When Times Are Tough, Investing in Yourself Still Matters. Advancing Women in Agriculture and Food Conference returns to Niagara Falls November 22-24.
“You cannot always control what is happening around you, but you can influence how prepared you are to respond to it. And that is precisely why we need to come together.
Those words from founder of the Advancing Women in Agriculture and Food Conference (AWC), Iris Meck, may be particularly meaningful heading into this year’s AWC EAST conference in Niagara Falls.
There is no question that 2026 has brought its share of economic uncertainty.
Farmers, agribusiness professionals and those working throughout Canada’s food system continue to navigate changing markets, trade uncertainty, rising costs and pressure on profitability. Some people have lost their jobs, some farms are struggling the the uncertainty. Businesses and families are being asked to make careful decisions about where they spend their time and money.
In an environment like that, attending a conference can be easy to put into the “maybe next year” category.
But uncertain times may actually be when investing in yourself, your professional network and your community becomes most important. And this year is the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
The AWC EAST 2026 conference is taking place November 22, 23 and 24 at the Sheraton Fallsview in Niagara Falls, Ontario, bringing together people from across agriculture and food for three days focused on learning, leadership, personal development and connection.
The conference welcomes farmers, students, entrepreneurs, grower association members, agribusiness professionals and others involved in the agriculture and food sector.
Building resilience when the future is uncertain
The economic backdrop makes this year's conversations particularly timely.
There is slower eonomic growth, geopolitical uncertainty and rising trade barriers among the challenges facing Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector in 2026. Pressures include commodity prices, interest rates and uncertainty surrounding international trade.
For individuals working in the ag sector, those pressures are more than economic statistics. They can mean difficult business decisions, workplace pressures, added stress and uncertainty about what comes next.
That makes resilience increasingly important, not simply financial resilience, but personal and professional resilience as well.
Taking time away from the office, business or farm to attend a conference may feel difficult when budgets are tight. Yet professional development can provide something that is difficult to measure on a balance sheet: perspective.
A conversation with someone facing a similar challenge can lead to a new approach. A workshop can provide a skill that changes how someone handles a difficult situation. A new connection can eventually turn into a mentor, employee, customer, business partner or simply someone willing to listen when things get difficult.
Sometimes the return comes from realizing you are not navigating those pressures alone.
Listen, learn, network and grow
That sense of community has been central to the Advancing Women Conference for more than a decade.
More than 9,000 women and men have attended AWC events to date, hearing from leaders from within and outside agriculture about their careers, challenges, successes, obstacles and lessons learned.
The conference describes its approach simply: Listen, Learn, Network and Grow.
Participants are encouraged to strengthen leadership and career-building skills, exchange ideas and perspectives, take part in workshops and build relationships with people from across Canada's agriculture and food sector.
And networking at AWC is not simply about collecting business cards.
It is about creating a community.
Agriculture can sometimes be isolating, whether someone is managing a farm, building a business, starting a career or carrying significant responsibility within an organization. Having a network of people who understand the industry can provide a valuable source of ideas, encouragement and support long after the conference ends.
Practical conversations for real-world challenges
The 2026 program reflects many of the issues people are dealing with right now.
Lauren Van Ewyk, CEO of the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance Inc., will lead a Sunday workshop called "The Rural Watch", focused on building communication skills, handling difficult conversations and supporting the well-being of people around us in the agriculture community.
She will also lead a workshop on farm succession titled "Passing the Farm, Preserving the Family: Navigating Communication, Conflict, and Change in Farm Succession".
The session goes beyond transferring farm assets to examine the family relationships, expectations, emotions and communication challenges that can make succession difficult.
A separate workshop led by financial advisor Sandy Alfonsi will address Financial Wellness, with practical information aimed at helping people navigate uncertainty, expansion and succession while strengthening their financial decision-making.
Leadership is another major theme.
Christine Baes, Professor and Associate Dean, External Relations, and Canada Research Chair in Livestock Genomics at the University of Guelph's Ontario Agricultural College, will deliver a plenary presentation titled "The Career I Never Planned: Lessons in Curiosity, Courage, and Saying 'Yes'."
The conference program features additional industry leaders, advocates, innovators and professionals sharing career experiences and practical lessons designed to help delegates develop both personally and professionally.
Investing in the next generation
AWC EAST also provides an important bridge between established agriculture professionals and people preparing to enter the industry.
Through the conference's student program, university and college students studying agriculture and food are connected with industry sponsors. Sponsored students receive conference registration and shared accommodation, giving them an opportunity to meet agriculture leaders, develop leadership skills and begin building professional networks before their careers fully begin.
A student and sponsor reception on Sunday evening will provide another opportunity for those emerging leaders to meet the people and organizations already shaping Canadian agriculture.
That investment in younger participants reinforces a broader message behind the conference: strong industries require strong networks.
What attending AWC EAST costs
For individuals and businesses watching expenses closely, conference organizers have provided several ways to participate.
Full registration is $695 plus applicable fees and taxes, while producer registration is $645. One-day registrations are also available, including the Sunday session for $150 and Monday or Tuesday registrations for $350, plus applicable fees and taxes.
Those costs matter, particularly in a difficult economy. But so does considering what comes back from the investment.
It may be a new leadership skill.
It may be greater confidence.
It may be an idea that helps resolve a business or family challenge.
Or it may simply be meeting someone who understands the pressures you are facing and becoming part of a larger community.
Making room for yourself
When uncertainty dominates conversations, professional development can sometimes feel like a luxury.
It doesn't have to be.
Nobody attending a conference can control commodity markets, global trade, interest rates or tomorrow's economic headlines.
What people can influence is how they prepare themselves to deal with change.
They can build stronger networks. They can improve communication. They can learn from other people's experiences. They can develop leadership skills. And they can make connections with people willing to support them when the next challenge arrives.
That is why the Advancing Women in Agriculture and Food Conference's message feels especially relevant this year.
Sometimes stepping away from the day-to-day pressures of work to learn, talk and reconnect isn't stepping away from the business at all.
"It's an investment in the person who has to lead through whatever comes next," concludes Meck.
Click here to learn more about AWC EAST 2026 or to register for the event.