Women’s Grain Symposium
Making Connections
Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Women’s Grain Symposium is an opportunity for networking, professional development, and leadership development.
The Women’s Grain Symposium is open to women who are grain farmers, active members of their family grain operation, or working within the grain sector of agriculture business with a direct connection to farmers.
Join us at the 2022 Women’s Grain Symposium
November 28 – 29, 2022
Delta Hotel
50 Stone Rd W, Guelph, ON N1G 0A9
There is no registration fee for this event and a hotel room at the Delta Guelph will be provided at no cost to all attendees. A cancellation fee of $100 will be charged to no shows. If you are unable to attend the event after registering, please notify Rachel Telford, rtelford@gfo.ca, as soon as possible. A cancellation fee will not be charged if notice is received by November 21 or if cancellation is made for health reasons in accordance with public health guidelines in place at time of the event.
Early notification of your cancellation will provide the opportunity for someone else to attend the Women’s Grain Symposium.
Speakers
Nancy Tout
Global Institute for Food Security
Nancy embraces the challenges of being in a science-driven business and is often sharing her passion as an ambassador for science and agricultural literacy through her support and involvement in Scientists in School and Agriculture in the Classroom. Her passion for accelerated, impact-driven and collaborative innovation aligns well to GIFS mission in the work that we do with our partners to discover, develop and deliver innovative solutions for the production of globally sustainable food.
Susan Stewart
The Mental Health Make-Over
Comedian Susan Stewart blends the wit and wisdom she’s known for with powerful messages about not taking life too seriously — especially in times of adversity and uncertainty. In her stand-up comedy style, Stewart shares ways to see the lighter side of life leaving her audiences uplifted and equipped to meet their challenges with a positive outlook, and, of course, a sense of humour.
Melissa McKeown
1847 Stone Milling
Melissa graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, minoring in Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2008. She joined a Geothermal installation company as an office manager and transitioned to grow their export market for products before leaving in 2012. In 2014, Melissa and her brother Trevor founded 1847 Stone Milling when they recognized all major premium organic flour brands sold in Canada were based in the USA. Melissa continues to manage 1847 Stone Milling and in 2020 established 1847 Estates, an operating farm and tourist destination promoting the beauty and productivity of Southern Ontario farmland.
Kendra Dauer
StoneX
Kendra has been with the StoneX team in Bowling Green, OH since August 2019. She is a Risk Management Consultant, working with grain elevator and farmer customers to help manage their price exposure in the grain futures market. Kendra and her husband Blake own and operate Dauer Trucking LLC out of Bowling Green, OH. Together they have one daughter, Avery. During the summer, Kendra enjoys traveling around Ohio with her family to pull her Pro Stock Semi, ‘Unleashed.’
Elaine Froese
Family Farm Transition
Women in transition need tools to talk about tough issues, to be heard, get clarity of expectations and act! Elaine Froese has coached over 1000 families helping decrease their anxiety over the uncertainty of their future. She has authored 5 books, and the one most helpful to women is Farming’s In-Law Factor.
Gwen Paddock
Director, Sustainability & Climate – Agriculture RBC Royal Bank
Gwen recently retired from a 37 year career with RBC Royal Bank. Through her career, she held positions in Account Management, Risk Management and Sales Management throughout Southwestern Ontario and National Manager, Agriculture & Agribusiness. Born in Guelph, Gwen was raised on a Beef Cow-Calf farm. Her interest in Agriculture influenced her decision to attend the University of Guelph where she obtained a B.SC (Agr) with a major in Agriculture Economics in 1985. In her retirement she is working on climate and agriculture and consulting on business strategies.
Agenda
Monday
| 3:00 p.m. | Welcome / Opening remarks |
| 3:30 p.m. | Nancy Tout, Global Institute for Food Security |
| 5:00 p.m. | Spirits Canada – cocktail making |
| 6:00 p.m. | Supper |
| 7:30 p.m. | Susan Stewart, The Mental Health Make-Over |
| 9:00 p.m. | End of conference day 1 |
Tuesday
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. | Melissa McKeown, 1847 Stone Milling |
| 9:30 a.m. | Kendra Dauer, StoneX |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 11:00 a.m. | Panel Discussion: Diversifying the representation of farmers within Grain Farmers of Ontario |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Elaine Froese, Transition Planning |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | Gwen Paddock, Dir. Sustainability & Climate – Agriculture RBC Royal Bank |
| 3:45 p.m. | Closing remarks |
| 4:00 p.m. | Conference ends |
Thank you to the 2022 Women’s Grain Symposium sponsors!
Prime Sponsor
Speaker Sponsor
Symposium Supporters
