Agribusiness Conference to Focus on Opportunities and Challenges of 2020 and Beyond
The Ohio AgriBusiness Association will hold its annual Industry Conference across three days in 2020, Jan. 29, 30 and 31 at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel, providing education and networking opportunities for agribusiness professionals.
This will be the eighth year the Industry Conference has been held, with more than 400 industry professionals attending the 2019 event.
“Attendees continue to tell us the entire conference is an exceptional event providing agribusiness professionals an opportunity to come together as an industry to focus on the issues impacting Ohio,” said Chris Henney, OABA president and CEO. “In an ever-changing business landscape, this year’s conference will look forward into 2020 and beyond to the opportunities and challenges on the horizon, guided by the industry’s leading experts.”
Session topics include economic outlook, trade, blockchain technology, innovating in turbulent times, ethanol industry outlook, soil health and recovery, cover crops, weeds, insects, specialty and alternative crops, alternative nutrient resource management, transportation, workplace safety, and much more.
This year’s conference will expand upon the success of previous years through the addition of a new Safety & Risk Management program. Held on January 29 and open to all conference attendees, this pre-event day offers a deep dive into all aspects of safety and risk management – topics that impact all levels of agribusiness. The full OABA Industry Conference will kick off with the Welcome Reception the evening of January 29.
At the Industry Networking Dinner on Jan. 30, attendees will hear from Shirley Brooks-Jones. Brooks-Jones’ life was forever changed when her plane was diverted to Newfoundland, Canada on September 11th. She and her fellow passengers experienced the boundless hospitality of the locals, which in turn inspired the passengers to launch a scholarship initiative for the youth of the community. At the conference, Brooks-Jones, retired administrator and fundraiser for The Ohio State University, will share her story and inspire attendees to look for ways to give back to their own communities.
Continuing education units (CEUs) are available for both Certified Crop Advisers and state licensed pesticide applicators (OH, IN and PA) that attend the conference. A general agenda will soon be made available at www.oaba.net/events_conference.
All-inclusive registration for the event covers admission to the two main days of educational programming (Jan 30-31), all meals, including the Industry Networking Reception & Dinner and the OABA Annual Meeting. Registration fees are as follows:
Member: $275 ($350 after Jan. 10, 2020)
Non-Member: $425 ($500 after Jan. 10, 2020)
Individual day and reception/dinner-only registrations are also available, as are exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities. Visit www.oaba.net/events_conference for more information and to register.
Hotel accommodations for the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel can be made online by visiting www.oaba.net/events_conference or by calling 614-791-1000. The OABA hotel block reservation deadline is Jan. 10, 2020.