2026 Agenda

2026 Tentative Agenda

Breakout sessions are still being finalized and confirmed.

Thursday, February 12, 2026

8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Exhibitor Set up

9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Registration and check-in - Conference Center Foyer

9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Pre-conference Workshops (optional) Choose from one of three options, $25 fee

• Pre-Partum Conditioning & Calving School

• AI (artificial intelligence) in Farming

• Building Resilience - Mental Health

Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Keynote Speaker - Erica Leubner - Kaw Nation/Big Basin

1:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Break

1:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions 1

• Family Harmony Through Succession Planning, Lisa Quist, Nationwide - Land As Your Legacy
  Farmers and ranchers state that their weakest link in transition planning is not technology or information, but rather human relationship management. When it comes to transition planning, there is a close relationship between how well a family communicates and the probability of success. Good communication helps define what the issues are and can validate or invalidate assumptions. Lisa Quist will share with us tips for successful communication and best practices which can help make the transition of our farms and ranches smoother, with the end goal of all the children still celebrating holidays together after the transition has taken place.

• Cows That Last: Tools for Building an Efficient Cow Herd, Emma Briggs, Kansas State University
  This session will give participants practical tools to use genetics for improving cow herd efficiency. Attendees will learn how to read and apply Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and selection indexes, and how to make better culling and replacement decisions. The focus is on simple, actionable strategies to match genetics with forage resources, environment, and ranch goals. Participants will leave with greater confidence in using genetic tools to guide herd management, select replacement females, and choose herd bulls that improve efficiency and profitability.

• Legal Tools Today for the Farm Legacies of Tomorrow, Corinne Petrik, Kansas Legal Services, and Kay Prather, Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services
  Learn how Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services (KAMS) and Kansas Legal Services (KLS) support farm families with free and low-cost resources. This session highlights KLS’s Estate Planning Program for Kansans 60+, plus the new KLS Agricultural Legal Assistance Program. KAMS will outline mediation, transition planning, financial counseling, and legal education services that help families protect assets, resolve conflict, and plan for the future of their farm or ranch.

• Crop Insurance 101: The Basics & What’s New, Zoe Kaiser, Crop Insurance Agent
  Whether you're a seasoned producer or new to farming, crop insurance is a key tool for managing risk and protection your operation. In this session, we’ll break down the basics – policy types, coverage options and how revenue policies work along with the latest farm program updates. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of the changes coming this season and the tools available to help safeguard both your crops and your bottom line.

• Every Inch: Standing Tall in Your Calling, Kate Langworthy, Staff Attorney at Kansas Department of Agriculture
  Leaning heavily on Kate's experience as a woman standing over 6' tall, this breakout session will explore internal and external pressures that encourage women to contort themselves into a mold made for someone else. As women in agriculture are tasked with a variety of roles at home and on the farm, it is easy to let fear diminish confidence and leave full potential out of reach. During the session, attendees will be encouraged to take stock of shrinking thoughts that affect their lives and learn about strategies to overcome those lies and stand at their full height in any room.

2:45 - 3:00 p.m.
Break

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Breakout Sessions 2

• Financial Planning

• Designing Successful On-Farm Events, Cece Leung, Yue Teng Vaughan, and Cindy Lerick, Kansas State University
  This session explores how women farm owners can successfully host on-farm events to generate new revenue streams and strengthen community connections. From weddings and festivals to birthday parties, company retreats, and educational workshops, farms are uniquely positioned to provide memorable experiences blending agriculture and hospitality. Participants learn how to build infrastructure, plan and market events, and address risk management while ensuring a safe and welcoming environment through real-life examples. Designed for women interested in diversifying operations through event-based opportunities, the interactive session guide attendees in developing an event concept tailored to their farm, including theme, audience, infrastructure, and promotion strategies.

