The 2014 Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Kicks Off in Just 10 Days

January 6, 2014

Register Now for the 44th Event, to be held in Kansas City January 16-18

The 2014 Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Kicks Off in Just 10 Days

The Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture will be held in Kansas City next week, Jan. 16-18, 2014. The 44th Governor’s Conference on Agriculture will be held at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City and is themed ‘Generations of Progress & Promise.’ Registration is available online at mda.mo.gov through January 13, as well as on site during the event in Kansas City.

The conference program will include nationally-recognized speakers, in-depth discussions and an agriculture trade show, all led by emcee Tom Brand of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. Missouri’s Director of Agriculture, Richard Fordyce, will kick off the event, and Tony Clayton, of Clayton AgriMarketing, will lead the Friday evening BBQ and auction to benefit youth in agriculture. The Conference culminates Sat., Jan. 18 with an awards banquet featuring Governor Jay Nixon and entertainment by award-winning country music star John Michael Montgomery.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with Missouri producers and small business owners during the opening Taste of AgriMissouri reception. The traditional reception, held Thurs., Jan. 16, will feature the finest products Missouri agriculture has to offer, including foods and beverages from Missouri’s agricultural organizations, wineries and other AgriMissouri member companies.

Sessions throughout the three-day event include a panel discussion among Missouri’s agricultural commodity leaders, an Agriculture Issues Update led by a team from Shook, Hardy and Bacon, LLP and Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, and seminars on energy, research and technology, and highlighting successes and opportunities for youth in agriculture. The Peterson Farm Bros, YouTube celebrities with viral videos like “Chore” and “I’m a Farmer and I Grow It” will also lead a session Saturday afternoon.

The Governor’s Conference on Agriculture will also include a session titled “The Growth of a Missouri Wine Culture,” featuring Doug Frost, a Master Sommelier and Master of Wine – one of only three people in the world to hold such distinctions.

The Conference is open to the public; however registration is required for most events. Conference information is available on the Department’s website, mda.mo.gov, and through the social media hashtag #MoAgGovCon. The event is funded through sponsorships and registrations.

For more information about the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, visit mda.mo.gov.