J.J. Jones, executive director of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), will guide attendees in identifying animal agriculture’s “big, hairy, audacious goal” in the closing session of the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2024 Stakeholders Summit. Registration for the event, set for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Mo., closes on May 3. Register here: https://bit.ly/AAA24. The Alliance is now offering a recording only pass for attendees not able to join in person.
Animal agriculture has had millennia of successes in the food system, but does it have a “big, hairy, audacious goal” (BHAG) that it’s working towards? BHAGs are aspirational in format and serve to inspire innovation and creativity. During the session “Crossing the Finish Line: What is Animal Agriculture’s BHAG?,” Jones will round out the 2024 Summit exploring why animal agriculture needs a collective BHAG and how individuals and organizations can ensure animal agriculture continues to be a creative and innovative sector in today’s food system.
“Progress in areas such as animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and responsible antibiotic use within the animal agriculture community is a journey, not a destination,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president and CEO, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “While we’ve made incredible strides in these areas already, there’s always room for improvement. Identifying where we want the animal agriculture community to be years down the road takes consideration now. J.J. will start that conversation with 2024 Summit attendees who will leave with a plan to tackle those future goals.”
Jones is an analytical leader, turning data and knowledge into action for today’s food system. He finds his passion in working with NIAA members and stakeholders to affect positive change. Jones leads NIAA’s team as they convene animal agriculture experts and allies in collaborative settings to explore, discuss, learn, and develop knowledge that fosters interdisciplinary cooperation for the improvement and continuous progress of animal agriculture. He has earned degrees from Kansas State University in animal science and industry and international agriculture.
The annual Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, allied industries, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislatures, universities, government agencies, and media. Media registration is complimentary. Representatives of media outlets can contact Emily Ellis at eellis@animalagalliance.org for registration instructions.
Check the Summit website for the most up-to-date information and follow the hashtag #AAA24 for periodic updates about the event on social media. For general questions about the Summit please email summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-5160.
Get involved:
Help spread the word about Summit! If you refer a friend to attend the 2024 Summit who has never attended a previous Summit and they list your name as the person who recommended them when they register for the event, you’ll both be entered in a drawing to win a $100 gift card! Each referral will count as one entry and there is no limit on the number of entries for referrers. The Alliance will give away two $100 gift cards during the Summit – one drawing for referrers and one drawing for those who were referred. All registrations for the in-person event with a referral listed made until online registration closes on May 3 will be entered. Both the referrer and the person referred must be registered to claim the gift card.
Donate an item to the 2024 Silent Auction to support the 2024 College Aggies Online scholarship program by April 26. Previous auction donations have included goods and services such as artwork, quilts, jewelry, craft items, model farm equipment, gift baskets, gift certificates, food and wine, and sporting or entertainment event tickets. Fill out the request form or contact Grace Platte at gplatte@animalagalliance.org with any questions.
The 2024 Summit would not be possible without the support of our sponsors: Farm Journal, Meatingplace, Successful Farming, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Watt Global Media, Cargill, Zoetis, American Feed Industry Association, broadhead. + Filament, Merck, United Soybean Board, CoBank, Dairy MAX, Farm Credit Council, National Pork Producers Council, Pet Advocacy Network, Rabobank, Smithfield Foods, The Partnership, United Egg Producers, AdFarm, Agri-Pulse, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Veal Association, Cal-Maine Foods, Cobb, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Kemin, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Pork Board, Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care, Progressive Dairy, Protect the Harvest, Eocene Environmental Group, Trans Ova Genetics, Vivayic, Eggland’s Best, and North Carolina Farm Bureau.
