Feb 8, 2024

Discount registration deadline extended for California workforce summit

More than 500 agricultural safety and human resource professionals, farm managers and supervisors, labor contractors and farm owners are expected to converge on the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, California, for a workforce summit.

ACTIVATE24 is scheduled for Feb. 20-22 and is hosted by AgSafe, an agricultural labor educational training organization.

Because ACTIVATE24 is expected to sell out, organizers extended the discounted registration deadline, which is now available until Feb. 13, according to a news release.

The event includes recognition of businesses and individuals that work to ensure workers’ health and safety, a program sponsored by California’s almond industry.

The two-day event plans to feature more than 50 sessions offered in English and Spanish covering a variety of critical topics from the fundamentals of health and safety — such as mental workplace health and compliance planning — to regulatory compliance, workforce development and pesticide handling.

“ACTIVATE24 is a one-of-a-kind, annual conference, focused on the industry’s most vital resource, its people,” Theresa Kiehn, AgSafe’s president and CEO, said in the release. “Special emphasis is given to providing practical information, solutions, resources and professional development for agricultural supervisors, safety and human resources professionals and executives alike. The value for attendees is significant.”

A nonprofit membership organization, AgSafe trains ag employers, supervisors and farm workers in safety, human resources and pesticide safety. AgSafe’s focus is to provide practical education, with a “boots on the ground” approach, teaching both the “why” and “how” to protect workers in the field, as well as packing, processing and food manufacturing facilities, according to the release.

In addition to the main conference program, which was developed with input from industry professionals, supplemental seminars are offered to train-the-trainers in tractor safety and pesticide handling. Premium tracks are also available for the California Human Resources Certificate Program, California Agricultural Safety Certificate Program and the Supervisor Advancement Seminar. FLC Continuing Education is also available. ACTIVATE24 begins with the popular pre-conference golf scramble at the historic Old Del Monte Golf Course.

Marshal Sewell, who grew up on a fifth-generation fruit and vegetable farm and is founder of Mind Your Melon, is slated to provide keynote remarks on the stressors in agricultural communities and on Inspiring healthier minds through proactive lifestyles.

Tina Huff will present in the plenary session to help employees be successful at work and helping companies reach and exceed their goals. She is a former chief people officer/vice president of human resources with more than 30 years of experience across multiple industries including agriculture, contact centers, food processing, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail/grocery.

Winners of the annual AllWays Safe Agricultural Safety Awards will also be unveiled at ACTIVATE24. A collaboration between AgSafe and the Almond Board of California, this award is designed to honor businesses and individuals that have committed themselves towards ensuring the safety and health of their workers. Awards will be presented in the categories of lifetime achievement, outstanding company,  safety professional and operations/production supervisor, according to the release.

Read more about the conference here.

Based in Modesto, California, AgSafe is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. Since 1991, AgSafe has trained more than 100,000 employers, supervisors and farmworkers in critical issues impacting worker safety, human resources and pesticide safety.