The first Jackson County Women in Agriculture information meeting will be April 24, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1401 W. 4^th Street, Holton, KS.  At 4 p.m. David Hallauer and Jody Holthaus with the Meadowlark Extension District will speak on “Horticulture Tips” and “Women with Livestock and Pastures.”  Salads and sandwiches will follow at 4:30 p.m. compliments of the Jackson County Conservation District and will be served throughout the evening. 

At 5 p.m. Shannon Maxwell, Holton FFA President, will speak on “Teens in Ag” followed by Kay Albright, Jackson County Farm Bureau Association, on “Women in Ag Careers”; Marlene Bosworth, Delaware WRAPS, on “Women and Water Quality” and Holly Wilkins, Pheasants Forever Wildlife Biologist, on “Women & Wildlife”.

At 5:45 p.m. featured speaker Marylyn Bell from Lincoln, Kansas will speak on “Tips from the Trenches.”  Marylyn’s husband, Bryon, taught at Soldier High School in the early 1960’s.  In addition to farming, Byron was the Jr. High School Coach and 7^th grade teacher at Tescott, KS, at the time of his death in August 1986 due to an accident just two miles from their country home.  Their youngest child, (who miraculously survived the accident), had not yet started Kindergarten.  She will encourage attendees to help others who have to endure something such as this and give a few examples of what they can do to help.  Her talk in a nutshell is a list of some of the things to think about and have taken care of in case of the sudden loss of a spouse.  The list is not all-inclusive, but it is meant as a place to get started with emphasis on “don’t put it off.”

At 6:15 p.m. featured speaker Gregg Hadley, PhD, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Community Development, K-State Research and Extension will speak on “Passing on the Farm – Steps to a Successful Transition.”

In order to know how much food to prepare, please call the Conservation District office by April 20th at (785)364-4638, ext. 136 if you plan to attend.  Men are invited to attend as well.

Sponsors for the Women in Ag information meeting include the Jackson County Conservation District, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Farm Service Agency, NRCS, Meadowlark Extension District, K-State Research and Extension, Jackson County Farm Bureau Association and the Delaware WRAPS