Last week I attended the first ever Top Producer’s Executive Women in Agriculture Conference in Chicago. I was asked to participate in the Ag Advocacy panel on Friday afternoon as a CommonGround volunteer. This conference was very informative, a great learning experience and an excellent networking opportunity. I am so glad (honored) to have gotten the opportunity to speak on that panel. I can’t wait to go back next year!
Some info on the conference:

- Marketing Basics
- Crop Insurance
- Succession Planning
- Human Resource Management
- Negotiating Techniques
- Financial Management
- Ag Advocacy
- Networking
- Tips for Surviving in the New Era of Agriculture by Jill Eberhart
- Women in Agribusiness-Success Stories by Celeste Settrini, Pam Johnson, and Christine Hamilton
- Women in Ag Leadership: Having a Seat at the Table by Pam Johnson and Vanessa Kummer
- Tax Tips and Pitfalls by Paul Neiffer, CPA
- Social Media 101 by Anna-Lisa Giannini and Libby Hall
- A View from the Executive Suite-Careers in Agriculture by Alyson Emanuel
- Financial Documentation-What you Need and What to Throw Away by Ruth Fleck Hambleton
- Ag Advocacy-Why We Do What We Do by Pam Fretwell, Gayle Anderson, Kristin Weeks Duncanson, and Sara Ross
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The view from our hotel room at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza |
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Sears (Willis) Tower |
The “Corn Cob” Towers |
Chicago Skyline |
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Night view from our hotel room |
We ate at three great restaurants while in Chicago: Dos Diablos (Mexican), Dinotto (Italian), and Sunda (sushi). They were all fantastic and we will definitely go back the next time we are in town!
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Waygu and Lobster Roll at Sunda |
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Shrimp Wonton Special at Sunda |
My sister Megan, me and our cousin Bridgette (who we have seen since the fall of 1995) |
I-80 in Iowa |
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