• Panel: Rural Women Leadership in their Community

• Farm Program Updates

• Savoring Sorghum: Turning a Heritage Grain into Everyday Flavors, Chuckie Hessong, Laughing Rooster Eats
  This session will introduce attendees to the versatility and benefits of incorporating sorghum, an American-raised heritage grain into their kitchens. Through a recipe demonstration featuring prepared forms of sorghum, this session will provide practical tools and inspiration for both experienced and novice home cooks. The Women Grow the Farm conference empowers women with resources to effectively manage their farm interests. This session aligns with that mission by showcasing a practical way to add value and diversity to a commodity that has been grown in Kansas for generations. It addresses the changing roles of farm women by providing them with a tangible skill they can use for personal or professional purposes, such as creating new family recipes or developing a value-added product for a farm business. The session will also highlight how to market and utilize sorghum beyond traditional uses, positioning it as a consumer-friendly, nutrient-dense, and sustainable grain.

4:00 - 4:15 p.m.
Break

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions 3

• Agricultural Income Tax Update - One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Mark Dikeman, Kansas Farm Management Association/KSU
  The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was passed in 2024 adjusted or extended many individual and business income tax provisions. This session will highlight some of the changes and extensions from this bill and the impact on agricultural producers in Kansas.

• Beyond the Classroom: Empowering Women in Technical Trades and Agriculture, Stacey Jones, Highland Community College
  Step into the world of hands-on careers where grit meets grace, and young women are redefining what it means to work in the trades and agriculture. This session explores how women across rural Kansas are building thriving careers, and communities, through welding, diesel, construction, and other technical and ag-based professions. Drawing on real experiences from technical education and industry partnerships, this session will challenge outdated perceptions, share stories of trailblazing women in the field, and offer practical strategies for encouraging the next generation of female leaders in agriculture and skilled trades. Participants will leave inspired, connected, and equipped with tools to advocate for themselves and others in their workplaces and communities.

• Turning Assets into Legacy: Transition Strategies for Land and Beyond, Lori Rogge, Gene Francis & Associates and Lindsey Pannbacker, Kansas 4-H Foundation
  Transition planning goes beyond land—it includes all assets and how they shape both family security and future legacy. This session will help participants evaluate options for selling, leasing, or gifting farmland and other assets such as grain and stock, while considering retirement income and tax implications. We will also explore strategies for annual giving (yearly charitable gifts), major gifts (larger one-time contributions), and planned or deferred gifts (through wills, trusts, or estate plans) that align with family values and charitable goals. Attendees will leave with checklists and action steps to start building their own transition and legacy plan.

• Crop Insurance

• Communication Strategies, Janice Person, Grounded by the Farm

5:15 - 6:00 p.m.
Break

6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Evening Event, Museum of Art + Light
Conceived as the first contemporary art museum in the world to showcase immersive, digital and permanent collections from inception — MoA+L will explore the limitless convergence of visual art, the creative process and digital technology. Learn more at https://artlightmuseum.org/

Friday, February 13, 2026

7:30 - 9:15 a.m.
Breakfast & Keynote Speaker - Marilyn Vetter - Kaw Nation/Big Basin

9:15 - 9:30 a.m.
Break

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Breakout Sessions 4

• Crop Budgeting Strategies for Lean Years, Robin Reid & LaVell Winsor, KSU Department of Ag Econ
  When margins are slim, every dollar counts. In this session, we will look at simple, practical ways to make crop budgeting work for your farm. We will walk through how to develop a budget, evaluate your cost of production to identify marketing opportunities, and compare potential profitability between enterprises. Participants will learn how to use budgets not just as record-keeping tools, but as decision-making guides to identify opportunities, reduce risk, and plan for future.

