Kelsey Proue, MT FFA Director of Operations, speaks about youth leadership during a panel discussion at Montana Farmers Union's Women's Conference held at Fairmont Hot Springs in February. Pictured (L-R) Peyton Cole, Kelsey Proue, Abigail Curtis, Linda Kinsey and Calla Donnelly. The Women's Conference has become so popular that MFU is holding a second event, MFU's Eastern Montana Women's Conference, March 31-April 1, Sidney. (Photos and captions provided by Montana Farmers Union)
For the last 10 years, Montana Farmers Union has hosted their Montana Farmers Union Women's Conference on the western half of the state, however, they are excited to be hosting a second event, the Eastern Montana Farmers Union Women's Conference in Sidney March 31- April 1.
"This conference is for and about celebrating women in agriculture, rural communities, leadership and entrepreneurship. It provides an opportunity for them to share and build their skills and connect folks around the state," said Lambert native Rachel Prevost, who is the Montana Farmers Union Membership Services & Government affairs director.
Check in begins at 4:30 p.m. March 31, with the evening events being held at the Sidney Elks Lodge; trivia will begin at 8 p.m. The conference is taking place at the Richland County Extension Office, April 1starting with breakfast, and the day will conclude around 6 p.m. at Meadowlark Brewing.
Some of the conference's events include a cooperative panel, which is fitting as cooperatives are one of Montana Farmers Union's three founding pillars and they actively support patron-owned business. The panel will discuss cooperative benefits, resources, and support.
'Signs of Stress' is another topic to be covered, and will speak to how important mental health is in rural communities, how to recognize those signs of stress in yourself and loved ones, and resources that are available so no one has to go it alone.
Courtney Brown Kibblewhite, Montana Chamber of Commerce chair and the Northern Ag Broadcasting vice-president will be the keynote speaker for the event. Her presentation 'Western Culture and the Stories that Shape Us' is a very powerful address that lends itself to the topic of mental health in rural communities.
The Montana Farmers Union book club will launch during the conference, with the first book being 'The Farmer's Lawyer', written by Sarah Vogel. The book club will meet via Zoom meetings as a way to discuss the novel and continue their connection. The book club will be closing in October 2023.
Sidney was chosen as the location for the Eastern Montana Farmers Union Women's Conference due to the culmination of agriculture across the county, its accessibility to other eastern Montana counties, and its hotel and conference options.
Anyone who would like more information or is interested in attending the Eastern Montana Farmers Union Women's Conference can log onto https://montanafarmersunion.com and click on the Eastern Women's Conference banner across the bottom of their home page. Registration with accommodations closes March 16; registration without accommodations closes March 31.
"For rural communities to thrive, people need to be stepping into leadership roles and these conferences foster that and allow women to connect with others across the state," Prevost stated. "Montana Farmers Union is excited to offer a second conference that is more accessible to Eastern Montana, not only to encourage involvement and leadership, but also to compliment the work that is already being done."
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