The Extension Risk Management Education National Conference invites submissions for special sessions. Special sessions offer an alternative to the traditional 30-minute concurrent sessions, providing an opportunity to present content through interactive activities, panels or professional development opportunities. All special sessions are 70 minutes in duration and hosted in rooms with flexible layouts, including the ability to organize participants into discussion groups or interactive formats.
Special sessions may address emergent risk management issues, demonstrate educational delivery approaches, showcase outreach materials, support training or professional development, and encourage attendees to engage in discussion around risk management-related topics.
Requirements
Special session submissions should not exceed 300 words and must describe the following:
- The relevance or need specific to a defined risk management problem and audience.
- How the proposed session will prepare the attending agricultural educators and professionals to better address that need and audience.
- How the proposed session will facilitate engagement and interactivity.
- Learning objectives and an outcome statement.
- A brief agenda or run-of-show to summarize how you will use the allotted time.
In addition to the special session text, proposals must provide (not included in the word count):
- A brief title for the session
- The organizer’s contact information, including name, title, affiliation, and email address
- Speaker names and contact details, if you know them OR explanation of the type of speakers who will be recruited.
Abstracts for special sessions will be evaluated based on their relevance to risk management education, outcome statements and likelihood that the session will generate significant interest and engagement of conference attendees. The planning committee will accept a maximum of 3 special sessions for inclusion in the 2027 program.
Submit an Abstract
Focus Areas
Proposals should emphasize education, outcomes, and risk management results that producers achieved through participation in their educational projects. Presentations should target educators working with agricultural producers. Abstracts that include research as a major component will not be considered.
Topics may include programs addressing any of the five risk areas (financial, production, marketing, legal and human) or projects serving producers underutilizing federal crop insurance programs.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for Proposals Opens | Monday, November 16, 2026 |
| Proposal Submission Deadline | Friday, January 16, 2027 |
| Notification of Acceptance | Friday, February 5, 2027 |
| Presenter Confirmation Due | Friday, February 19, 2027 |
| Presentation Upload Deadline | Friday, April 9, 2027 |
Submission and Presentation Guidelines
- Submit proposals online via the AgRisk and Farm Management Library.
- Abstract (max 300 words) describing the educational effort and its impact.
- Presentation Title: Maximum 8 words. Titles exceeding the limit will be automatically shortened for print.
- Abstracts will be reviewed and selected by a peer review committee.
- Presenters must register and attend the conference and stay at the designated conference hotel.
Accessibility
ERME is committed to hosting a barrier-free and user-friendly conference. Presenters are strongly encouraged to:
- Use readable fonts, high-contrast visuals, and descriptive text for images.
- Provide closed captions or transcripts for any pre-recorded media.
- Avoid acronyms and jargon when possible.
- Ensure materials meet basic ADA accessibility standards.