TULARE, Calif. — College students around California are receiving a special invitation to attend this year’s World Ag Expo Speaker Series organized for all men and women involved in farming and agricultural businesses by the Women in Ag for Mentoring and Empowerment (WAME). For the most current information on the event, or to register, visit facebook.com/WAME17.
The speaker series pulls together speakers on the biggest issues facing California agriculture today, such as water rules and drought, EPA regulations, succession planning, and more. The WAME speaker series runs all three days of the World Ag Expo, February 14-16, 2017, and is included in your expo admission cost.
“We’re thrilled with this year’s lineup of speakers,” said organizer Pamela Sweeten. “You can learn about everything from grassroots lobbying to building a career in agriculture. We especially want to encourage college students to attend because there will be many networking opportunities for them as well.”
Sweeten pointed out though the series is organized by WAME, they encourage both men and women to attend.
“We’re a ‘women in ag’ group, but we’ve really designed this series to be relevant to everyone in agriculture,” she said.
The WAME speaker series is possible because of sponsorships from Garton Tractor, InsureCAL Insurance Agency, CCI Marketing, and P. Sweeten consulting.
A full schedule and list of speakers is provided below.
2017 Schedule
TUESDAY, February 14, 2017
7:00am -9:15am: Coffee Talk – Hosted by American AgriWomen, join us for your morning NETWORKING and coffee before the show opens. Visit with other exhibitors and presenters and enter to win prizes.
9:30am – 10:30am: Let’s talk Water – Kay Mercer, Kay Mercer Inchttp://kaymercer.com/ Ian LeMay, California Fresh Fruit Associationhttp://www.cafreshfruit.org/ ; Josh Weimer, Turlock Irrigation District http://www.tid.org/ Water is at a critical point in CA, from Central Valley Project, State Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), State Water Resources Control Board’s Bay Delta Plan and Waters of the United States (WOTUS), learning from experts about the issues facing CA Ag and beyond. What happens in CA usually finds a way to your state and farm.
10:45am – 11:45am: Career Hunt Essentials for College Students – Shannon Douglas, Director of Outreach CalAgJobs http://calagjobs.com/ Head out into the career world with the tools essential for your success. Learn tips on how to find jobs and internships and how to present yourself in the best way possible to earn a job or internship. Your resume is critical and we will focus much of our time on making your resume the best it can be.
12:00pm – 1:30pm: WAME Fertile Ground Award Luncheon – Women in Ag for Mentoring and Empowerments board of directors has chosen to honor an individual who exemplifies a selfless attitude of service to young people through her desire to see them be successful. Her outstanding service and leadership on the Fresno State University Campus has shown through in the success that the students have achieved in Ag industry.
1:30pm – 2:00pm: Knowing your Market Multi Channel Marketing – Hylon Kauffman, Marketing & Business Development Manager at Ranch Systems LLChttp://marius.ranchsystems.com; Multi Channel Marketing for Agriculture, knowing your markets and your customers.
4:30pm: Reception hosted by Sigma Alpha Ag Sorority Join us for Networking with local and national officers as well as alumni.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
7:00am -9:15am: Coffee Talk – WAME – Sponsors Join us for your morning NETWORKING and coffee before the show opens, visit with other exhibitors and presenters.
9:30am – 10:30am: Getting your farm set up for FSMA – April Mackie, Director of Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance, Salinas County Farm Bureau; Cynthia Klein, CEO at CK Solutions Group LLC; Sandy Fleck, Agriculture Industry Association Specialist, Zenith Insurance Company; Learn the basics your farm needs to have in place for Food Safety Modernization Act, from a consultant, insurance and company perspectives.
