The Hoosier Farmer

When the annual state conven­tion rebranded to the Indiana Ag Gathering, Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron said the name was updated to reflect more space for connection and engag­ing with members and ag industry partners. This year’s Ag Gathering, which takes place Dec. 11 and 12 at the French Lick Springs Hotel, includes five industry partners: Indiana Beef Cattle Association (IBCA), Indiana Pork, Indiana State Poultry Association, AgrIIn­stitute and Indiana Grown.

“Each ag industry partner is do­ing micro-events within Indiana Ag Gathering,” said Chris Fenner, INFB operations and event man­ager. “It was important to Indiana Farm Bureau to collaborate with them as it increases opportuni­ties for our members and presents our organization to a new group of farmers. This is reciprocal for our part­ners.”

There will be educational breakout ses­sions presented by IBCA, Indiana Pork and the Indiana State Poultry Association.

“The breakout sessions are intermingled and open to all in attendance,” Fenner said. “We want their members to attend our breakouts, and our members can sit in on theirs. It gives everyone more options to go to whatever interests them.”

Additional crossover opportunities in­clude:

• Indiana Pork sponsoring a reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 in the Indiana Ag Gathering Market.
• Indiana Beef Cattle Association will host its annual meeting and dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11. Tickets for the meal are $50 and may be purchased with your Indiana Ag Gathering registration.
• AgrIInstitute will host a networking reception for Indiana Agricultural Leader­ship Program alumni from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Valley Bar and Grill.

The Indiana Ag Gathering registration deadline is Dec. 2. Some highlights of the event include:

• Keynote from Damian Mason about words ending in "ation" that will dramat­ically impact the business of agriculture moving forward. From population to reg­ulation, immigration to innovation, infla­tion to confrontation, this program will cover a lot of ground.
• A variety of breakout sessions cover­ing topics such as Ag in the Classroom, ag economy updates, emerging technologies and AI, animal health, 2027 legislative pri­orities, county Farm Bureau activities and more.
• The Hoosier Breakfast presented by AgELECT featuring Chloe Anagnos Pierce, digital strategist and writer who worked on the team that made history by raising a quarter of a billion in small-dol­lar donations during the 2016 presidential campaign.
• The Young Farmers & Ag Profession­als (YF&AP) State Committee will hold a social event at Pluto’s Alley from 8 to 11 p.m. Dec. 11. Bowling and the arcade will be available for all members.
• The INFB YF&AP Discussion Meet competition.
• Election of INFB 2nd vice president during the annual delegate session.
• The Indiana Ag Gathering Market, fea­turing over 40 Indiana Grown vendors. The market will be open from 1:45 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 12.
• The Women's Leadership Committee is coordinating a silent auction at the Indi­ana Ag Gathering. All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the Farm Bureau Foundation. The auction starts at 1:45 p.m. Dec. 11 and ends at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 12.

For more information or to register, visit infb.org/events.

Contact Editor

Robert Herrington

(317) 692-7871

RHerrington@infb.org