Spring Gathering 2025: Mind the Gap - Bridging Boundaries and Barriers

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

To be added to the waiting list, please email Kriss Marion kmarion@michaelfields.org.

Back by popular demand, this second Wisconsin Women in Conservation Spring Conference continues a collaborative journey to strengthen outreach to and support for women landowners and farmers. This year’s theme, Mind the Gap - Bridging Boundaries and Barriers, focuses on developing deeper connections between the varied stakeholders, groups, and cultures nurturing Wisconsin’s landscape.  In recognition of the difficulty many conservation agencies and practitioners are experiencing, we have permanently lowered the registration to $40. Many thanks to the amazing sponsors who have made this possible!

Our sessions focus on:

• Exploring the research on women landowners with pioneering educators Dr. Jean Eells and Dr. Rebecca Christoffel

• Building connections with Hmong, African American and Native American women and communities

• Bridging the urban and rural divide

• Developing authentic relationships

• Mentoring and supporting women conservation professionals

• Honoring educators and mentors who support women landowners

  
  

All conservation allies, both men and women, are welcome to this gathering. We heartily invite those who are passionate about empowering women in the conservation movement - from agency staff to non-profit organizations and educators in volunteer roles. Conservationists who have recently lost jobs, and those who are early in their careers, including students, are enthusiastically encouraged to attend.

These are interesting times in our line of work - and when times get tough, the tough come together to listen, to collaborate, and to eat chocolate. We are excited to see you, excited to hear from our amazing speakers, excited to work together toward a brighter future for our land and communities.

Here's the agenda:

8:30-9am  Check in with Coffee, Kringle and Pastries

9-9:15am Welcome, Announcements, Invitation to Circle Land Meditation

9:15-9:45am Table Introductions: Creating our Circle with WiWiC Coaches

9:45-10:45am Women Think Differently: Key Elements of Women Landowner Education with Dr. Jean Eells and Dr. Rebecca Christoffel of E Resources Group

10:45-11:30am Pushing the Envelope of the Rural/Urban Conversation with Melissa Schlupp, Deputy Director, Land Resources and Environment, Sauk County

11:30am-12:30pm LUNCH and STRETCH

12:15-12:30pm Queen Bee Awards

12:30-12:45pm Networking and Exhibit Visits

12:45-2:15pm PANEL- Community Building and Communication in Conservation with

Una Van Duvall, Board Chair Michael Fields Agricultural Institute; Ann Vang, Executive Director, Central Rivers Farmshed; Jennifer Gauthier, Director of Sustainable Development Institute, College of Menominee Nation; Sara Smith, Citizen of Oneida Nation, Midwest Tribal Resilience Liaison, College of Menominee Nation

2:15-3pm KEYNOTE- Keep Calm and Bridge the Divide: Authentic Relationship Building with Dr. Annie Jones, Professor of Organizational Development and Tribal Nations Liaison, UW Extension Madison

3-3:30pm Chocolate Fountain and Sweet Charcuterie Board!

3:30-4pm Mentoring and Story Sharing Hour facilitated by Dr. Annie Jones

The size of this gathering is limited by space to just 100 people. We are glad you will be there! Please do invite others you think would benefit from an intimate and very interactive conference. Please RSVP by April 13.

We are grateful to our Gold Sponsors, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute and the Food, Faith and Farming Network! Thank you to The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin for being our Launch Sponsor. We are grateful to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin for being our Chocolate Champion and sponsoring the mentorship hour and chocolate fountain.  The Xerces Society is sponsoring the Queen Bee Awards. Thank you to to the Wisconsin Farmers Union, Green Lands Blue Waters, SARE Wisconsin, and Clean Wisconsin for supporting scholarships. For more information on the conference or sponsorship opportunities contact Kriss Marion: kmarion@michaelfields.org or 608-636-4652. Please contact Kriss about obtaining a Scholarship, as well!

Please see last year's photo album for a taste of what's to come. 

Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC) is a state-wide collaborative effort that has been led for five years by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with Wisconsin Farmers Union, Renewing the Countryside and Marbleseed. A multi-faceted project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WiWiC brings together Wisconsin women to connect and learn about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.

The WiWiC Conservation Educator Network launched in 2021 to bring together conservation educators for shared learning and networking, through bi-annual virtual meet-ups, a series of summer happy hours that celebrate Wisconsin Women in Conservation Week each July, and an every-other-year in-person conference.