An explanation of Pinterest and how it can be used to benefit a business will be presented by UNL Extension Educator Connie Hancock, and Dan Carlson, a member of the Cabela’s Safety Committee will introduce tips for severe weather survival.
Jessica Johnson, an Extension Educator in Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, will increase awareness in participants for “innovative risk management practices,” before the floor will be turn over to business owners from Fanny’s Fruit Farm, BeeHaven Farm Roadside Market, and Sister’s Grimm.
McKinney said that another asset of attending the conference is seeing and supporting local vendors from around the area.
“One of our highlights is that we have booths there. Venders can come out and sell their goods,” she said.
Vendors will be traveling from Kimball, Scottsbluff, Potter, Harrisburg, Lodgepole and Bushnell to show the women what they have to offer.
Booth sponsors are: Amber Wilke with AW Prairie Art, Rick and Jennifer Rutherford with BeeHaven, Gloria Floyd with Creations by Gloria, Lou Ann Frei with Creative Touch: Magnabilities Jewelry, Laura Whelchel with the Double L Country Store, Peg Nelson with High Plains Wheat Weaving, Jennifer George with KJKC Soap Co & Woodcrafts, Cindy Backes with the Paisley Peacock Boutique, Amber Held with Pink Papaya, Sandy Runge with Runge Creations, Jamie and Jessica Carpenter with Sister’s Grimm, Katie Culek with Tastefully Simple, LaNelle Martin with Triumph Seed and Wanda Milton with Wanda Milton Photography.
Local banks from Chappell, Lodgepole, Kimball and Sidney help the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Extension Office put on the event along with the South Platte Natural Resources District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Credit Services of America, the Farm Service Agency and Federal Crop Agency.
To call and reserve a spot at the event interested participants can call the extension office at 308-254-4455.
Participants are encouraged to wear denim and diamonds and there will also be door prizes and evaluations following the speakers.
Registration forms and more information are available at the UNL Extension Office at 920 Jackson Street in Sidney, or those interested can email the extension educator Karen DeBoer at [email protected]. Registration forms are to be turned back into the office.
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