Sacramento, CA (June 7, 2023) - It’s not too late to make plans to join American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) members from across all seed sectors, at all stages of their career, for the Leadership Summit in Sacramento, CA, June 10-14.
Now more than ever, developing future leaders for the seed industry is crucial, and the Summit is the perfect place to cultivate your company’s rising stars.
Full conference and one-day registrations can be accommodated on-site at the host venue, the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, each day from Saturday to Tuesday, June 14.
Don’t miss this valuable opportunity, featuring Coach PJ Fleck from the University of Minnesota as keynote speaker.
ASTA’S Leadership Summit Achieving New Heights
Sacramento, CA (May 24, 2023) - The ASTA Leadership Summit, now in its second year, heads to Sacramento, CA June 10-14 and is on track to break new records. Boasting the largest student delegation ever for a summer meeting, as well as an anticipated six-year high for summer ASTA conference attendance, the Summit’s program, set against the backdrop of the California State Capitol, will offer key insights on the future of U.S. seed industry and U.S. agriculture.
The program kicks off with two powerhouse sessions: an interactive phytosanitary discussion entitled “How to Build a Resilient Seed Supply,” followed by the conference program kickoff with “Challenges and Opportunities in Agriculture,” featuring Don Cameron, President of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Diving deep into the theme of Resiliency, general session keynote speaker Coach P.J. Fleck, of the University of Minnesota Gophers, will deliver an inspiring, energetic look into team building and resiliency.
This is followed by a series of sessions examining resiliency of people and the workforce, resiliency of seed companies and resiliency of ag, from a futurist perspective, providing participants with key action items to take back to their companies.
Designed with leadership development as a core objective, the Leadership Summit includes a meeting of the ASTA Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) Committee, a session on Personal Resilience in a leadership development workshop, a robust student program and career fair, and an interactive session entitled “Women in Seed: Perspectives for Everyone,” focusing on “your power in change.”
If you haven’t yet made plans to send your staff to this unique, seed-industry focused leadership development experience, register today.
ASTA Leadership Summit Early Registration and Hotel Deadline Is May 18
Sacramento, CA (May 4, 2023) - Time is running out. May 18 is the deadline for early registration rates and the hotel block for the ASTA Leadership Summit, June 10–14 in Sacramento. CA. Don’t miss this important opportunity to stay current with the seed industry’s latest developments and help develop leadership skills for yourself and your employees.
If you attended ASTA’s Leadership Summit last year in Indianapolis, IN, you came away with a workbook of action items, created by and customized to you. One set of these action items comprised goals you set for yourself for the coming year. How are you doing toward your goals?
Many of last year’s attendees have reported gaining valuable takeaways that they could immediately apply back at work. ASTA is about to print this year’s round of workbooks, which all Summit attendees will receive. Come fill your own up with us this summer in Sacramento, as we delve into the theme of Resiliency – as it applies to you, your company, and agriculture overall.
Special Notice To ASTA Membership: Proposed FY 2023-24 Slate of Officers
Alexandria, VA (May 10, 2023) - Wayne Gale, Stokes Seeds and Chair of the ASTA Nominating Committee, announced the proposed slate of ASTA Officers for FY 2023-24.
The nominations are as follows: Chair – David Armstrong, Sakata Seed America, Inc.; First Vice Chair – Dan Foor, DLF USA Inc.; Second Vice Chair – Dave Treinen, Syngenta Seed, LLC; and Central Region Vice President – Bryan Gerard, JoMar Seeds, Inc.
Voting on the new slate of officers will occur in-person during the annual meeting of the membership at the ASTA Leadership Summit, June 10-14, in Sacramento, CA.
Note – ASTA by-laws allow for nominations from the floor during the General Session. If you wish to submit a nomination or wish to be considered yourself, please contact Libby Hogen-Heath as soon as possible.
ASTA Leadership Summit Offers Opportunities For Early-Career Company Employees and Students
Sacramento, CA (April 26, 2023) - One of the central missions of the upcoming ASTA Leadership Summit, June 10-14 in Sacramento, CA, is to offer leadership development training and networking for those newer to the seed industry.
The conference agenda features an entire track of leadership development sessions and a robust new student program, in a partnership between ASTA, Seed Central, and UC Davis.
New this year, companies can elect to send early-career professionals to have the opportunity to not only attend, but also serve as a speaker, round table facilitator, and Career Fair table host for this student program. Learn more about this opportunity here.
For students, a much larger delegation from several nearby universities is expected in 2023, offering them the chance for participation in this special track as well as present their posters.
Early registration rates and hotel rooms in ASTA’s discounted group block are available until May 18. Register today.
ASTA Leadership Summit: Six-Year Attendance Record and Early-Career Employee Opportunities
Sacramento, CA (April 12, 2023) - The American Seed Trade Association's (ASTA) upcoming Leadership Summit, June 10-14 in Sacramento, CA, is seeing strong attendance registration and is on track to beat the six-year high for a June ASTA convention.
