The Louisiana Women in Ag Conference kicked off Thursday, March 21, 2019 from the Holiday Inn in downtown Louisiana with the Peabody High School Marching Band sending off over 200 participants on bus tours to North and South Louisiana. Those going to North Louisiana learned about a high tunnel, or a Òhoop house,&quot; bee keeping and were given a small farming tools demonstration. Those going to South Louisiana toured a crawfish farm and rice mill. The conference continues Friday with keynote speakers Jane Jenkins Herlong and Marji Guyler Aliniz; Donna Bailey of Roy O Martin speaking on Women in Leadership; and panel discussions on buying and selling local and ideas and innovation. Donna Edwards, first lady of Louisiana, and Mike Strain, commissioner of the department of agriculture and forestry, are also slated to speak at the conference.