2024 American Agri-Women Fly-In: Uniting Women Across the Ag & Natural Resource Industries

Washington, DC

For the first time ever, American Agri-Women is opening up the AAW Fly-In to all women across the agricultural & natural resource industries. Join us in D.C. and have our voices heard!

Each year in June, American Agri-Women hosts a Legislative Fly-In for those interested to speak to their legislators, agencies, and other professionals in Washington D.C. about current agricultural issues and policies while relying upon your own opinions as well as the AAW Position Statements. We also explore the city and its major historical sites.

This year the American Agri-Women Road to Influence Leadership Program has been busy coordinating an expanded version of the traditional annual Fly-In. For the first time ever it is being opened up to all women involved in ag and natural resources, in a massive effort to unite as one voice in the nation's capital!

Highlights of the event are:

Presentation: How to make an impact at the local, state & federal levels of government
Presentation: Climate Change… At What Cost?
USDA Agency Roundtable – FSA, Trade, NASS, APHIS, Forestry
Meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Space is limited, first come first serve, register early to get a seat at the table.
Visit to the Embassy of Spain
Congressional Reception
Senate & Congressional Visits (of your choice)

AAW arranges our Fly-In to Washington, DC event for members of American Agri-Women. Registration covers meeting expenses, supplies and incidentals. Women from all over the country gather in Washington, DC to host a Symposium on a hot issue, meet with high level agriculture related agencies, such as USDA, EPA, DOI, and sometimes even the White House. We also meet with members of congress or “make the rounds” and discuss priority AAW issues and for some, home state issues.

In addition, we will visit an Embassy of Spain (previous visits include the Embassy of Italy, Israel, Japan, Portugal, and the Republic of Korea) and are sometimes offered snacks, a glimpse of their culture and an overview of that country’s agriculture connection to the United States. Bring your passport, because sometimes the host country will stamp it!

During our orientation and briefing we have leaders within the industry, such as Cattlemen’s Association, American Farm Bureau, Agriculture Coalition on Immigration Reform, etc. visit with us about hot button issues.

Prior to your travel, you will receive a Fly-In Tentative Itinerary, as well as, a copy of the Invitation to the Congressional Reception.

UNITED VOICE ON KEY ISSUES: The AAW Fly-In is intended to bring members from around the country to Washington, DC to engage with agriculturally related government agencies, as well as, deliver a united voice on the AAW priority issues of the time.

AAW offers an orientation prior to the Fly-In activities to provide a forum for participants to meet each other, familiarize them with others’ state’s issues and to offer participants an overview of the AAW priority issues. While affiliate members can include their priority issues when visiting congressional members, if they have time, affiliates are encouraged to visit their congressional members on your specific issues when they are in your home town office.

Every member attending the Fly-In is doing so at their own time, as a volunteer and at their own expense, which can be rather costly for some. As such, participants are not required to visit specific members of congress. The purpose of the trip is to have dialog with as many members of Congress as possible about the AAW issues. It is much appreciated if participants would take the time to help make the rounds so that AAW visibility can be as high as possible during our afternoon at the US Capitol. Each congressional office would have already received a copy of the AAW priority issues so a brief drop-in to deliver a reminder of the Congressional Reception to as many offices as possible is appreciated. No appointment needed.

Participants can, if they like, make appointments to visit any member of congress and refer to the AAW packet of information that was sent to them previously, as well as, share priority issues of their affiliate, if they desire. Members are strongly encouraged to make appointments prior to their visit.

Hotel Accommodations are being held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City at National Airport for American Agri-Women. Check-in beginning Saturday, June 1, 2024, check-out Wednesday June 5, 2024. Rate is $259.00 per night for King Room and $279.00 for Double Bed Room. This rate does not include DC sales tax, currently 6% and occupancy tax rate 8.24%. You may begin booking reservations directly on line by clicking HERE. You may also make reservations by calling 1 703-979-9733 and reference American Agri-Women. Credit card information is needed at time of reservation. Individual cancellation policy is 72 hours prior to date of arrival to avoid one night's room plus tax cancellation charge on credit card provided. Please obtain a cancellation number when cancelling a reservation. Deadline date to make reservation is Friday, May 10, 2024. Reservation requests received after the deadline date will be subject to availability and prevailing rate. For Information contact Ruth Jensen at 805-264-4476.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City National Airport

1393 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202 703-979-9799

This discounted rate is good: Saturday - Wednesday

King $259.00 USD per night - Double $279.00 per night

Online Reservation: Book your hotel here by 5/10/24

June 2 - 4, 2024

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2023

9:00-12:00 - Uniting Women Across the Ag & Natural Resource Industries special agenda: How to make an Impact at the local, state and federal levels.

2:30 – 3:00 - Fly-In Registration at Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City - Airport 1393 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202

3 – 5:00 p.m. Fly-In Orientation

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2023

8:30 a.m. BUS Departs: Hotel Lobby to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Jamie Whitten Building, 12th Street & Jefferson Dr. SW Jefferson Drive

9 – 11 a.m. 29th Annual Symposium – Topic: Climate Change… At What Cost?

Planning by the AAW Presidents Council

11:15 -11:30 BUS Departs for - Lunch

Host: Holland & Knight, 800 17th Street, NW Suite 1100