FORT LORAMIE —The fifth annual “Growing Women in Agriculture…An Empowerment Celebration” will be held Thursday, March 28, 2019, from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Michael’s Hall, 33 Elm St., Fort Loramie.
Since 2007 the number of women in agriculture has increased by 7 percent in the United States. With this evolving statistic in the industry, many new avenues for our community and state have developed in order to take advantage of these rising agriculture leaders. The agriculture community in Shelby County would like to support local women in agriculture by holding the annual event.
The evening will include a unique blend of educational and fun agriculture information, specifically targeted to the women in the community. The cost is $20 per person, with an additional $25 for an optional pre-event Make’ n Take class. A portion of the fee will support Rustic Hope Shed in Russia. Registration deadline is March 8, 2019, with breakout sessions being filled on a first-come-first-served basis as registrations are received.
Participants will begin the evening will begin with heavy hors-d’oeuvres, wine sampling and social time at 6 p.m., then followed with keynote speaker, Marlene Eick.
Eick will be talking about “Living your Story,” in which everyone strives to reach their goals and meet their own expectations. Eick has spent the last decade helping others tell their story, working with individuals and companies in agriculture. She is a speaker, success coach, and podcaster and is co-owner of Herdmark Media.
In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to attend two of these four sessions:
• Selling Directly to Consumers with Jess Campbell, owner of Carrol Creek Farms LLC, a community supported agriculture livestock farm that sells directly to consumers.
• Addressing Misconceptions about Food with Jennifer Coleman of the Ohio Soybean Council. She will talk about the myths surrounding food and how to talk to others about GMO’s and other food issues.
• Girl Power: What does it mean to be a woman in Agriculture? Presented by Rose Hartschuh, who will speak that no matter what role, women play an important part of agriculture’s success.
• Farm and Family Photography with Lindsey Whetstone, a local photographer who will provide tips, ideas, and inspiration on how to capture your life’s special moments.
In addition, there will be a special pre-event Make’n Take session by Wasson Nursery on planting a Succulent Garden.
For additional information or to register, please download the registration brochure at [http://www:ofbf.org/counties/shelby]www:ofbf.org/counties/shelby or www.shelbyswcd.org. You may also call Jill Smith, organization director for Shelby County Farm Bureau at 877-775-7642 or Sophie Hurley, education coordinator for Shelby Soil & Water Conservation District at 937-492-6520 for information or to have a brochure mailed to you.