“We are seeing great regional participation, from both the California and Pacific Seed Associations, plus a lot of interest from 2022 attendees who rated the event very highly,” says Jennifer Crouse, ASTA’s senior director of meetings.
Exhibits and sponsorships are available now for companies to have a strong presence at the conference – and for the first time, early-career employees can play an active role in the conference agenda.
On Monday, June 12, ASTA will conduct a parallel student programming track to its main event programming, and early-career employees will be designated to serve as speakers, round table facilitators, and hosts of complimentary career fair tables within this new addition to the program.
For more information on registering an early-career professional for this special track, contact Francois Korn at Seed Central.
Register today for the ASTA Leadership Summit – the best rates end May 18.
New Speaker and Program Announcements For The ASTA Leadership Summit
Sacramento, CA (March 29, 2023) - The ASTA Leadership Summit, June 10-14 in Sacramento, CA, will feature a program with sessions based on the theme of “Resiliency.”
After kickoff sessions by Don Cameron, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, the keynote by PJ Fleck, head coach of the University of Minnesota Gophers football team, and three sessions entitled “Resiliency of People,” “Resiliency of Companies,” and “Resiliency of Ag” will lay the groundwork for the seed industry’s future by offering interactive and conversational insights from industry leaders.
“Resiliency of People: The Workforce” will feature a panel of government, academic, and industry speakers, including Pamay Bessey, Chief Learning Officer for Kraft Heinz, highlighting today’s seed industry employment landscape and what seed companies should do now to keep the talent pipeline robust.
“Resiliency of Companies” will look at the paths taken by three private sector companies facing adversity, and the valuable lessons they learned going forward.
Finally, “Resiliency of Ag: Seed Innovations to Meet Tomorrow’s Challenges” will take a broader look at how agriculture as a whole can turn challenges into opportunities to ensure its long-term sustainability, featuring three ag technology companies and venture investor Connie Bowen.
Early registration rates are still in effect for the ASTA Leadership Summit.
California Board of Food and Agriculture President Don Cameron To Speak At ASTA Leadership Summit
Don Cameron
Sacramento, CA (March 15, 2023) - The speaker roster for the ASTA Leadership Summit, June 10-14 in Sacramento, CA continues to grow with exciting recent additions.
California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Don Cameron is newly confirmed to speak in a “Challenges and Opportunities in Agriculture” session slated for June 11, which will set the stage for a conference program based on a resiliency theme.
“Focusing on resiliency of people, resiliency of companies, and resiliency of ag helps us both prepare for, and maximize opportunities for, the years ahead in a rapidly changing business,” says ASTA Chair Jim Schweigert. “California’s State House leadership is historic. So is the state’s position in agriculture as many of the policies that impact ag originate in California. That makes for the perfect backdrop for the 2023 ASTA Leadership Summit, which will be held right across the street from the State Capitol building.”
The Summit’s mission aims to promote leadership development for rising stars at seed companies, and to provide valuable insights and facilitated collaboration for senior executives, in order to shape the future of the seed industry.
Early registration rates are available until May 18 – register today.
University of Minnesota Head Football Coach PJ Fleck To Headline ASTA Leadership Summit
P.J. Fleck
Sacramento, CA (March 1, 2023) - This year’s ASTA Leadership Summit will feature keynote speaker PJ Fleck, head football coach at the University of Minnesota. In support of the Summit’s theme of “Resiliency,” Fleck will take attendees on a journey through the ever-changing landscape of college football, discussing what he does to unite a team into a cohesive group that competes against the best in the nation.
“PJ Fleck is an expert at overcoming obstacles and building a resilient group that can weather the myriad of external forces that can impact a football team or your team,” says ASTA Chair Jim Schweigert.
Fleck has offered a sneak peek of his presentation in a special video for ASTA members, a companion piece to ASTA’s recent video introduction of the Leadership Summit’s value and purpose.
Focusing on building resiliency in terms of workforce, companies, and agriculture’s future, the Leadership Summit brings together both experienced and early-career professionals in a collaborative environment, interacting on the critical issues impacting today’s seed industry, with tangible takeaways for both individuals and companies.
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University of Minnesota Football Coach P.J. Fleck To Be Keynote Speaker At ASTA's 2023 Leadership Summit
Sacramento, CA (November 9, 2022) - “Resiliency” is the theme of ASTA’s 2023 Leadership Summit, June 10-14, 2023 in Sacramento, CA.
Attendees will participate in a series of interactive sessions covering various facets of what seed industry leaders need to consider in these rapidly changing times – from fluctuating economic factors, to the evolving workforce, sustainability needs, and so much more.
It all kicks off with a keynote presentation by P.J. Fleck, University of Minnesota’s head football coach.
Meet Coach Fleck in this introductory video and be sure to register for the 2023 ASTA Leadership Summit to hear more.