RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — American Agri-Women (AAW) will hold its 2016 convention in Raleigh, NC at the Embassy Suites Raleigh Durham Research Triangle on November 17-19, 2016. AAW Members will learn a lot about the state as the convention kicks off on the 17th with tours of Caterpillar, Cotton Inc. and other North Carolina points of interest.

The AAW board of directors meeting along with the convention opening ceremonies, round table discussions and a town hall meeting are the highlights of the middle day of the convention.

Saturday, Nov.19 will be the busiest day of the convention. The convention’s keynote speaker will be the 2013 World Food Prize Laureate Dr. Mary Dell-Chilton. She is a distinguished science fellow and founder of Syngenta’s biotechnology research labs and has forever changed the way plant genetic research is done.

There will be an all-day trade show and a luncheon that will include the invitation to the 2017 convention in Minnesota. A new AAW Vice-President of Education and AAW Secretary along with three AAW Foundation board members will be elected at this year’s convention.

The convention will close with the banquet, where several AAW members will be honored with AAW highest achievement, the LEAVEN award. AAW will also present the VERITAS award to an individual who has given public witness to the pursuit of truth. During the convention, AAW will hold a special fundraiser benefitting the North Carolina hurricane relief effort.

AAW President Doris Mold says, “Convention is always a terrific time for members to network, gain new knowledge, and get the business of the organization done, along with celebrating the outstanding work of members and those in the community at large. It is also an exciting time as we announce new advocacy efforts, projects and partnerships. This is our first convention in North Carolina and we are eager to learn more about their agriculture and history.”