March 6, 2017 – Two dietitians will address attendees at the 2017 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit in a panel titled “Food History: Fact vs. Fiction and Dispelling Myths About Food.” The panel will focus on how to debunk myths about food and farming that frequently circulate online and in the media. Panelists include Leah McGrath, corporate dietitian for Ingles Markets and Amber Pankonin, a registered dietitian nutritionist and adjunct professor.
The 2017 Summit, themed “Connect to Protect Animal Ag” will be held May 3-4 in Kansas City, Mo. The conference will build on the 2016 Summit’s focus of taking action to secure a bright future for animal agriculture. Speakers will give the audience actionable solutions to take home and implement on their farm or in their business. Early registration rates are available through April 3rd by visiting www.animalagalliance.org/summit.
Leah McGrath is a corporate supermarket dietitian and former Army and public health dietitian. She is also the founder of “Build Up Dietitians,” a social media movement emphasizing evidence-based information and encouraging dietitians to “#StandForScience.” For the past five years, McGrath has worked to increase her knowledge about agriculture and farming by visiting farms and writing blogs and articles about her experiences to educate consumers and peers. She is proud to consider herself an “agvocate.”
Amber Pankonin is a registered dietitian nutritionist passionate about food, nutrition science and agriculture. She works as a nutrition and agriculture communications consultant and adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Pankonin loves good food, Nebraska agriculture and building community. She shares the stories of farmers and ranchers through recipes on her blog, Stirlist.com.
“This year’s Summit theme is all about connecting, and that includes connecting with people outside of traditional animal agriculture,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “Consumers are turning to dietitians and nutritionists for advice and information about food, so we are thrilled to have two representatives of that profession joining us at Summit. I am confident this panel will be both engaging and useful for our Summit attendees.”
Be sure to check the Alliance website for the most up-to-date Summit information. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA17 and #ActionPlease2017 for periodic updates about the event. For general questions about the Summit please contact [email protected] or call (703) 562-5160.
Make your plans to attend:
The early registration rate of $425 is available through April 3rd. Discounted rates are available for Alliance members, government officials, university representatives and students. To see all rates and register, visit http://animalagalliance.org/summit/register.cfm. Complimentary registration is available for reporters covering the event for media outlets. Contact Hannah Thompson-Weeman at [email protected] for details.
The Summit will once again be held in Kansas City in 2017 with all events taking place at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Rooms are available at a discounted rate of $175 as supplies last. Rooms must be booked by April 3rd to receive this rate. For hotel booking instructions, visit http://animalagalliance.org/summit/index.cfm?PageID=8.
Get involved:
Show your support for the Alliance’s outreach efforts by becoming an official Summit sponsor today! To explore opportunities for 2017 please visit http://animalagalliance.org/summit/index.cfm?PageID=3. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Allyson Jones-Brimmer at [email protected].
Thank you to our 2017 Summit sponsors: Farm Journal Media, Meatingplace, Watt Global Media, American Feed Industry Association, Farm Credit, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, United Soybean Board, American Veal Association, Council for Biotechnology Information, United Egg Producers, Cobb-Vantress, Inc., National Biodiesel Board, The Mosaic Company, Ad Farm, Agri Beef, Boehringer Ingelheim, GNP Business Unit of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, Kemin, National Chicken Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, Dairy Max Inc., Live Oak Bank, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Eggland’s Best, Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC, Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Soybean.
The Alliance thanks the following members for their continued support of Summit and other Alliance programs: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Merck Animal Health, Charleston|Orwig, Diamond V, Zoetis, Alltech, Inc., Aviagen Group, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Cargill, Cattle Empire, LLC, Genus PLC - PIC/ABS, Hendrix Genetics, Hy-Line North America LLC, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Potash Corp., Provimi North America, Inc., Seaboard Foods LLC, Smithfield Hog Production and Iowa Soybean Board.
