March 17-18, 2023 Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Fond du Lac
The Ag LEAD Summit will give attendees the opportunity to learn more about tools, resources, ideas and best practices when advocating for agriculture and conducting promotional events. The summit is being coordinated by WFBF’s Promotion and Education Committee whose mission is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture and provide leadership development for the agricultural community.
The conference will be broken into four tracks: Leading Your Own Self Development, Engaging Consumers, Advocating for Agriculture and Developing Agribusinesses. Registration for this event is open to current Farm Bureau members and non-members.
Click here for a preview of the 2023 Ag LEAD Summit.
Hotel Information
Hotel room reservations are NOT included with the conference registration fee. If you need a hotel room, please make your reservations at:
Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
625 Rolling Meadows Drive, Fond du Lac
For reservations, call 920.638.4175.
Friday, March 17
Transformational Leadership: How to Inspire the Best in Others
Presented by Chris Hinrichs
The world is starving for competent and trustworthy leadership. Continuously advancing your leadership skills and learning how to maximize your natural strengths and leverage the strengths of those around you is a most noble and fundamental life endeavor. There are solid proven principles and practices that all effective leaders have embraced throughout history. Becoming someone who people willingly want to follow (whether a paid employee or volunteer participant) is a constant work in progress, working towards inspiring commitment from others instead of mere compliance. This session will focus on those principles and practices that can tap into one's courage to embrace the path of becoming a transformational leader.
Friday, March 17
Midwest Dueling Pianos
Join us for a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience with Midwest Dueling Pianos! They will have you singing, cheering, dancing and laughing so hard you’ll be doubled over gasping for breath.
Saturday, March 18
Center for Food Integrity Consumer Panel
Do you really know what consumers think and how their attitudes, fears and purchasing behaviors are shaped? This Center for Food Integrity Consumer Panel is an opportunity to hear straight from the source and then ask questions to learn more about motivations, perceptions, and how the food and agriculture industry can help them make more informed choices. Attendees of this ‘eye-opening’ panel will come away with new perspectives that can help guide communication approaches to enhance engagement with consumers.
Saturday, March 18
What's Next in Your Advocacy Journey?
Conferences are great, but the real action afterward is what matters most. This session will debrief the information from previous sessions and allow participants to create an action plan for their next steps in agricultural advocacy.
Friday, March 17
Turning Information into Action
Presented by Chris Hinrichs
Principles and practices without a plan for application carry little weight. This workshop will focus on developing your leadership beliefs/values and creating a specific plan to immediately apply those in your unique work environment. You will take away a specific action plan that you can implement directly within your circle of influence.
Friday, March 17
Why Promotion and Education is for YOU!
Andrea Brossard, AFBF Promotion and Education Vice Chair
The newest American Farm Bureau Federation committee hit the ground running in 2015. The Promotion and Education Committee was formed with the mission to develop and centralize resources that inspire and equip Farm Bureau to convey the significance of agriculture. The committee fills an important role in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers by providing tools and resources to other Farm Bureau members who are eager to help share agriculture’s story. Join past AFBF Promotion and Education Vice-Chair, Andrea Brossard, to dig into the many growth opportunities through this committee and Farm Bureau and learn why Promotion and Education is for YOU!
Friday, March 17
Create Your Own Consumer and DIY Your Dialogue
Rachel Gerbitz, WFBF Director of Sustainability Communications and Partnerships
What does the average consumer look like? Who do you see at the grocery store? What do you want them to know about food and agriculture? During this interactive session, we will explore the demographics of the consumers in your community and create a dialogue to effectively share your story with them.
Friday, March 17
Moo-Velous Educational Events
Amy Ries, Director of Agricultural Programs, Fond du Lac Agri-Business Council, joined by a panel of Agri-Business council volunteers
Looking for ideas to educate the public about the agriculture industry in Wisconsin? Join the Fond du Lac Agri-Business Council to discuss their successful classroom program and other events, such as Breakfast on the Farm, Agriculture Showcase, Day on the Farm, and the Gift Box Fundraiser. They have also collaborated with National Exchange Bank & Trust to host June Dairy Day, the Fond du Lac County Fair to create the Moo-ternity Ward and Education Center, and the Children's Museum of Fond du Lac to design and build the Farmtastic Exhibit. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the event logistics and ask questions about the planning stages and committee duties.
Friday, March 17
Meet the Food + Farm Exploration Center
Malorie Paine, Marketing and Communications Manager, Food + Farm Exploration Center
The Food + Farm Exploration Center, a state-of-the-art science and technology center, children’s museum, teaching farm and more, is slated to open in Summer 2023. Through the common ground of food, the Exploration Center will meet visitors where they are and bridge the gap in understanding of where food comes from, the innovative technology-driven nature of the industry and more. This session will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how the Food + Farm Exploration Center will accomplish bridging the growing divide in what people know about food production.
Friday, March 17
Tackling Tough Topics
Jordan Henry, American Farm Bureau Federation
It can be tough talking about controversial agricultural topics with non-farmers, but it’s necessary. This workshop focuses on building trust and encouraging productive discussion. It will give you tools to make it easier to tackle those tough topics without being “unfriended” or getting blocked on social media.
Reignite Your Strategy of Storytelling
Reignite Your Strategy of Storytelling
Effective storytelling is powerful. It can drive action, build trust, mobilize supporters, create change, and more. Storytelling resonates with listeners and brings the passion of the story to life. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin will share what is working to connect with consumers and resources you can leverage to help you tell your story.
Friday, March 17
Trends in Agricultural Tourism
Sheila Everhart, Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association
Clara Hedrich, LaClare Family Creamery
Abigail Winkel, Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center
Learn what is new in 2023 and why Wisconsin is recognized as America’s agricultural tourism destination. This session will include a discussion on ways to get started inviting guests to your working farm and different models for agriculture tourism tours. If you are a farmer thinking about diversifying your revenue streams while protecting your assets this session is for you.
Farm Financial Management: Simple Ways to Level Up Your Value-Added Farm Business
Andy Larson, Food Finance Institute
The Food Finance Institute helps businesses in the food, beverage, and value-added ag sectors improve profitability and get capital-ready. This session is for farms considering direct-market and value-added agriculture. Join Andy Larson for a discussion about ways to increase profitability, what your gross profit margins tell you about how to invest in your farm enterprises, and finding the right target customers.