Grace, Gratitude, and Growth: Celebrating the Leadership of Women in Agriculture

You're feeding the world, defending agriculture online, navigating family business decisions that would stump an MBA, and doing it all before most people finish their morning coffee. You don't need a standing ovation – you need real tools.

You love this work. You show up for it every single day – even when the world misunderstands what you grow, how you grow it, and who you are.

But here's what doesn't get said enough at women's ag conferences: the exhaustion isn't just physical. It's the weight of doing everything well – farming, advocating, leading, communicating, supporting everyone around you – while quietly wondering if you're doing any of it right. It's watching misinformation about your operation spread faster than you can respond. It's the isolation of being underestimated in rooms where you've already earned your seat.

2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer. A title doesn't fix burnout, silence misinformation, or give you the words for the hard conversations. That's what this program does.

Michele Payn grew up on a dairy and crop farm in southern Michigan. Farming is still women's work on her small Indiana farm today. She's spent 25 years navigating the same world you're navigating – the financial hardships, the tough family decisions, the daily business of defending agriculture in an era of food bullying and machine-generated misinformation.

She's one of your own. And her stories will make you laugh, and leave you really thinking. Michele brings something nobody else is offering: grace in self-leadership, gratitude as a mental wellness tool, and growth through the advocacy and AI skills tomorrow's agriculture demands.

Michele Payn, CSP, cuts through the noise around food, farming, and the people who feed us. As principal of Cause Matters Corp., she's spent 25 years empowering voices from farm to food - authoring four award-winning books, working across six continents, and raising millions for 4-H and FFA. One of only 900 people worldwide to hold the Certified Speaking Professional designation, Michele also has degrees in Agricultural Communications & Animal Science from Michigan State University. When she's not antagonizing audiences into action, she's on her Indiana farm with registered Holsteins, wildflowers, and her city-slicker husband.

Grounded in Nature:Tools for Focus, Calm, and Balance

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stretched thin. This session explores practical, easy-to-use strategies for slowing down, staying grounded, and managing stress in everyday life. Participants will learn simple techniques that take just seconds to minutes to help reset during high-anxiety moments, including nature-based practices that support calm and focus. We’ll also discuss the science behind how time in nature—often called a “nature shower”—can help regulate the nervous system, along with strategies for setting boundaries and learning when to say no. Walk away with realistic tools to help you slow down, refocus, and move through busy seasons with more clarity and resilience.

Julie Roof RN, BSN, NC-BC is a BoardCertified Nurse Coach with more than 35 years of nursing experience, offering a gentle and grounding presence for women seeking rest and renewal. She is married to her husband Chris, and they have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. Chris is a business owner and farms in Putnam County, Ohio. As a nurse coach, Julie’s mission is to nurture the growth, healing, and overall well-being of individuals by blending coaching principles and healing modalities that encompass the body, mind, emotions, spirit, and environment. Julie invites participants to slow down and rediscover the healing power of nature as a tool for easing stress and anxiety. Julie’s approach is compassionate, calming, and deeply practical, meeting women where they are and supporting a sense of peace, balance, and wholeness they can carry home with them.

Bloom & Breathe

Complementing the “Grounded in Nature” session, this interactive flower bar invites participants to slow down, engage the senses, and reconnect with nature through creativity. Attendees will design their own small floral arrangement while exploring how intentional, hands-on activities can reduce stress and support mindfulness. This calming, creative experience offers a meaningful pause in the day and a take-home reminder to breathe, reset, and stay grounded in the midst of a busy life.

Dr. Carla Treadway is an Assistant Professor in the College of Business at the University of Findlay, dedicated to empowering students and alumni through innovative education and entrepreneurial leadership. In addition to her academic and professional work, she is the founder of Treadway Acres Flower Farm, the third business venture she has launched. Established in 2023, Treadway Acres, LLC operates on her family’s farm, where her husband and four children live outside of McComb, Ohio. Carla grows and sells cut flowers, provides floristry services for events such as weddings, and hosts hands-on workshops. 

