The International Year of the Woman Farmer
Registration is now open for the 2025 Women’s Leadership Conference. May 5, 2026 in Columbia at the Phillips Market Center at the State Farmers Market as we celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
This is a one-time, one-day event. Moving forward, Women's Conference will be held in the spring, and this one-day event will get us on the new schedule.
Conference Highlights:
- Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer with presentations from the State Women's Leadership Committee who will highlight the incredible ways women are impacting agriculture around the globe and here at home.
- Educational sessions on the role agriculture plays in global markets and our economy, a recap of the 2026 legislative session, and agricultural advocacy, a focus on addressing misconceptions in agriculture while learning how to effectively communicate about food production and packaging labels.
- Networking with women from across the state and within your district through interactive activities and workshops.
- At the conclusion of the conference, stay and gain insight into the 2026 Commissioner for Agriculture race through an exclusive candidate's forum for SC Farm Bureau members.
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Cost
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Contact
Elizabeth Wood
ewood@scfb.org
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9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
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Registration
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10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Title
Welcome
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10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
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District Breakout + Activity
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11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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International Year of the Woman Farmer Presentation
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12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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Lunch
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Speakers:
They’re lurking in the jungle… regulations, traceability, labor concerns, worker and food safety, competitive markets and more! It’s time we blaze a new trail because the pace, the people, the process and the products for agriculture have all changed. Have we? During this fun-filled, eye-opening presentation, we’ll discover today's top influencers on our customers. We'll learn the value of what we do is in the eye of the purchaser, not the producer. With lots of humor and real life stories, we’ll laugh while we learn the joys of blazing trails in agriculture’s “jungle!”
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1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Session 1: Consumer Advocacy: Tackling Tough Topics
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2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Session 2: The State of Agriculture: From South Carolina to Around the Globe
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Sign up for volunteer opportunities during annual meeting and with the mobile learning lab at registration table.
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3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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Break
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Speakers:
Do you own a small business? Looking for creative ways to set yourself apart in the market? Bethany Funkhouser, Clemson Extension agent, will make sure you know all the plays to brand your business and successful promote your products through traditional and digital forms of media.
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3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Commissioner for Agriculture Candidates Forum
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Join Richard Pearce, Legal Counsel to the House Clerk, to explore the evolution of an idea or concept that a citizen may have and its journey to fruition of state law.
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4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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Reception
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Step up to the plate and learn how your county Farm Bureau can be a key player in one of South Carolina’s most unique events. Led by Will Culler with Clemson Extension, this session will highlight how agriculture and the arts come together to create an unforgettable experience for visitors each year.
Bethany Funkhouser
Area Agribusiness Agent, Clemson Extension
Bethany Funkhouser received a Bachelor of Science in agribusiness from Virginia Tech in 2021. She has spent the last three years working with farmers and agribusiness owners across the Pee Dee District as an agribusiness agent for Clemson Extension.
She enjoys working with agribusiness owners on the marketing and branding aspects of their operations. She has offered a variety of programs and workshops on everything from transitioning your farm business, to social media marketing, and programs designed specifically for branding, advertising, and marketing.
Speaker Sessions
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Jolene Brown
Professional Speaker, Author, Family Business Consultant
Jolene Brown is a walking-talking spokesperson and champion for the people of agriculture. She's a farmer in Eastern Iowa, contributor to Successful Farming magazine’s popular family business column, author of two great books and an inductee into the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame. Her worldwide audiences appreciate her fun-filled spirit and valuable information. She's on a mission to share leading-edge best practices, appreciation, laughter and celebration to increase productivity, profitability and peace of mind.
To learn more, visit her website.
Speaker Sessions
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