Heart of the Farm Conference for Women

KIEL – Six presentations are on the agenda for the 2017 Heart of the Farm farm management and production education for women to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 23 at the Millhome Supper Club, Kiel.

The opening “Gathering Around the Table” discussion on the importance of conversations for farming families will be led by Washington County Extension Service agriculture agent Stephanie Plaster.

An update on the Wisconsin Agriculture Education Center to be constructed near Newton in Manitowoc County will be given by the center's director of education and programming Melissa Bender and Manitowoc County Extension Service dairy agent Scott Gunderson.

A recipe for success in working with agricultural lenders will be shared by agriculture and business service specialist Cari Sabel of the Cleveland State Bank. To conclude the morning session, Elsie Gonzalez of Motiva Training and Consulting at West Bend will offer ideas on how to build a winning multi-cultural team.

Following the noon lunch, the first hour of the afternoon is scheduled as a dairy herd health question and answer session with Lindley Reilly of the Cedar Grove Veterinarian Clinic. Then the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board's (WMMB) manager for cheese education and training Sara Hill will conduct a wine and cheese pairing and tasting event.

The day's $25 registration fee includes the noon meal, snacks at breaks, and program materials. The registration deadline in Thursday, Mar. 16.

To register, send a check to UW Extension, Fond du Lac County, c/o Heart of the Farm, Room 227, Administration/Extension Building, 400 University Drive, Fond du Lac, WI 54935-2998. For an additional $1.50 fee, registration with a credit card is available by calling (920) 929-3171.

In addition to the Extension Service and the WMMB, sponsors of the Heart of the Farm program are the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Wisconsin – Madison Center for Dairy Profitability.