Regenerative Agriculture: Diversifying Your Farm

Lydia Dresbach will be sharing her family’s story of how they have stacked enterprises on their family farm to bring back the next generation through regenerative agriculture and diversifying their operation. Dresbach Farms now has 20+ different enterprises that help support the family ranging from row crops and livestock, to hunting and agritourism events with lots of things in between. This session will outline the different enterprises and how they are interconnected in a way that allows each to work as an integral part of the farm as a whole ecosystem. Enterprises designed to regenerate our soils, plants, livestock, wildlife, and community. 

Lydia is a young farmer at Dresbach Farms, a multigenerational regenerative farm located in southern Ohio, focused on providing quality food to her community through stacking enterprises, stewarding well, and direct marketing. She currently manages all direct marketing for Dresbach Farms, has her own herd of cattle, has a large role in the agritourism events hosted on the farm, dabbles in vegetable production, is a part of a local heritage grain hub, and assists with the managing of the whole farm operation.

Raising Backyard Livestock: The Constant Rollercoaster

Do you ever feel like raising livestock is a never-ending rollercoaster ride? Animals giving birth, repairing equipment, animals getting sick or dying, purchasing replacements...and the cycle continues. In this session, learn the ins and outs of raising livestock including biosecurity practices, preparing for the unexpected, tools to keep on hand and more! Raising livestock is a never-ending rollercoaster, but after this session, you will be on a joy ride instead of a draining one. 

Pressley Buurma is the Ohio State University Extension in Seneca County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator. She has a background in vegetable production and has her bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in farm business management. Her specialties include vegetable production, livestock production, home horticulture and farm business and management. Within Seneca County, Pressley provides education on a variety of agriculture or natural resource-based topics to all ages and demographics. Her research aspects in Seneca County include soil health studies, soybean cyst nematode studies, integrated pest management, urban agriculture, farm market prices and products, vegetable variety trials and agronomic weeds. Pressley is also the county coordinator of the Seneca County Master Gardener association which provides extensive workshops and training to those who are interested in home horticulture here in Seneca County. Outside of work, Pressley helps operate her family’s dairy where they specialize in goat milk production and show quality stock. They also raise show and meat rabbits, egg layers, market birds, quail and waterfowl

Family Farm Succession and Basic Estate Planning:

Nicole will discuss practical strategies for transitioning the family farm to the next generation, including communication, succession planning, and minimizing potential conflicts. She will also cover the essential estate planning considerations everyone should have in place to protect assets, support their family, and preserve their farm legacy for years to come.

Hello! My name is Nicole Feilon, and I am an attorney based in Bellville, Ohio. My journey began in the 6th Grade, when during career exploration day, I found what was certain would be the career path I would choose: a lawyer. After graduating from Fredericktown High School, an opportunity opened up for me to work in a law firm. The experience solidified my passion for the legal field, and soon after I began the pursuit of making my childhood dream a reality. 

Two and a half years later, I graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, receiving a degree in Philosophy Pre-Law, with Magna Cum Laude distinction. In 2020, I received my Juris Doctor degree from Capital University Law School, with Magna Cum Laude distinction. Following graduation, I worked as an associate attorney for a firm in central Ohio. A couple of years later, shortly after the birth of my first child, I decided to launch my own firm, with a focus on estate planning and agricultural law.

My love for agriculture began at a young age. Being born and raised on a family farm in Knox County, and participating in 4H and FFA throughout childhood, I was taught the importance of hard work and dedication. These traits continue to be at the core of everything I do. My husband and I purchased a farm in 2019, and began our own operation raising sheep and cattle. When I am not helping clients, you will find me on our farm making memories with my husband, Jared, our daughter, Ila, and our son, Walker. 

As an attorney, I have been able to combine my two passions: the legal field and agriculture. While the legal system is complex and not something everyone understands, the farming industry is equally as complex and unique. I have been able to utilize my knowledge and experience across both industries to serve my clients. From transitioning a family farm to the next generation, to helping a young kid start a business for their own farm operations, I am here to help keep your legacy alive, for generations to come.

