By Peggy Jo Goodfellow, Arizona Farm Bureau:Mark your calendar for the eighteenth annual Women in Agriculture Conference to be held at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in Prescott. The Conference is hosted by the Arizona Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, the University of  Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Arizona Cattlewomen, Arizona Beef Council, Arizona Milk Producers and the Arizona Department of Ag. This annual conference is open to anyone interested in improving leadership, professional and personal skills.

The conference theme is “It’s All Ag, Believe it or Not.”

Join in the fun, Thursday evening, June 5, at a pre-conference Garden Party at Mortimer’s Family Farm. Enjoy finger foods, taste testing, Hayrides and a farm tour.

Play the new  “Believe it or Not,”  game. Casual dress or western attire is recommended for this evening event.

Katie Aikins, Arizona Farm Bureau’s Ag Education Associate Director, will kick off this year’s conference with “Biotech, What the Heck,” a presentation and workshop addressing both sides of the agriculture biotechnology issue. Katie will share the facts, her knowledge and challenge each of us to become better spokesman for agriculture.

Barbara Jackson, President of Animal Health Express Inc.(& DBA Vaquero Feed & Livestock Supply) Member of the American National Cattle Women, 2014 Executive Committee, will present "Animal Welfare not Animal Right,” a presentation that addresses bad information, how we can change perceptions and show the differences.

You don’t want to miss, Fact or Fantasy?  How to Guide Consumers in Making Healthy Food Choices, by Tammy Baker, General Manager / Arizona Milk Producers & Dairy Council of Arizona. Tammy will cover consumer perceptions and the science behind organic and genetically modified organisms as well as if and when they make a difference. She will also discuss how to educate consumers on making the right choices for themselves and their family.

In the afternoon, learn about food safety from a Yuma area farmer who knows consumer concerns.  Food Safety Today = Best Practices, Not Perfection! will be presented by

John Boelts, second Vice-President of the Arizona Farm Bureau, past President of the Yuma County Farm Bureau and vegetable farmer in Yuma.

A Chef Connection will be presented by Chef Matt Smith, Murphy’s Bar & Grill in Prescott.  Chef Smith will give a cooking demonstration using local foods.

Breakout of the Agenda

Thursday, June 5      

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.         Garden Party at Mortimer Family Farms

                                    Enjoy food, hayride and a farm tour by the Mortimer Family. 

Play  “Believe it or Not,” by Sherry Saylor, Vice-Chair of the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership, Arizona Farm Bureau Ex-Officio, and cotton, wheat and alfalfa farmer in Buckeye.

Friday, June 6           

7:30 a.m.                     Registration

8:00 a.m.                     Welcome from Sharla Mortimer, Arizona Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Chair

8:30 a.m.                     Biotech, What the Heck - Facts about both sides of the issue by Katie Aikins, Ag Education Associate Director, Arizona Farm Bureau

10:00 a.m.                   Animal Welfare not Animal Rights

11:00 a.m.                   Fact or Fantasy? How to Guide Consumers in Making Healthy Food Choices.

12:00 p.m.                   Luncheon 

1:00 p.m.                     Food Safety Today = Best Practices, Not Perfection! 

2:30 p.m.                     A Chef Connection 

3:15 p.m.                     Do I need to Know Annie”s?    

4:30 p.m.                     Remember it….or not!

4:00 p.m.                     Adjourn

Location: La Quinta Inn & Suites, 4499 E State Route 69, Prescott, AZ 86301

Hotel reservations:  Call 928.777.0770 to book your hotel reservation by May 8.

To receive the special group rate of $105 (single & double) or $115 for a King Suite,

identify yourself as a member of “Women in Agriculture.”

Conference registration:  Complete the form below or register on the azfb.org website.  Look for the “Believe it or Not” photo in rotation and select it.

 REGISTRATION FORM Below (Print Out and mail to address below) 

Early Bird registration by May 8, 2014                               $60                       

Postmarked after May 8, 2014                                           $70                       

I will attend the Garden Party at Mortimer’s Family Farm  $15                       

 

Name:                                                                      First time attendee?                   

Business/Organization                                                                                      

Address:                                                         City                        Zip               

Email:                                         Phone                               Fax                        

                                                  Total enclosed                           $                 

Make checks payable and mail to Arizona Farm Bureau WLC, Attn. Peggy Jo Goodfellow, 325 S. Higley Rd., Suite 210, Gilbert, AZ 85296.   For more information, call 480.635.3609 or to pay with a credit card call 480.635.3605.

Join our Family!