Women Changing the Face of Agriculture expands to three Illinois campuses in 2027

MACOMB, Ill. — Women Changing the Face of Agriculture, a program of Illinois Agri-Women, will host its first three-event series across the state in March.

The expansion is designed to give high school students statewide access to women working in agriculture and related industries — and to the conversations that help them decide what comes next after graduation.

2027 event dates and locations:

• March 5 — Joliet Junior College, Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center, Joliet.

• March 12 — John Wood Community College Agricultural Education Center, Baylis.

• March 18 — Southern Illinois University Student Center, Carbondale.

This is the first year WCFA will host three events in a single year, creating northern, west-central and southern Illinois gathering points for students, educators and industry professionals. Look for registration to open in early January.

Keynote Speaker Maddie Caldwell To Headline All Three Events

Maddie Caldwell will be the featured keynote speaker at every 2027 WCFA event. Caldwell grew up on a family farm near Elmwood, was active in 4-H and FFA and today serves as a district sales manager with ProAg, supporting crop insurance agencies and farmers across the Midwest. She is also an advocate for mental health awareness in agriculture.

Her keynote will speak directly to the moment many high school students are facing: deciding what to do after graduation.

Caldwell will talk about the fears and anxieties that come with that choice — including the fear of failing — and why failure is not the end of the story.

She will share practical tools young women can use to navigate uncertainty, stay grounded in their values and move forward with resilience and authenticity.

Call For Partners And Presenters

WCFA is seeking professionals to lead hands-on sessions and participate in the career fair. The events are industry-driven and designed to show high school students the unique opportunities agriculture and related fields offer.

Women with a unique story to tell are especially encouraged to take part.

Sponsorship information is available on the WCFA website at womenchangingthefaceofagriculture.com. Professionals interested in leading a session or joining the career fair are invited to connect through the website.