NORFOLK, NE – Women in agriculture will be going out on a limb this fall. Featuring the theme, “Branching Out – Be the Best You,” registration is currently underway for the 9th annual Northeast Community College AG-ceptional Women’s Conference – a day-long event to be held on Friday, November 17, in the Lifelong Learning Center on the Northeast campus in Norfolk.
The AG-ceptional Women’s Conference is northeast Nebraska’s premier event for women in agriculture, attracting over 400 women who come together for a full day of networking, professional development and personal growth opportunities. The conference sells out each year, so participants are strongly encouraged to register early.
The opening session will feature a keynote speaker who will discuss communication strategies. Steve Bergeron is a public speaker and trainer who offers an enthusiastic and customized approach to each presentation. Aimed at teaching and coaching individuals to increase confidence, people skills, communication, leadership, and attitude, Bergeron will teach attendees three components of communication and describe how to focus on others to decrease nervousness and build relationships through communication.
Since starting as a certified instructor with Dale Carnegie Training in 2004, Bergeron has consistently ranked in the program’s top 50 of the 3,000 trainers worldwide.
The AG-ceptional Women’s Conference will feature over 20 speakers who will share their experiences and expertise on a range of topics, including a discussion on the pork industry, farm taxes, getting enough sleep, estate planning and growing hops for commercial sale in Nebraska, among many others.
“We are thrilled to have these inspiring presenters at this year’s conference,” said Corinne Morris, dean of agriculture, math and science at Northeast. “These speakers are advocates and leaders in their fields and their collective wisdom challenges us all to become involved and make a difference. Our conference recognizes the important role women play in agriculture and we take pride in acknowledging them with this day.”
In addition, the Ag-ceptional Women’s Conference’s Food for Thought Forum will be held on Thursday, November 16, at 7 p.m., in the Cox Activities Center Theatre on the Northeast campus.
Cory Wightman, director of external communications for the Bayer Ag Crop Since Division, will discuss the role of American farmers and ag professionals on speaking out and in sharing their passion for the industry. She will also discuss opportunities to enable producers within American agriculture to engage in a public dialogue on agriculture, food production and the importance of innovation to tackle massive challenges in the world today. The forum, sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board, is free and open to the public.
The registration fee for the 2017 AG-ceptional Women’s Conference is $38. The fee includes breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Organizers said the cost of the attending the conference remains affordable due to the many sponsors of the event.
To register or learn more about the conference, go online to www.northeast.edu/agceptional. For additional information, call the Northeast Community College Agriculture Division at (402) 844-7180.
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Over 400 participants took part in the 2016 AG-ceptional Women’s Conference event at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. Registrations are currently underway for the 2017 conference to be held on Friday, November 17.