SIDNEY — 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 the women in agriculture by holding the third annual “Growing Women in Agriculture, an Empowering Celebration” conference on March 30, 2017, at St. Michaels Hall in Fort Loramie

This unique conference blends educational and fun information specifically targeted to the women in our agriculture community. Our committee strives to give the women in the community the tools to grow their agriculture enterprises and offers the support for them to prosper.

The event will start at 6 p.m. with a social time and heavy hors d’oeuvres. The keynote speaker Shelly Tobe, Product Innovator with Wendy’s International, will begin speaking at 6:45 p.m. Tobe, a Mercer County native, will share the motivation and skills needed to be a leader in the business world, as well as how keeping balance in the home is a constant effort. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to attend two of these four sessions; From Old to New with Mila Hamilton, Gallery 2Ten, Succession Planning by Kelly Moore with Wright & Moore Law Co., a cooking demo with Melanie Cedargren of Spicy Olive and Farm Safety: Roles for Children by Morgan Aultman.

The cost of a ticket is $20 per person and a portion of the ticket price will be donated to a women’s charity in Shelby County. Call 877-775-7642 to attend as seating is limited. Registration forms are available through the Facebook pages of Shelby County Farm Bureau or Shelby Soil & Water Conservation District.