10:45am – 11:45am: “Duarte Nursery v. Corps of Engineers, John Duarte and Anthony L. (Tony) François, Pacific Legal Foundation www.pacificlegal.org – John Duarte and Anthony Francois have been fighting the lawsuit that the Board of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board began in 2013, – “In 2013, the Corps of Engineers sent a cease and desist letter to Duarte, ordering suspension of his farming operation in Tehama County, California, based on alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. Listen to Duarte’s account of this legal battle and how the Corps did not follow due process or diligence when making these accusations. For some background information before the session, visit the case’s webpage at https://www.pacificlegal.org/cases/duarte-nursery”
12:00pm – 1:30pm: Ag Careers Panel – “Take an opportunity to hear from experts in the agricultural industry about their day-to-day experiences in the agriculture industry. The panel will discuss ways you can break into their industries and give ideas to those fresh on the job hunt or looking for a change in direction.”
2:15pm -2:45pm: Grassroots Lobbying – Heather Hampton+Knodle, Vice President at Knodle, Ltd. and Shannon Groves, Assemblywoman Emeritus of the California State Assembly and President of Continental Labor and Staffing Resources; Come learn how important lobbying is. As a voter, you have the most powerful tool available on Capitol Hill, your vote. You have the ability to hold each representative accountable to you as a constituent. Without hearing from you, your legislator does not know what is important to you. Your recommendation may be the deciding factor in a member’s decision to vote for or against a bill. You make a difference!
3:00pm – 3:45pm: The Changing Role of Women in Agriculture – California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, Dr. Glenda Humiston Vice-President of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and Doris Mold, President of American AgriWomen. Women in agriculture appear to be a recent discovery, but for those in the “know” they have been involved in agriculture since the dawn of time. We will discuss the changing role of women in agriculture and delve into some surprising and not so surprising information, facts and figures about women in agriculture. Part of the session will include an interactive discussion on women in agriculture among session participants and discussion leaders.
4:00pm: Wine Reception hosted by California Women for Ag & American AgriWomen Enjoy a time of networking and connecting with peers while enjoying the best the central valley has to offer.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
7:00am -9:15am: Coffee Talk Join us for your morning NETWORKING and coffee before the show opens, visit with other exhibitors and presenters.
9:15am – 10:00am: Media Training 101 – Heather Hampton+Knodle, Vice President at Knodle, Ltd. and Sabrina Hill, Farm News Director/Radio Host at AgNet West Radio Network; Are you ready when the phone rings? Or a reporter shows up? Understanding your role as an advocate for agriculture. How to communicate with media, squash the fears and learn from the experts.
10:15am – 11:30am: Career Panel – JoAnn Wall, Managing General Partner at Mid Coast Property Management; Danee Brady, Marketing Manager at Trinity Fresh and Doris Mold, President American AgriWomen; looking at ag careers from a local, regional, state and national levels and the opportunities that are available. What are you seeking for your career path? Come ask questions and learn about paths that are out of the box.
11:45am – 12:30pm: Team Innovation/Cohesiveness – Kristine Ranger, Consultant/Coach at The Learning Connection; Do you need help with your team? Learn how to build cohesiveness with your team and inspire innovative platform for your team members.
12:45pm – 1:30pm: Beck’s Why I Farm Road Trip – Honoring Farmers Across America –Natalina Sents (@Roots_Journey) is on a yearlong, 50 state road trip to honor farmers with the “Why I Farm Movement”. This session highlights diversity in American agriculture and explores storytelling through blogs and social media. Follow her journey atwww.whyifarm.com/blog @WhyIFarm or on facebook.com/WhyIFarm/
2:45pm -3:45pm: Legislative & Regulatory Update -Bryan Little, Chief Operating Officer at Farm Employers Labor Service; FELS provides compliance assistance to agricultural employers, who need to understand the fast-changing mandates agricultural employers must cope with. Possible changes in state requirements for Ag overtime, family and medical leave and ongoing questions and problems for ag employer compliance with Obamacare and paid sick leave continue to present challenges for ag employers. This seminar is intended to inform Ag employers about the latest change to the employment regulatory environment.
–Women in Ag for Mentoring and Empowerment
via AgPR
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