Early registration is now available for the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s annual Stakeholders Summit, to be held May 6-7, 2015. This year, the Alliance’s showcase event is themed “The Journey to Extraordinary.”

The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislators, universities and government agencies. The 2015 event, set in Kansas City, Mo., will be the first edition of the Summit held outside of the Washington, DC area.

While the 2014 Summit focused on the millennial generation and how it is defining the demand for meat, milk and eggs, this year’s event will explore animal agriculture’s continuous efforts to improve practices, produce enough food efficiently to feed a hungry and growing population and connect with consumers.

“Our theme, Journey to Extraordinary, reflects the animal agriculture industry’s strong penchant for self-reflection and improvement,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “Our industry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years in the areas of transparency, advancing technology and sustainability. At this year’s Summit, speakers and panelists will highlight the positive work of animal agriculture and focus on ways that attendees can continue to help the industry move further forward on the journey to an extraordinary future.”

The Alliance again welcomes Andy Vance, renowned agricultural journalist for Feedstuffs and active National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) member, as the 2015 Summit moderator. Other confirmed speakers include Dennis Dimick, executive editor of National Geographic magazine and Brad Scott, partner in Scott Brothers Dairy Farms and past participant on the reality television show Undercover Boss.

Summit highlights will include:
– Panels on topical issues including: consumer interest in food production and building trust, advancing technologies to feed a growing population, and measuring sustainability;
– Advice on radical transparency from farmers who have opened up their operations and food bloggers who have taken a look inside;
– Insights from mainstream media journalists discussing how and why they make decisions on coverage of agriculture and food production; and
– Crisis and reputation management tips from industry experts and companies who have survived image threats.