| Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
Time |
Location |
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Convention Pre-Tour: All Things Hershey! (ticketed event) |
1:30 - 5:00 p.m. |
Hotel Main Entrance |
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Registration Open |
5:00 - 8:00 p.m. |
Garden Terrace Foyer |
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Hospitality Room Open |
7:00 - 11:00 p.m. |
Castilian Room |
| Thursday, February 5, 2026 |
Time |
Location |
|
Registration Open |
7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Garden Terrace Foyer |
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Breakfast |
7:00 - 8:30 a.m. |
Fountain Room |
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Opening General Session
Welcome, Chris Martin, President OFA
Welcome, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Reading
The Power of Resilience with Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions Quarterback
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8:30 - 10:30 a.m. |
Garden Terrace Ballroom |
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Breakout Session Series One |
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Understanding Grain Marketing with Roger Wright
Join veteran grain marketing consultant Roger Wright for a practical, no-nonsense look at how grain markets truly work—and why most farmers have never been taught the strategies that protect their operation’s bottom line. Drawing on five decades of experience Roger brings a farmer-first perspective shaped by real-world challenges. If you’ve ever felt unsure about basis, hedging, merchandisers’ incentives, or how to build a marketing plan that works in the real world, this session will equip you with the clarity, confidence, and tools to market your grain more profitably. |
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. |
Tea House Room |
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USDA-Approved Electronic Acreage Reporting with Catherine Clower & Michelle Tressel
Attend this session and learn how growers can leverage technology to streamline regulatory reporting. MyAgData, the only third-party platform credentialed to submit reports directly to the USDA clearinghouse, offers a timely answer to known FSA resource constraints. Just as farmers rely on accountants, MyAgData’s Digital Acreage Reporting handles the FSA paperwork—freeing producers to focus on fieldwork. Learn how early adopters are saving time and thousands in annual crop insurance premiums simply by reporting the way they farm. |
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. |
Garden East |
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The Rise of the Modern Rural Woman with Shelby Watson-Hampton
Join Shelby Watson-Hampton for an inspiring session that celebrates the evolving role of women in agriculture. Through heartfelt stories and practical guidance, Shelby highlights how modern rural women are redefining what it means to live, lead, and thrive in agriculture—as caretakers, entrepreneurs, and advocates for their families and communities. Built around the themes of resilience, diversification, and leadership beyond the fenceline, this session will encourage you to embrace your strength, explore opportunities and elevate your voice in shaping the future of rural America.
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10:45 - 11:45 a.m |
Garden West |
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Ag & Cybersecurity with Chris Sherman and Kristen King
In 2023, agriculture was the seventh most targeted industry for ransomware attacks. From the field to the farm shop, the digital revolution in agriculture has changed the way we raise, harvest, and distribute food. Cybercriminals have discovered a goldmine in America's food chain where legacy infrastructure, public-facing records, and a culture of trust make for a perfect target. Attend this session and leave with a clear understanding of the risks and steps to start strengthening your operation's cybersecurity.
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Convention Networking Lunch |
Noon - 1:30 p.m. |
Fountain Lobby |
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NOYF Class of 2026 Lunch (Finalists ONLY) |
11:30am - 1:00 p.m. |
Milton Hershey Suite |
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Breakout Sessions Repeat |
1:45 - 2:45 p.m. |
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NOYF Class of 2026 Interviews |
1:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
Castilian Room |
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Opening Welcome Party |
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. |
Garden Terrace Ballroom |
|
Hospitality Room Open |
9:00 - 11:00 p.m. |
Castilian Room |
| Friday, February 6, 2026 |
Time |
Location |
| Registration Desk Open | 6:00 - 8:00 a.m. | Garden Terrace Foyer |
| Breakfast | 6:00 - 7:30 a.m. | Fountain Lobby |
| Off-Site Tours
Lancaster County: From Cattle to Cutting Edge
Experience the best of Lancaster County agriculture! Visit Nissley Brothers Farm, a family cattle operation finishing 1,250 head each year. Explore Rohrer Dairy Farms, home to 1,700 cows and a state-of-the-art rotary parlor designed for optimal cow comfort. This tour also includes an exclusive stop at the New Holland Hay Tool Manufacturing Plant, showcasing innovation in agricultural equipment. Guests will enjoy a delicious lunch at the iconic Shady Maple Smorgasbord.
Cattle to Cultivation: Exploring Chester County’s Best
Discover the unique diversity of Chester County agriculture, beginning with a visit to Herr Angus Farm. Learn how their slatted-floor feedlot produces 1,200 steers annually and why their famed “Steer Party Mix” is a hit among the herd. Guests will also gain insight into their Angus seedstock program, commercial herd, and on-site embryo transfer facility. Next, travel to the “mushroom capital of the world” with a behind-the-scenes look at Phillips Mushroom Farm and its highly specialized growing environments. Then, visit The Naked Olive where they will provide a Mediterranean inspired buffet. The tour concludes with a stop at MacCauley Suffolks, home to a nationally recognized flock of 450 Suffolk brood ewes and 100 crossbred ewes.
Roots, Cream and Classroom Dreams
The tour will begin at Sterman Masser, a seventh-generation potato operation with advanced technology to grow, store, and distribute millions of pounds of potatoes each year. The tour continues to a lunch at Hidden Still Spirits, with elevated modern American dishes. The final tour stop will visit the Milton Hershey School's Agricultural and Environmental Education Center. This private and free school began in 1909 and has transformed more than 12,000 lives. Students engage in hands-on learning in animal science, crop production, and sustainability.
The Battle of Gettysburg
This tour is offered for guests who want a slower pace and a return to the hotel early in the afternoon. For three days in 1863, Union and Confederate forces met here on the fields, hills, and ridges of Gettysburg in the turning-point battle of the American Civil War. This 6,000-acre battlefield includes more than 1,300 monuments, markers, and memorials that tell the story of the battle and the men who fought here. Through preservation efforts, the historic battlefield landscape looks very much like it did in 1863. This historical tour is not one to miss! View and participate from the comfort of a climate-controlled motorcoach as actors board the bus and provide an insightful story of the personalities, places, and events of the Battle of Gettysburg. A lunch stop at Dobbin House Tavern is included. This home, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a colonial restaurant that will bring you back to the sights, sounds, and tastes of two centuries ago. |
7:00am - 4:00 p.m. | See Registration Page |
| Dinner on Your Own | ||
| Troeg's Brewery (ticketed event) | 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. | Troeg's Brewery |
| Saturday, February 7, 2026 |
Time |
Location |
| Registration Desk Open | 7:00am - Noon | Garden Terrace Foyer |
| Breakfast | 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Fountain Lobby |
Closing General Session, Advocating for Agriculture Online featuring Farming Social Media Expert, Greg Peterson
An entertaining, inspirational, educational, and motivational program for people of all ages and all backgrounds. The program includes how we got started making videos, where all they’ve taken us, the power of communicating through social media, and the lessons we've learned about advocating for agriculture online. Music videos will be shared throughout the presentation highlighting the power of social media on farming. |
8:30 - 10:00 a.m. | Garden Terrace Ballroom |
| Break | 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. | |
| Regional Committee Meetings | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | |
| OFA Member Forum Lunch | 11:45 - 1:00 p.m. | Garden Terrace Ballroom |
| Explore Hershey on your own! | 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. | |
| NOYF Reception | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Garden Terrace Foyer |
| NOYF Awards Banquet | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Garden Terrace Ballroom |
| Hospitality Auction & Fundraiser | 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. | Castilian Room |
| Sunday, February 8, 2026 |
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| Guests Depart | All Day |
