"Power Up Your Farm"

Women from Northeast Oregon will have the opportunity to participate in the 2016 Women in Agriculture Conference.  Organized by Washington State University extension, the one-day conference brings together women at 31 locations in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska for a unique opportunity to hear knowledgeable speakers and inspiring stories, network, and take home practical advice and new skills. 

The conference will be hosted at the Union County Extension Office, 10507 N McAlister Rd., in La Grande, with host site facilitation by Sara Miller from Northeast Oregon Economic Development District. Early bird registration, which is $25, includes a  communication workshop, light breakfast, lunch, and conference materials. After March 18, registration increases to $30. A limited number of scholarships are available for aspiring farmers, college agriculture students, and 4-H and FFA members.  Visit the website at www.womeninag.wsu.edu for registration and details, or contact Miller at 541-426-3598 or saramiller@neoedd.org.

“Power Up Your Farm” is the theme for this year’s conference, with two sub-themes:
Power Up Your Communications!
Facilitated by Wendy Knopp and Michael Stolp with Northwest Farm Credit Services Communication is the most powerful tool for building business and personal relationships. People’s ability to influence people is directly related to how they communicate. This conference will help attendees discover their communication style and how to use it to manage, motivate, and influence
people. Attendees will learn to “pull out” their personality traits to change as the situation changes.  Confidence in one’s ability to be a successful farmer will strengthen a farming operation.

Power Up Your Farm!
Different personality styles affect the way people interact with customers, family, business contacts, and employees. Women farmers know how to produce their product. Sometimes, however, their communication style makes it difficult to sell that product, motivate an employee, convince a lender or landlord, or get along with family members or a business partner. Attendees will build new skills to help them build better teams, improve decision-making, and connect marketing to what motivates prospects and customers. Oregon farmer Shelly Boshart Davis will explain how she improved her communications approach with people and how it improved her business strategies.

The conference is designed for women who have been farming for years, as well as new and aspiring farmers. Supporting spouses, students, interns or people who own an agriculture-related business are also welcome. The number of women in agriculture grows every year, and the conference helps meet their need to connect with other women farmers and ranchers, and share resources.  The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District’s mission is to provide resources and facilitate quality decision-making for the benefit of entrepreneurs, businesses and communities in Baker, Union,