French Lick Resort
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8670 West State Road 56

French Lick, Indiana
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hosted by the South Northwest Region
Join us for the 33rd annual IDEA conference! We will have some egg-cellent group sessions, including hearing from Lali Hess (The Juniper Spoon), on the importance of supporting local growers, and a watch party for the Land Values film about the Big Pine Watershed project. Learn about livestock grazing and anatomy or writing long-range business plans in our break-out sessions or bring out your competitive side and play against other employees on The Amazing Race! Don't miss the great items at the IDEA Silent Auction. Proceeds go towards IDEA Conference Scholarships, Staff Service Awards, and Poster Contest Winners.

Schedule (subject to change)

Wednesday, October 4th

TIME
ACTIVITY
12:00-1:00 PM
Registration
1:00-2:00 PM
Welcome

Group Session: History of French Lick- Sandi Woodward, Indiana Landmarks
2:00-4:15 PM
Lightning Talks​
  • 2:00 PM- IDEA Career Development Program
  • 2:30 PM- Soil & Water Conservation Society (SWCS)
  • 2:45 PM- Urban Soil Health program (USH)
  • 3:00 PM- BREAK
  • 3:30 PM- Women 4 the Land (W4L)
  • 3:45 PM- Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
  • 4:00 PM- National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA)
4:00-6:00 PM
Self-guided walking tours of French Lick and West Baden. Maps with stops will be provided in your conference packets.

Hotel Check-in starts at 4 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner all together
7:00 PM
Explore Resort
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The Amazing Race (optional activity for an additional fee)
Picture
​​Working in teams, participants will solve a variety of clues leading them across French Lick Springs Hotel. This is the perfect activity for exploring the whole hotel as The Amazing Race covers this entire grand property, inside and out.

Cost: $15 per person
This fee is in addition to the registration fee. This must be paid at the time of registration and cannot be paid in person at the conference.

​Time: 1.5 hours

Thursday, October 5th

TIME
ACTIVITY
7:00-8:30 AM
Breakfast
8:00-9:00 AM
Registration
9:00-10:00 AM
Group Session: The Importance of Supporting Local Growers- Lali Hess, The Juniper Spoon
10:00-10:30 AM
​Break
10:30-11:30 AM
Breakout Sessions
  • Anatomy of Grazing- Susannah Hinds, NRCS
  • Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Programs- Lais McCartney, Purdue Extension
  • Writing Effective Business Plans and Disaster Plans- Geneva Tyler and Nathan Stoelting, ISDA
11:45 AM-1:15 PM
Lunch and IDEA Business Meeting
1:30-2:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
  • Hydroponic Farming- Brenda Hash, Morning Harvest Produce (SESSION FULL, NO SPOTS REMAINING)
  • All Things Retirement- Michael Rust, INPRS
  • Managing District Finances- panel discussion lead by Kelly Kent, Jennings County SWCD
Times vary per tour
Tours
  • French Lick Stables and Nature Walk (2:45-4:45 PM) (TOUR FULL, NO SPOTS REMAINING)
  • Orange County Conservation Tour (2:45-5:15 PM)
  • West Baden Springs Hotel Guided Tour (3:15- 4:45 PM)​(TOUR FULL, NO SPOTS REMAINING)
5:00 PM
Dinner on your own
7:00 PM
Screening of the Land Values film 
Q&A with Johnny Klemme and Leslie Fisher
8:00 PM
Silent Auction

Friday, October 6th

TIME
ACTIVITY
7:00-8:30 AM
Breakfast
9:00-10:30 AM
Group Session: Creating Backyard Bird Habitat- Brian Cunningham, Wild Birds Unlimited
10:30-11:00
Check out of hotel
11:00-11:30 AM
Closing session with Ray Chattin, State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB)

French Lick Springs Hotel


French Lick Springs Hotel
Government Rate: $98
Non-government Rate: $159

The last day to reserve rooms is AUGUST 30TH. After this date rooms cannot be guaranteed at our discounted rate. For the government rate of $98 per room you MUST present a government-issued ID (such as a LincPass) or pay with a card or check with a government entity listed on it. Rooms without a government ID or a check/card with a government entity listed will be charged $159 per room. October 3rd can be reserved along with October 4th and 5th if needed. Parking is available on site for free. The hotel and the conference are in the same building. Maps will be provided in your conference packets and will be emailed to registrants. There is only one option for hotel rooms.
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Room details:
  • French Lick Springs Hotel Deluxe Queen bed
  • All rooms are non-smoking
  • 720 thread-count sheets
  • Refrigerator
  • Adjustable thermostat
  • Alarm clock radio
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Hair dryers
  • Handicap accessible available upon request
  • In-room coffee makers with single-serving Starbucks filter packs
  • In-room safe
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Roll-away upon request (based on availability)
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You will not be charged anything on your card upon booking online. It will automatically give you our block discount and no code is needed. Please click the link below. If you cannot book online via the link below, call (888) 936-9360 for assistance and use code 1023IDE.

Other local hotel options

If French Lick Resort has no more rooms available, lodging is available at Best Western and Choice Hotels.  Both hotels are in French Lick and within 1.5 miles of the resort. Both offer government rates.  You will need to inquire about specific documentation when you make your reservation.  There are not room blocks at these hotels.  They are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Best Western Plus, French Lick
613 S Arnold F Habig Boulevard, French Lick, Indiana 47432
To reserve a room, call the hotel directly at (812) 936-0520.  If you prefer to reserve a room online, CLICK HERE

Choice Hotels, French Lick
9530 West State Road 56, French Lick, IN, 47432, US
To reserve a room, call the hotel directly at (812) 936-0520.  If you prefer to reserve a room online, CLICK HERE

Conference Registration

Both check and credit/debit cards are accepted methods of payments. Payment via credit/debit cards is subject to an additional fee. The Amazing Race experience is an additional fee and this fee must be paid at the time of registration and cannot be paid the day of the event. If paying for the Amazing Race via check, please add this fee to your check for registration costs.

Checks must be postmarked by September 11th. Please make checks payable to IDEA and sent to the address below:
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IDEA
Attn: Cindy Newkirk
1101 W Main Street  Ste N
Greenfield, IN  46140
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT CONFERENCE!

Conference Sponsors

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 IDEA CONFERENCE SPONSORS! WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!
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