Opening Doors When Sometimes the Shield Is Not Enough

Opening Doors When Sometimes the Shield Is Not Enough is an awareness session focused on farm stress and the unseen weight carried by those who feed our communities. Farmers are often viewed as superheroes—strong, resilient, and able to handle whatever comes their way—but even the strongest shields can crack under today’s economic pressures, uncertainty, and isolation in agriculture. This session invites participants to open doors to understanding by recognizing the signs of stress, practicing empathy, and learning how to communicate and connect in meaningful ways. By increasing awareness and fostering compassionate conversations, we can help ensure farmers don’t have to carry the burden alone and that support is available when resilience alone is not enough.

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans

Learn how Ohio Farm Bureau’s new health coverage options can support your farm, family, or small business. This session will provide an overview of available plans, eligibility, and key benefits, along with practical insights to help you determine if these options are a good fit for your needs. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how these plans can offer flexibility and potential cost savings in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Samantha Bluhm of Bluffton is the Organization Director & Health Services Specialist for Allen, Paulding, Putnam, & Van Wert Counties. In addition to her role as organization director, she helps members find the potential within their operation, learning from experts and discovering new business opportunities to optimize the profit potential of the farm. Available tools include a multitude of services from Farm Bureau partner Nationwide, workforce recruitment and retention, and Ohio Farm Bureau’s Health Benefits Plan, to name a few. Samantha grew up on a beef cattle operation in Wauseon, with a family crop farm in Norwalk. She was a member of 4-H for 11 years and in FFA for three years. She showed livestock at the county, state and national level in her youth and has been involved with Farm Bureau since birth. Samantha graduated from Ohio State University in 2018. Most recently, she was a registered representative for Western & Southern Life and the agricultural teacher at Kalida High School. In 2020, Bluhm was nominated for Nationwide’s Golden Owl Award, which recognizes outstanding agricultural educators.

Introduction to Canning & Freezing

In Introduction to Canning and Freezing, we will take a look at both water bath and pressure canning-going through the process for each method of food preservation. This will include a look at all of the equipment needed for both as well as safe canning practices. We will also examine freezing as a method of food preservation and the process and equipment for freezing.

Pressure Canner Testing: Dial gage pressure canners only. All-American and other brands other than Presto cannot be guaranteed to be tested. Cost of $5 per lid is requested. Testing will be available from 11am-1pm.

Katie Schlagheck is the Family and Consumer Sciences Educator for Ohio State University Extension in Ottawa & Sandusky Counties. She has been with OSU Extension for 12 years. Katie has a Masters degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Central Michigan University. Katie teaches a wide range of Family and Consumer Sciences programs across the lifespan from financial literacy, Tai Chi, food preservation and everything in between.

Agriculture Policy Updates

Stay informed on the latest state and federal policy developments impacting agriculture and rural communities. This session will highlight current legislative and regulatory changes, key issues being discussed in Ohio and Washington, D.C., and what they could mean for your operation. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how policy decisions are shaping the future of agriculture and how to stay engaged in the process.

Leah Hetrick of Columbus, Ohio, is the director of legal education and member engagement for Ohio Farm Bureau. leah grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio, where she participated in equestrian activities, mainly in the hunter, jumper and equitation disciplines. A 2014 graduate of Notre Dame Academy High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture at Ohio State University then furthered her education by completing her Juris Doctorate at the University of Toledo in 2021. Prior to joining the Ohio Farm Bureau, Hetrick worked for Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose as a chief legal assistant. 

Introduction to QuickBooks

New to QuickBooks or looking to build confidence in your financial recordkeeping? This session will walk through the basics of setting up and using QuickBooks for your farm or small business. Learn how to track income and expenses, organize accounts, and generate simple reports to better understand your finances. Whether you’re just getting started or need a refresher, this session will provide practical tools to help you stay organized and make informed financial decisions.

Michelle Downing of Franklin County is the finance director of county operations for Ohio Farm Bureau. In her role, she supports Ohio Farm Bureau, its subsidiaries and the county Farm Bureaus with financial leadership and oversight for financial record preparation, reporting, payroll processing, audit reviews and tax filings. Prior to joining the Farm Bureau staff, Downing worked on the finance team for Nationwide and electric cooperatives including American Municipal Power and South Central Power. She also has several years of nonprofit experience working at United Way of Central Ohio and most recently Mental Health America of Ohio. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Franklin University along with an associate’s degree in accounting from Northwest State Community College.