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March 25, 2026
Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference Marks 41 Years
Nearly 300 people gathered in Kearney February 25–27 for the 2026 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference, marking 41 years of providing education and support for women involved in farming, ranching, and agribusiness.
Hosted by the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, the annual conference is designed to help producers strengthen their roles as operators, decision-makers, and partners in agricultural businesses. The three-day event featured a pre-conference session, keynote presentations, and more than two dozen workshops focused on risk management, farm financial management, succession planning, and crop and livestock insurance.
This year’s keynote speakers included Sarah Morton, Zoe Kent, Halie Groth, and Virginia Faye. The conference opened with a pre-conference session focused on livestock insurance, setting the stage for the event’s broader emphasis on helping producers better understand risk management tools available to protect their operations.
With weather variability, market volatility, and rising input costs, insurance and risk management strategies are increasingly important for farm and ranch businesses. The goal of this year’s conference was to provide practical education to help producers better understand crop and livestock insurance options and how those tools can support long-term business stability.
Conference participants represented a wide range of agricultural roles and ages, including farm and ranch operators, agribusiness professionals, and family members involved in agricultural decision-making. Ninety-three percent of participants resided in Nebraska, reflecting the strong in-state interest in the program.
Following the conference, participants were asked to reflect on how the event impacted their knowledge and plans related to agricultural insurance and risk management. Survey results indicate the conference helped increase both knowledge and confidence among attendees.
Among survey respondents (n=109), 30% reported they were more knowledgeable about insurance policy types, options, and provisions, while 18% said they felt more confident discussing insurance concerns with their insurance agents. Additionally, 26% indicated they plan to review their existing insurance policies, and 16% intend to update their insurance selections to better reflect their operation’s risk. Four percent of respondents reported they plan to purchase insurance for the first time.
The Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference depends on continued support from grant agencies and partners who recognize the importance of providing education and resources for women in agriculture. This year’s conference was supported by a grant from the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center, along with contributions from the Doug Jose Women in Agriculture Program Conference Fund and numerous agricultural organizations, commodity groups, and industry partners.
Planning is already underway for next year’s conference, which will celebrate the program’s 42nd year. The 2027 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference will be held February 18–19 at the Younes South Conference Center in Kearney.
For more information about the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, visit https://wia.unl.edu or follow the program on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @newomeninag.
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Jessica Groskopf
Director, Nebraska Women in Agriculture
Regional Extension Economist
Center for Agricultural Profitability
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
jjohnson@unl.edu
Lindsey McKeever
Program Coordinator
Nebraska Women in Agriculture
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
lindsey.mckeever@unl.edu
Sarah Sivits
Conference Coordinator
Nebraska Women in Agriculture
ssivits2@unl.edu