Hoosier Ag Today 

Purdue Women in Ag Hosting ‘Ag Women Engage Conference’ in Fort Wayne

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Graphic courtesy of Purdue Women in Agriculture.

The Purdue Women in Agriculture Team is hosting the 2025 Ag Women Engage Conference at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

This annual event is designed to educate and uplift women involved in any aspect of the agricultural industry. Through pre-conference workshops, a keynote speaker, and breakout presentations, those who attend will learn how to better manage risk, enhance their farms and agribusiness operations, and network with other ag women throughout Indiana.

The early bird registration fee is $125. Conference registration fees increase to $135 on January 18, 2025. The registration deadline is February 6, 2025.

Courtenay DeHoff, founder of the global brand movement, “Fancy Lady Cowgirl,” is the keynote speaker following lunch. Courtenay is a strong agriculture advocate and has taught tens of thousands in the industry the importance of sharing their story in order to bridge the disconnect between rural and urban communities. She is an executive producer and co-host of “Backroad Cowgirls”, a digital series highlighting the diverse faces of agriculture and their stories.

The agenda for the day is as follows:
8:30-9:30 am  |  Registration
9:30-9:40 am  |  Welcome
9:45-10:30 am  |  Session 1
10:30-10:45 am  |  Connection Break
10:45-11:30 am  |  Session 2
11:30 am-1 pm  |  Lunch and Keynote (45 mins)
1-1:15 pm  |  Connection Break
1:15-2 pm  |  Session 3
2-2:15 pm  |  Connection Break
2:15-3 pm  |  Session 4
3-3:15 pm  |  Wrap Up

There are also three Pre-Conference Sessions available on February 12, 2025:

•  More Than a Visit: Integrating Hands-on Learning, Urban Agriculture, and Food Preservation into Farm Tours and Field Trips
o      9:00 am – 4:00 pm
o      Registration $35 w/ AWE Conference participation
o      Registration $35 w/out AWE Conference participation
o      Limit 20 participants

•  Blooming Success: Mastering Post-Harvest, Pests, and Profits
o      10:00 am – 3:00 pm
o      Registration $50 w/ AWE Conference participation
o      Registration $60 w/out AWE Conference participation
o      Limit 32 participants

•  Grain Marketing – Getting the Basics
o      10:00 am – 4:00 pm
o      Registration $40 w/ AWE Conference participation
o      Registration $50 w/out AWE Conference participation
o      Limit 32 participants

For more detailed information about the AWE Conference, please visit: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/extension/wia/conference.html