8:00am-8:30am Registration and Breakout

8:30am-8:45am Welcome

8:45am-9:45am Keynote: Brooke Taylor - Rural Gone Urban "The Unfiltered Journey"

9:45am-10:00am Break

10:00am-10:50am Morning Breakouts:

Brooke Taylor - Rural Gone Urban "10 Essential Do's and Don'ts for a Thriving Career in Marketing"

Dive into the dynamic world of agricultural marketing communications with Brooke Clay Taylor, a seasoned strategist and the founder of Rural Gone Urban. This session will outline the top ten actionable strategies—both what to embrace and what to avoid—to build a successful career in this unique field. Drawing from her own unconventional journey from a cow calf operation in Perkins, Okla. in Franklin, Indiana, to becoming a leading voice in agricultural communications, Brooke will share how she navigated academic challenges, career transitions, and personal trials, and founding the Rural Gone Urban Foundation. Whether you’re a student stepping into the field or a professional seeking to enhance your path, these insights will equip you to effectively communicate in the ag sector, leverage your unique background, and overcome obstacles with resilience and creativity. Join Brooke for an unfiltered look at achieving career success where passion for agriculture and strategic communication converge.

Karen Stallman - "Farm Family Resource Initiative in Illinois"

The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development (CRHSSD) is leading the effort to build a network of support and resources for Illinois farm families. The purpose of the initiative is to provide a range of resources including a helpline to assist with farmer and farm-related issues that include mental and physical health needs. Additionally, the initiative offers ongoing outreach, education and training to rural clients and partners working to improve the health and safety of farm families. Learn about the Farm Family Resource Initiative and the many resources it offers.

Laura Fidler "Boots, Boardrooms & Babes"

Laura knows first-hand the level of mental fitness and strength it takes to go from putting on your boots and working to sitting down at a business boardroom table. Join Laura as she shares in the current livestock marketing trends, industry policies and empowers you to grow your knowledge, mental fitness and business.

11:00am-11:50am Mid-Day Panel: Kathrin Grady, Laura Fidler, and Allison Schwingle "Work-Life Balance: What Does That Even Mean"

11:50am-1:00pm Lunch

1:10pm-2:00pm Afternoon Breakouts:

Rodney Knittel "The Voice of Reason - Why Women are Vital to Agriculture Safety"

It is no secret that agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. Growing up on a farm and currently raising livestock with his family Rodney will share with you why he believes women in agriculture are so vital to agriculture safety regardless of if you arethe boss, spouse, sister, grandma, or an employee of the farm/business.

Katherine Coyle, Hilary Denk and Katie Main "Bridging the Gap: Connecting Constituents, Congress, and Agriculture Through District Offices"

Join a panel of three female District Directors as they discuss the role of congressional district offices, the types of assistance they provide to constituents, and their interactions with Farm Bureaus and members. The panel will also explain how constituents can effectively engage with their congressman through district office staff, including who to contact and what to expect.

Garrett Thalgott "What You Ought to Know: Renewable Energy Contracts"

We will discuss common terms found in renewable energy leases, including leases for wind and solar installations.

2:00pm-2:10pm Break

2:10pm-3:10pm Closing: Brooke Taylor - Rural Gone Urban "Bravery in Just Living: Making the Most Before the Epilogue"

In this stirring keynote, Brooke Clay Taylor, a two-time cancer survivor and visionary entrepreneur, invites you to confront a universal truth: we all have an expiration date. Yet, it’s not the endpoint that defines us but the richness of our lives before we draft our final words. Brooke will share her transformative experiences—leaving the fast-paced city life, reclaiming her last name, launching a successful business and a meaningful foundation, and making pivotal decisions about which contracts to accept and which to decline. This session goes beyond surviving challenges like cancer; it's a vibrant call to action to live fully and authentically in the present. Join Brooke for an inspirational journey that encourages embracing every moment, making intentional choices, and finding the courage to live a life that truly matters—before we design our headstones or craft our obituaries. Her message will empower you to seize your days with intention and celebrate the 'just living' part of our existence with all the bravery you can muster.

3:10pm Wrap Up

*Speakers are subject to change*