AFR Women's Conference Annonced
The AFR Women’s Committee is pleased to announce the 2012 AFR Annual Women’s Conference Aug. 9-11.
The Oklahoma City event includes activities at the Moore-Norman Technology Center and Fairfield Inn & Suites-Oklahoma City Airport, as well as shopping and area tourist venues such as the newly renovated Myriad Botanical Gardens & Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory and the Oklahoma History Center.
Attendees to the AFR Women’s Conference will also take part in Oklahoma’s Statewide Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference the first two days of the event. AFR activities will occur during and after the meetings.
“The focus of the two-day conference is to provide the latest information on topics that empower women to solve issues and concerns of importance to them, their families and communities,” said Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension farm management specialist.
A number of concurrent sessions will be offered during the conference. Sessions will focus on a variety of high-profile topics about agriculture, alternative enterprises, and business and finance. Participants will be able to attend sessions of most interest and value to them.
“A particular strength of the conference is the ability of participants to personalize their experience,” Doye said. “Sessions will be led by practitioners and experts in their fields, among them OSU Cooperative Extension and Career Tech educators, local and state agricultural producers, business entrepreneurs, insurance agents and lawyers.”
Post-conference training options will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 10, and include the Beef Quality Assurance Program or Pork Quality Assurance Plus. BQA is part of a national program that provides guidelines and best management practices for beef cattle production. PQA is a continuous improvement program that provides guidelines to maintaining its food safety tradition.
In addition, Oklahoma legislators Rep. Phil Richardson, Rep. Leslie Osborn, Rep. Lee Denney and Sen. Ron Justice will provide insights on legislative actions that affect state agriculture and small business owners.
Jannetta Clark, OSU-OKC Manufacturing Extension agent, said opportunities for informal networking between participants and interaction with conference experts often lead to personal and professional inspiration, ideas and solutions, as do the informational booths and women-owned businesses featured in the mini-mall and exhibitor space.
“Supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency, the conference really is the place to be in August,” she said. “Think of it as one-stop shopping to build awareness and skills.”
Specific AFR activities will be Thursday and Friday evenings, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.
The 2012-2013 AFR Women’s Committee members are Co-Chair Darla Steffenson, Wellston; Co-Chair Suzanne Gilbert, Tecumseh; Pamela Livingston, Seiling; Donna Ramsey, Checotah; Julie Tackett, Fort Cobb; and Jeniece Tate, Pauls Valley.
Registration is $200 for a single room (Thursday and Friday nights) and $105 each for double occupancy. A late fee of $10 is charged for any registration received after August 1.
Registration includes three breakfasts, three lunches, two dinners, all refreshment breaks, conference materials, post-conference training, and a Taste of Oklahoma reception, as well as visits to Outlet Shoppes at OKC, the Botanical Garden & Tropical Conservatory and the Oklahoma History Center.
For more information about the three-day event contact Paul Jackson at 405-218-5559 (pjackson@afrmic.com) or Bridget Hulet at 405-218-5526 (bhulet@afrmic.com).
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