Calgary (Rural Roots Canada) – Fifty post-secondary students made their way to Calgary last week for the Advancing Women in Agriculture West Conference, the most the event has ever seen in its student sponsorship program.

The three-day conference, held March 8 to 10 at the Hyatt Regency, brought together women from across the agriculture and agri-food industry for workshops, keynote speakers and networking.

Kahlie Vaandrager, a fourth-year animal science student at the University of Alberta, had a specific goal in mind.

“I will be graduating this year, so I’ll be looking for a job, and I think this is a great place to meet employers,” she said. “You realize that this is totally an achievable thing. You can fit it into your goals, and it is attainable.”

Jocelyn Trout, a second-year agribusiness student at the University of Saskatchewan, was back for her second year after the conference paid off in a way she didn’t expect the first time around. She made a connection at the event, stayed in touch on LinkedIn, and that connection eventually led to a summer job offer.

“It just makes me feel like I am meant to be in ag, even if I don’t know exactly where I’m going with my career trajectory,” she said.

RELATED: Iris Meck and the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference

Annalise Steadman, who studies agricultural business management at the University of Alberta, also returned for a second year. She grew up in the 4-H program on Vancouver Island before moving to Alberta to study. She said the conference gives her something she can’t find in a classroom.

“I really love to go to all the different workshops and hear from so many different people and gain so many different perspectives on how women navigate their careers in the industry,” she said.

The conference featured more than 20 workshops covering everything from AI in agribusiness and financial succession planning to burnout prevention and public speaking. Tuesday closed out with a leaders panel in which women spoke candidly about the obstacles they faced and the risks they took to get where they are.

Students had time throughout the conference to connect with sponsors. Starting with a networking reception Sunday evening and wrapping up with a shared lunch on the final day.

The Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference is organized by Iris Meck. For more information on the student sponsorship program, visit the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference website.