Theme: Building Your Business: Starting Strong, Scaling Smart, Succeeding Strategically

"Building Your Business: Starting Strong, Scaling Smart, Succeeding Strategically" brings together women in agriculture to share practical tools, proven strategies, and inspiring stories for launching and maintaining resilient farms and agribusiness ventures. Attendees will learn how to build solid foundations, apply data-driven scaling techniques, and create strategic plans that balance growth with sustainability. The conference fosters peer networks, mentorship opportunities, and actionable takeaways to help women turn ambitions into profitable, long-lasting enterprises.

All attendees are welcome to participate regardless of race, gender, or any other protected status. For University of Minnesota’s notice of nondiscrimination, click here.

Location

The Park Event Center, 500 Division St, Waite Park, MN 56387, Waite Park, Minnesota.

Schedule

February 3, 2026 (8 a.m.): Women in Ag Network Conference check-in opens

February 3, 2026 (8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.): Women in Ag Network Conference

Optional

February 2, 2026 (1-3:30 p.m.): Pre-conference sessions (run simultaneously)

• Ambiguous Loss Training
• Organic Management Strategies for Pests and Weeds in Vegetable Crops

February 2, 2026 (6 p.m.): Optional group dinner at Mavericks Steak & Cocktails

Cost

Early bird registration (On or before January 14, 2026)

• Adult one-day conference (Feb 3): $95
• Pre-session only (Feb 2): $25
• Adult one-day conference + pre-session (Feb 2-3): $120
• Student one-day conference (Feb 3) - must show student ID at conference check-in: $75
• Student one-day conference + pre-session (Feb 2-3): $90

Regular registration (On or after January 15, 2026)

• Adult one-day conference (Feb 3): $125
• Pre-session only (Feb 2): $25
• Adult one-day conference + pre-session (Feb 2-3): $150
• Student one-day conference (Feb 3) - must show student ID at conference check-in: $75
• Student one-day conference + pre-session (Feb 2-3): $90

To view the most up to date conference information including the agenda, speakers, hotel reservation information and more, visit the conference website.

Conference contacts

Elaine Hardy, wagne079@umn.edu, O: 218-828-2273

Rebecca Groos, rgroos@umn.edu, O: 612-625-5923

Registration help or questions

Contact Extension Registration at ext-reg@umn.edu

If you experience difficulties logging in

Log in with an existing account or sign in as a new user. *If you have an account already but haven't logged in for over 365 days, you'll need to reset your password.* Contact the University of Minnesota IT Help Line at 612-301-4357. Please mention you are using a University of Minnesota "guest account."

To register by phone

Paying online using our registration portal is secure, available 24 hours a day, and provides immediate and guaranteed enrollment. However, if you wish to register by phone, Extension registration professionals are here to help. Please contact us using one of the following methods. We will be in touch within three business days.

• Request registration by phone: z.umn.edu/registrationhelp (preferred)
• or call our voicemail line to leave a message at (612) 626-5174

Registration cancellation policy – read completely

• Cancellations must be requested by Tuesday, January 20 at noon. All cancellations will incur a $30 administration fee.
• Cancellation requests received on or after January 20 at noon are not available for a refund. To request a cancellation, send an email with all pertinent details to the Extension registration team at ext-reg@umn.edu.

Please start your registration by either logging in or signing in as a new user. If you are registering someone other than yourself and/or multiple people you must select "I am registering one or more people."