• Modernizing Your Accounting Systems & Processes, Tammy Bryant, Varney & Associates, CPAs
  As agriculture operations grow more complex and data-driven, outdated accounting systems can create bottlenecks. This breakout session is designed specifically for agri-businesses looking to modernize their financial systems and streamline accounting workflows. From farm inputs, commodity sales, equipment depreciation and seasonal labor costs, agricultural accounting has unique challenges that demand tailored solutions. Join us to explore how updating your systems can improve visibility, accuracy, and decision-making across your operation.
  Key Takeaways:
  • How to evaluate if your current accounting system is meeting the demands of modern agri-business
  • What to look for in ag-focused accounting software
  • How to align financial systems with operational goals

• Evaluating Capacity for Growth and Transition in your Operation, Jennifer Carr, K-State Extension-Harper County
  No matter the size, every farm or ranch is always evolving. Many factors drive change—but how do you know which direction to take? This session will focus on understanding the resources you already have and how they guide your next steps. We’ll talk about evaluating your human, infrastructure, and financial capital before making changes or adding enterprises. While geared toward beginning producers, there’s something here for everyone. You’ll leave with practical tools to assess your capacity and plan with confidence for growth or transition in your operation.

• Straight Talk on Insurance: Protecting Your Legacy in a Changing World, Nicole Gueck, Specialty Risk Insurance
  Insurance may not be the most thrilling topic—but it can make or break everything you’ve built. In this session, Nicole Gueck brings a fresh, practical perspective on how to protect your farm, ranch, or business in today’s changing world. She’ll cut through the noise, share insider insight on the current market, and show you how to approach insurance with confidence instead of confusion. Expect straight talk, relatable examples, and strategies you can actually use. You’ll walk away empowered to make smarter decisions, ask better questions, and safeguard the legacy you’re working hard to grow.

• Kids, Cows, and Chaos: Lessons on Growth from the Classroom and the Pasture, Kacie Lockyear, Kids, Cows, and Chaos
  From the kindergarten classroom to the cattle pasture, growth happens everywhere—sometimes in the most unexpected ways. In this session, Kacie Lockyear shares her journey of learning to tell her agriculture story with confidence while balancing life as a teacher, rancher’s wife, and mom. Participants will walk away with creative ideas for bringing agriculture into classrooms and communities, simple ways to connect with others about farm life, and inspiration to find their own voice in sharing the story of agriculture.

10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Break - Visit vendors/exhibitors - Silent Auction ends at 10:45 a.m.

11:00 - Noon
Breakout Sessions 5

• Cash & Accrual Accounting - Their Importance for an Ag Operation, Kellen Liebsch & Chelsea Plummer, Kansas Farm Management Association
  This session explores cash and accrual accounting methods tailored for agricultural operations. Participants will learn the key differences between the two approaches, specifically for taxation and managerial purposes. Objectives include understanding when to apply each method, interpreting financial statements, and evaluating profitability and cash flow. Through hands-on exercises, attendees will analyze sample farm records, convert cash data to accrual format, and assess the financial health of an operation. Designed for producers, farm managers, and ag professionals, this session equips participants with practical tools to improve recordkeeping accuracy and make informed financial decisions for any ag operation.

• Soil Health & Cover Crops, Dana Peterson

• New World Screwworm, Dr. Sara McReynolds

• One Plan, Three Pillars: Grain Markets, Crop Insurance, Marketing Tools, Tim Strunk & Laci Schafer, AgMarket Insurance Services LLC/AgMarket.net
  Join us for an overview of current grain market issues and then dive into how that impacts crop insurance decisions ahead of the upcoming Sales Closing Date. We will also discuss how to utilize those crop insurance strategies throughout the growing season and marketing year alongside other grain marketing tools to create and maintain an effective risk management plan for your operation.

• Sustaining the Future of Agriculture through Ag Literacy, Nancy Zenger-Beneda, Kansas Foundation for Ag in the Classroom
  Agriculture is Kansas’s number one industry, yet fewer and fewer people truly understand the origins of their food, fiber, and fuel. Agricultural literacy bridges that gap by helping people make meaningful connections within their world. This session, Sustaining the Future of Agriculture through Ag Literacy, will explore what agricultural literacy is, why it matters, and how it equips youth with the knowledge and skills to become informed consumers, innovative leaders, and the agricultural workforce of tomorrow. Participants will also discover practical ways they can support this mission through teaching, volunteering, or investing in resources for Kansas classrooms.

Noon - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch & Keynote Speaker - Janice Person - Kaw Nation/Big Basin

2:00 p.m.
Adjourn