13 micro talks on tap for Annual Meeting

More than a dozen micro talks ranging from topics including CDL training, ethanol demand, farm youth emotional wellbeing and more will be offered during Illinois Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting.

The sessions are scheduled Dec. 7 and 8 at the Palmer House in Chicago. A tradition at Annual Meeting, the talks bring experts and members together to share information on popular agricultural topics.

The lineup includes:

• Melody Rosche, IFB local government research specialist: “Examining the Support of Urban Agriculture across the U.S.”
• Jennifer Killian, IAA Credit Union marketing manager: “Raising Money-Smart Kids!”
• Collin Watters, director of exports & logistics, IL Corn: “Ethanol Demand to Maximize Farmer Profitability”
• Sanjay Sofat, IFB director of environmental policy, and Amelia Cheek, associate director of environmental policy: “PFAS Basic”
• Josie Rudolphi, assistant professor and Extension specialist in agricultural safety and health, University of Illinois: “Farm Youth Mental Health”
• Ryan Tate, IFB associate director of local government: “Investing in Rural — IFB’s Rural Development Grant Program”
• Craig Conroy, COUNTRY Financial agribusiness product manager: “Investing in your Farm’s Future”
• Sierra Henry, IFB media relations specialist, and Jeff Rogers, executive director of the Illinois Press Foundation/Capitol News Illinois: “The State of the Newsroom”
• Jacob Dickey, WCIA meteorologist: “Weather and Agriculture”
• Organizational Membership Strategy subcommittee members (farmer leaders): “Organizational Member Strategy & Changing for the Future”
• Kevin Semlow, IFB Governmental Affairs & Commodities executive director: “Legislative & Regulatory Update”
• Rodney Knittel, IFB associate director of transportation & infrastructure: “Training Employees to Get a CDL”
• Kevin Daugherty, IFB education director, and Chris Wyant, education manager: “Illinois AITC and Awesome Agriculture”

Annual Meeting also will feature a free concert Dec. 7 by country music singer Drew Baldridge, whose song “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” reached No. 1 on the country music charts.

To register, contact your county Farm Bureau.