Women involved in agriculture across southeast Iowa are invited to gather next month for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration in Washington.
“Beyond the Fields” is the theme of the 2026 Women in Agriculture Conference, set for March 21, 2026 at the Jim and Evelyn Eash Banquet Room at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington.
The event is hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Washington County, along with the Washington County Women in Agriculture Advisory Board.
Organizers say this year’s conference is designed to equip attendees with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and inspiring stories from women shaping agriculture today.
Rebecca Vittetoe, ISU Extension field agronomist and advisory board member, says organizers are looking forward to the eighth annual conference and have assembled a strong lineup of speakers to help participants truly think “beyond the fields.”
Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including beginning farm programs with representatives from the Farm Service Agency and the Iowa Finance Authority; estate and succession planning with Kristine Tidgren of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University; building a farm-based brand with Ashley Recknor of Purple Ribbon Beef; communication styles through the Real Colors® framework; and a personal look at farm life from Joan Maxwell of Cinnamon Ridge Farms.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the program running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The conference is open to all. Cost is $25, or $15 for students, and includes a light breakfast and lunch. The early registration deadline is March 14th. After that date, fees increase to $35, or $25 for students, with late and walk-in registrations accepted as space allows.
To register or learn more, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Washington County office at 319-653-4811 or register online. Early registration is encouraged.
The conference is made possible through support from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Azariah and Martha Foster Heritage Endowment, Hills Bank, and other local sponsors.