Ohio State University (OSU) Extension will host the 8th Annual East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference. The conference is planned for Friday, March 24 from 
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691. All women and young women (high school age) who are interested, involved in, or want to become involved with food, agricultural, or natural resources production or small business are encouraged to attend.
The conference program features a networking fair and sixteen breakout sessions presented by OSU Extension educators, producers, and partner agencies. Sessions this year are focused around four themes Business & Finance, Plants & Animals, Home & Family, and Special Interest (includes break-out with Ohio FFA State Officers). The conference keynote will be led by Rebecca Miller, Farm and Dairy Editor-in-Chief. Her keynote presentation “Clinging to context in a noisy world: don’t lose sight of the “why” in what you do” will. Agriculture is often so much more to us than a job, which makes it hard when we face push back — from people around us and from influences outside of our control. Rebecca will share her path through farming and journalism and how she’s grappled with the questions. New this year is a Youth Symposium opportunity for high school and college students to present their research, SEA, capstone, thesis, or other study projects.
Registered participants, community organizations, or businesses interested in sponsorship can contact 740-722-6074.
Interested individuals can register for the conference online at go.osu.edu/eowia2023 .Cost of the conference is $60 for adult participants and $30 for students. Conference fee includes conference participation, breakfast, lunch, and conference handouts. Deadline for registration is Friday, March 10. For additional information locally, please contact Emily Marrison, OSU Extension Coshocton County at 740-722-6074.
Stay connected with the Ohio Women in Agriculture Learning Network on Facebook @OHwomeninag or subscribe to the Ohio Women in Agriculture blogsite at u.osu.edu/ohwomeninag.
New for 2023 – High school and college undergraduate students are invited to present on an agriculture-related topic.
This may be a research project on a topic related to agriculture or natural resources, an aspect of an FFA Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE), or an agriculture or natural resource topic of special interest to the student. Students may present as an individual or part of a team (maximum of 5 members).
Students are asked to submit their proposals (http://go.osu.edu/EOWIATeenPresenter) by Sunday, February 26, 2023. Scoring considerations are as follows.
50 Points – Agriculture or Natural Resources Related Topic
30 Points – Program description including connection between the topic and the field of agriculture and/or natural resources.
10 Points – Future Implications
10 Points – Research method, evaluation and/or sources for topic of interest
Five projects will be selected for 5-7 minute Ignite Sessions (2:45-3:30 pm). Those five projects, as well as additional projects, will be invited to display a poster during the event from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. Posters do not need to be manned, although an optional meet the poster presenter time will be held 12:00 – 12:30 pm.
Students will be notified of their acceptance by March 3, 2023.
Students who are selected for the Ignite session and/or poster sessions may attend the full event, including lunch, for $10. There is no fee for students who are only attending the poster presenter time or the Ignite session and not having lunch.
For additional information, please contact Chris Kendle, OSU Extension Tuscarawas County at 330-339-2337.