2019 MFBF LEAP Conference

The 2019 LEAP Conference, January 25-26, will be held at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington. Each attendee must make their own hotel reservation. Call 952-881-5258. You can register more than one person at a time by clicking "Add" under Participant Information.

Register Now! 

Registration Deadline: January 15, 2019

• Registration Cost: $110 per person - Late Registration Cost: $150 per person after January 15
• Pre-Conference Tours (tour limit 80): $20 per person - Lunch is not included with tours
• Friday Only $65 per person - Late Registration: $80 per person after January 15
• Saturday Only $65 per person - Late Registration: $80 per person after January 15

Hotel Deadline: January 8, 2019 - Each attendee must make their own hotel reservation. 

• Hotel Room Rate: $109 plus tax
• Radisson Blu Mall of America -  952- 881-5258 or radissonblue.com/en/hotel-mall-of-america 

Friday, January 25

11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Registration

12:45 – 5 p.m. Pre-Conference Tours - $25 per person NO LUNCH

• The Bell Museum: The Bell Museum, formerly known as the “James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History,” is located at the University of Minnesota. The museum, which opened at its new location July 13 includes the world-renowned Minnesota wildlife dioramas and numerous animal specimens from all over the world. The museum is part of the University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

• Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center: Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center is the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. This facility consists of four outdoor natural grass fields, an outdoor artificial turf mini-stadium and an indoor artificial field. On this tour, you will learn how the Minnesota Vikings turf crew maintains a safe natural grass playing surface. Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom will be on hand to share connections between agriculture, sports and K-12 classrooms. (Tour cancelled if Vikings make it to the Super Bowl.)

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. District Social Hour: Appetizers and networking.

6:30 p.m. Grand Welcome and Dinner

• Keynote: Mark J. Lindquist - Passion! 8 Steps to Reignite Yours: As working professionals, we could all use a little jolt from time to time. This session may be the only time all year when you take a moment to reflect on the things you need to do to reignite the passion that brought you into agriculture in the first place. World-touring entertainer and actor Mark J. Lindquist offers a keynote that is as entertaining as it is enlightening as he sends you out the door on fire.

8:30 p.m. Social

• Farm Bureau Bingo: Lots of prizes!

Saturday, January 26

7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration

8 a.m. Breakfast

Track 1 Workshops (off-site)

8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

• Minnesota Capitol Experience: Spend the day at the Minnesota State Capitol and experience the process of a bill becoming law. Participants will get the chance to become part of a mock session and a tour of the Capitol.

 

Track 2 Workshops

8:30 a.m. – Round 1:

• Understanding GMOs and Seed Science - Valerie Bayes, Monsanto
• How to Host an On-the-Farm Event - Panel Discussion
• Railroad 101 - Lydia Bjorge, BNSF Railway

 

10 a.m. – Round 2:

• Antibiotics and Animal Health - Randall Singer, University of Minnesota
• Trade with Canada - Steve Buchta, Canadian Consulate
• Minnesota 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge - Team Future Generations, Beltrami County and Ann Marie Ward, Beltrami 4-H Coordinator

 

12 NOON – Lunch

2 p.m. – Round 3:

• Lessons in 60 Minutes - Valerie Bayes, Monsanto
• Using Social Media to Promote Agriculture and You! - Don Schindler, Reputation Coach and Digital Marketer
• Things to Know if You are a Beginning Farmer - David Weinand, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

4:00 p.m. – Resource Course/Make and Take Session

4:30 p.m. – YF&R Discussion Meet Contests

6:30 p.m. – Leadership Banquet

YF&R Awards

• Outstanding Friend of Young Farmers & Ranchers
• Golden Pitch Fork Award
• Discussion Meet Final 8 Announcement

P&E Awards

• Golden Apple Award
• Advocate of the Year

8 p.m. – Dancing with Diesel Drive