Your KFB YF&R State Committee is excited to announce the line-up for the 2012 YF&R Leaders Conference! Click here to see the agenda. It’s going to be a great conference with terrific contests, workshops, networking and outstanding speakers! It will take place January 27-29, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita.

Conference registration is available now. With the online system in place, only county coordinators are able to register participants through the membership system. This is the same process used for President’s Conference and Annual Meeting registration. You will be asked to register each attendee for meals and workshops, so please get with your participants on their schedule and workshop selections…. Space is limited in each workshop room!

Some of the highlights of the conference include:
-Service opportunity to pack food bags at the Kansas Food Bank
-Keynote and workshops by “Agvocate” Chris Chinn, a Missouri hog producer
-Farm American display featuring #78 NASCAR show vehicle, and workshop from NASCAR spokesperson
-Closing keynote from 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan
-More than $4,000 in prizes for the 3rd annual Networking Jackpot on Friday night

You will find a link on the membership system in the navigation bar to register for this conference. Please use that to register all participants from your county. Keep in mind we ask that you register each individual participant (not one per couple). This will help give an accurate head count for meals and workshops. After you register, you will receive a confirmation list of all participants from your county.

Registration for this year’s conference is $75 per person with a January 13 deadline. However, if you register by December 16, you’ll receive a discounted offer of $70 per person. Payment is due at registration, so once you’ve registered everyone from your county, you’ll click on the link “YF&R Conference Payment” below the Conference Registration link. This will provide you a list/receipt of all participants from your county. Please print off this list/receipt and submit it with a check to the home office to YF&R Conference Registration, KFB Accounting, Kansas Farm Bureau 2627 KFB Plaza, Manhattan KS 66503.

Finally, you’ll need to reserve hotel rooms for your participants, or have them reserve their own. The block rate deadline to reserve a room at the Hyatt is December 31. Once again this year, we are featuring an exclusive website for you to make hotel reservations at the Hyatt by clicking here. The Hyatt Regency can also be contacted at (888) 421-1442. Room rates will be $98 for single and double rooms, or $123 for triple or quad rooms. We have a full block of rooms reserved, so just tell them you’re with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Leaders Conference. After December 26, the rate goes up to as much as $169 per night. Important note: If your total bill is less than $10,000 you will not be able to set up a direct bill payment. According to the hotel, credit card is the easiest form of payment. You may call and discuss with them other options, including checks, if needed. Attached is an authorization form for using 3rd party credit cards to pay for the room. If the county Farm Bureau or another third party is paying via credit card for your attendees, please make sure this is submitted to the Hyatt.

Guests staying at the Hyatt will receive complimentary parking in the garage for the duration of the conference. Attendees not staying at the Hyatt may either park in the lot to the south of the hotel/parking garage, or pay to park in the garage. Rates are $2 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour, with a maximum of $8 per day.

We look forward to seeing your Young Farmers & Ranchers there!

Discounted overflow hotel options (available until Jan. 20):