By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Engagement Committee recently hosted its one-day Cultivate & Connect Conference on February 21 at the Bridgewood Conference Center in Neenah.
This initiative aims to inspire, engage, and empower Farm Bureau members and agriculture leaders by offering innovative learning experiences, networking opportunities, and actionable insights to advance Wisconsin’s agriculture industry.
More than 60 attendees participated, including Farm Bureau members, collegiate members, committee representatives, and other agriculture professionals.
"I wanted to come to Cultivate & Connect this year because it is my first year being my county’s Promotion and Engagement chair,” shared Alana Biermeier from Juneau County Farm Bureau.
“I love the idea of being able to connect and learn more about the resources we have through Farm Bureau and take home new ideas to implement in our own Promotion and Engagement program.”
The event kicked off with a pre-conference activity Friday evening at Fox Valley Technical College, where attendees received a behind-the-scenes tour of the culinary program with Chef Jeff Igel.
Saturday began with a keynote by Marlene Eick from Ohio Farm Bureau. Eick encouraged participants to expand their relationships and strengthen their leadership influence.
“If we want to build influence, we need to keep showing up,” Eick said. “Let them know they can trust you and you are a credible resource.”
In the afternoon, dairy farmer and digital creator Annaliese Wegner delivered a keynote encouraging attendees to share their personal stories boldly.
"You will never be great at anything until you give yourself the opportunity to start something,” Wegner said. “Your story matters and you have a unique perspective to share.”
The conference also featured two interactive workshops. “Explore, Collaborate, Cultivate!” offered hands-on activities to spark ideas for local promotion, while “Ready, Set, Connect!” helped attendees leverage their unique skills to engage with consumers effectively.
“Attendees were able to build confidence, sharpen their messages and left with practical tools they can use right away,” said WFBF Promotion and Engagement Chair Steve Mueller.
“Together, we can cultivate meaningful connections and turn every day interactions into opportunities to share agriculture’s story.”
The next Cultivate & Connect Conference is scheduled for February 20, 2027, in Rothschild.
Photo Credit: wisconsin-farm-bureau
Categories: Wisconsin, Business