Northeast Community College’s AgCeptional Women’s Conference set for Nov. 19

NORFOLK, Neb. – Registration is currently underway for the 13th annual Northeast Community College AgCeptional Women’s Conference – a day-long event to be held on Fri., Nov. 19, in the Lifelong Learning Center on the Northeast campus in Norfolk. The conference theme this year is “Seasons.”

The AgCeptional Women’s Conference is northeast Nebraska’s premier event for women in agriculture, attracting over 400 women who come together for a full day of networking, professional development and personal growth opportunities. The conference sells out each year.

The opening session will feature a keynote speaker who understands the difficulties many people who work in farming face. Erica McBeth was raised on a farm in southwestern Kentucky where she struggled with the “dirty little family secret of depression.” Her light-hearted presentation addresses mental health and depression in the heartland and how to help those who are struggling.

Dr. Angela Baysinger, animal welfare lead for North America for Merck Animal Health, will speak during the closing session. Her message will pertain to serving as agricultural advocates in addressing animal welfare with consumers.

The conference will also feature over 20 presenters speaking on a number of topics, including succession planning, opportunities in livestock production, economic opportunities for value-added sorghum in Nebraska, the meatless meat debate, agriculture related tax issues, skin cancer prevention, and reasons for the seasons, among others.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has really affected the agriculture industry as a whole, so we are really excited to have a day dedicated to the women in agriculture who have been working tirelessly, never taking a day off, during the last year and a half,” said Karmen Hake, conference administrative assistant. “Our conference recognizes the important role women play in agriculture and we take pride in acknowledging them with this day.”

A tribute to the 2021 AgCeptional Woman of the Year will also be a highlight of the conference.

The registration fee for the 2021 AgCeptional Women’s Conference is $45, which includes breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.

“We are able to keep the cost of attending the conference affordable thanks to the support of the many sponsors of our event.” Hake said.

To register or learn more about the conference, go online to northeast.edu/events/agceptional. For additional information, call Hake at (402) 844-7181 or email agceptional@northeast.edu.