Oklahoma Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference set for Oct. 14-15

Oklahoma’s Statewide Women in Agriculture and Small Business Conference will take place Oct. 14-15 at the Moore-Norman Technology Center. “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 Dr. Carol Crouch, district conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Purcell.

Cost is $40 if registering by Oct. 7 and $50 thereafter. Registration includes two continental breakfasts, two lunches, all refreshment breaks and conference materials. Registration forms and additional information are available at http://www.OKWomeninAgandSmallBusiness.com on the Internet or you may visit the Purcell NRCS office located at 1726 N. Green, Suite 700 to pick up a flyer and registration form.

According to Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension farm management specialist, keynote speakers will be Michele Payn-Knoper and Karen Hill. A certified speaking professional, Knoper of Cause Matters Corp. has become a nationally known spokesperson and advocate for agriculture in recent years, and a leader in the use of social media who can explain “350 million reasons why agriculture needs to be engaged.” Her keynote session will focus on the people, promise and passion of agriculture.

Hill, president of Training Professionals Inc., will provide participants insights gleaned from her 30 years in training and working with all types of businesses and clients, from OSU and the University of Oklahoma to state agencies, banks and “nearly every type of organization in between,” she said.  “I’ll be focusing on how ‘Yesterday’s Peacock is Tomorrow’s Feather Duster,’ which is about the rapid pace of change, how it impacts us and what we need to do to stay current in a continually evolving society and marketplace,” Hill said. “I encourage the ladies to consider different ways to celebrate what is important about our industry, lifestyle and legacy,” she said. “I’ll warn everybody that, as part of that, we will be doing some kickboxing. It underscores that we are in a fight to get the word out about the importance of what we do, and provides a bit of comedic relief as well.”

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 finances. Crouch said participants will be able to choose among sessions that interest them the most, from methods for managing stress, surviving an Internal Revenue Service audit and choosing the right kind of life insurance to understanding fencing and property laws, farm safety, growing certified organic foods and many others.  “We’re very pleased to have truly excellent speakers from industry, government and Extension, experts in their respective fields who will be presenting the timeliest information available,” Doye said.

The Moore-Norman Technology Center is located at 13301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. A mini-mall showcasing Made-in-Oklahoma products and a series of educational displays relevant to Oklahoma’s rural prosperity also will be featured.

Crouch said the conference is highly regarded, attracting a range of sponsors that include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Oklahoma tribal Conservation Advisory Council (OTCAC), Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the Southern Risk Management Education Center, among others.  Additional information is available at http://www.OKWomeninAgandSmallBusiness.com on the Internet or by contacting Doye by email at damona.doye@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-9836 or Crouch by e-mail at carol.crouch@ok.usda.gov or by phone at 405-527-3241 ext  3.