Three More Reasons to Attend WIA Summit 2024 in Denver Next Month…
By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, Women in Agribusiness Media (August 13, 2024)
The 2024 Women in Agribusiness Summit promises more than 25 sessions on up-to-the-minute industry topics, 55 speakers, nearly 1,000 attendees and networking opportunities like at no other conference. Add to that plenty of special activities, such as tours of a fifth-generation grain farm, a Members Only Night Out that includes an exclusive panel discussion with Dr. Temple Grandin and others, a career development workshop with Syngenta, an off-site reception at Punch Bowl Social, and a special dinner for women in protein. And let’s not forget the keynote address: “Bringing NASA's Contributions to Ag Down to Earth” with Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft, executive director of NASA Acres.
Here's a sampling of some other phenomenal sessions/speakers lined up for the 13th annual Summit next month, September 24-26 in Denver. Learn more about the event here.
1. Crisis Preparation in the Face of Animal Disease
Tommy Bass, associate extension specialist at Montana State University, will discuss the ongoing efforts to fortify producers and regional ag economies against potential crisis to ensure a resilient food supply. Bass has worked for more than 25 years providing technical assistance, training, and custom educational programs to farmers and ranchers, agrifood businesses, land managers, government agencies and other stakeholders seeking to increase efficiency, improve sustainability and comply with various regulations. His areas of expertise include agro-security and agro-emergency preparedness and livestock environment and sustainability issues.
Bass’ presentation – “Crisis Preparation in the Face of Animal Disease” falls right in line with current news of the spread of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus or “H5N1 bird flu” in dairy cows, poultry and other animals. While the risk to humans is low (there have only been 14 human cases reported in the U.S. since 2022), the CDC continues to respond to the public health challenge and announced on August 2 two new investments – $10 million in total – to protect and improve farmworker health. The first $5 million will go to partner organizations, including the National Center for Farmworker Health, to support overall outreach and education efforts focused on farmworker safety and health. The second $5 million investment will be used to offer seasonal flu vaccines to U.S. livestock, dairy and poultry workers to control and prevent seasonal flu among this group.
2. Fostering a Symbiotic Relationship Between Journalists and Agribusiness Firms
When the unspeakable and often inevitable public relations crisis happens – food recalls, bird flu proliferation, organic grain trade scandals – the way to put your company’s best foot forward is to have a strong foundation of partners and relationships in the media to rely on to report the facts in the most balanced way. Doing this requires building these relationships over the long haul and utilizing them as part of a ready-made crisis management plan to deal with actions that lead to negative public reactions. But how best to do this?
This four-person panel of PR experts and seasoned journalists, led by Cassidy Walter of Successful Farming, will be your guide to “Fostering a Symbiotic Relationship Between Journalists and Agribusiness Firms”. Featuring Wendy Brannen, senior director of marketing and communications for the American Soybean Association, Jenni Badding, production and precision ag public relations manager for John Deere, and Mindy Ward, executive editor of Farm Progress Companies, this session promises to highlight strategies for fostering mutually beneficial media-PR relationships, ensuring that even when agendas differ, the dialogue remains constructive and respectful of organizations' differing priorities.
3. Transforming the Workplace
In today’s changing environment of culture and identification, there’s always a hot topic or two up for discussion at this popular annual WIA panel – “Transforming the Workplace”. Addressing the benefits of gender diversity – substantial gains in profitability, revenue-driving innovation and overall better business performance, for starters – gets the conversation going. But where it goes after that is steered by the well-informed panel of experts and their examples of how their organizations are promoting and harnessing the benefits of diversification in their workplace.
April Love, VP and chief inclusion officer, Sysco Corporation, will take the stage, along with Molly Ball, president of Future Farmers of America; Jennifer James, chief human resources officer with King Ranch, Inc.; and Maria Lewis, chief diversity officer at Faegre Drinker. Moderator Erin Condon Hackney, director of culture and communications with CGB Enterprises, Inc., who has been lead facilitator in CGB’s training programs for leadership development, public speaking and sales skills, will bring the commentary together in a cohesive way, providing actionable insights to bring to your own organization.
There are more than 20 additional sessions at the 2024 WIA Summit in which to engage and learn. See the full agenda here. We’ll see you in Denver!
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