Confluence is sold out!
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Confluence is sold out! 〰️
Paicines Ranch, San Benito California
The Spring '26 Confluence is designed to spark meaningful conversations and deepen connections to the land and one another. This immersive experience offers participants the rare opportunity to engage with each other and with guest speakers, exchange ideas, share stories, and celebrate the power of collective action. Through collaborative activities, open dialogue, and thought-provoking panel discussions, we will build on our roots, laying the groundwork for continued growth.
2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, a United Nations–designated initiative bringing global attention to the people who steward the world’s lands, and the International Year of the Female Farmer. This year’s Confluence line-up reflects that shared vision of supporting ranchers and land stewards locally and globally.
Our team has thoughtfully curated an agenda of keynote talks, skill-based workshops, and meaningful dialogue focused on mobilizing and supporting women in ranching and pastoral systems. Confluence is as much about relationships as it is about ideas. Once a year we gather together, share hard-earned wisdom, learn new skills and imagine what’s possible.
Daily Agenda
Thursday March 12th
3:00 pm Check-in
*you can arrive anytime after 3:00 pm
5:30-&:30pm Casual dinner
Friday March 13th
7:30 - 8:30 am - Breakfast
8:30 - 8:45 am - Opening Welcome: Amber Smith + Kristen Kipp
8:45 - 10:00 am - KEYNOTE: Dr. Abegbola Adesogan
10:00 - 10:15 am - Reflection Time
10:15 AM - 12:15 pm - Sheep Flock Demonstration
12:15 - 12:45 pm - Coffee & Connection Opportunity
12:45 - 2:00 pm - Concurrent Workshops
Concurrent Workshop: Leading with Numbers Cohort Session #1
Concurrent Workshop: Grazing Planning and Bird Habitat with Audubon Ranching
Concurrent Workshop: Ranch tour: Unlocking productivity and sustainability with Halter's virtual fencing
Concurrent Workshop: Kitchen Table Advisors Managerial Accounting with Idara Philips
Concurrent Workshop: Cooking Class
2:00 - 3:15 pm - Lunch
3:25 - 4:30 pm - KEYNOTE: Building Community, Network and Education for Grassland Stewards by Sargai Yunshaab
4:30 - 5:30 pm - KEYNOTE: You Should Give a Damn About Your Grass by Sarah Jane Abatti
5:45 - 7:15 pm - Vineyard Tour + Wine Tasting
7:15 - 8:15 pm - Dinner
8:30 - 9:30 pm - Line Dancing (optional)
Saturday March 14th
7:30 - 8:30 am - Morning Bird Walk (optional)
8:00 - 9:30 am - Breakfast
9:30 - 10:15 am - KEYNOTE: Walking In Your Own Purpose by Kimberly Ratcliff
10:15 AM - 12:00 pm - KEYNOTE: Identifying & Mitigating Urban, Industrial & Agricultural Water Pollution by Souta Calling Last
12:00 - 1:30 pm - Lunch
1:30 - 3:00 pm - Concurrent Workshops
Concurrent Workshop: Leading with Numbers Cohort Session #2
Concurrent Workshop: Feed'em and Breed'em: Fetal Programming on the Ranch by Sarah Jane Abatti
Concurrent Workshop: Record Keeping with Heidi Spainhower of Northway Ranch Services
Concurrent Workshop: Roots and Continuity: Succession Planning and the Law Behind Legacy by Cat Kelly
3:15 - 4:15 pm - KEYNOTE: The Law of Hard Times For Women Ranchers by Sarah Vogel
4:20 - 5:00 pm - Policy Session
5:00 - 5:15 pm - Coffee & Conversation Opportunity
5:15 - 5:45 pm - KEYNOTE: Paths Forward: Reflections from WIR's Financial Planning Cohort by Caroline Wild
6:00 - 7:00 pm - KEYNOTE: Designing for Change by Cate Havstad Casad
7:15 - 8:45 pm - Dinner
8:45 - 10:00 pm - Fireside Event (Music + Smores)
8:45 - 9:30 pm - Guided Night Hike (optional)
Sunday March 15th
8:00 am Breakfast
11:00 am Depart Paicines Ranch
Speaker Lineup
About The Venue
If you’ve been with us from the start, you know the Paicines Ranch has played an integral role in the founding and evolution of WIR.
We’re honored to collaborate with Paicines again this year to host the Confluence in San Benito County, California, and to carry forward the vision first imagined by Elaine Patarini and Wendy Millet: a community where no rancher stands alone, and every member is truly seen, supported and celebrated.
The beautiful Paicines Ranch is nestled in the heart of San Benito County and consists of around 7000 acres of rangeland, 550 acres of row crop ground, and 25 acres of vineyard, all of which are certified organic. Producing 100% grassfed beef, lamb, pork and turkey, the mission of the historic Paicines is to work with the dynamic natural world at the ranch to regenerate the health of the ecosystem from the soil up while growing delicious, nourishing food for our community.
Read more about the history of Paicines Ranch
Tickets & Registration
What's Included
Your Confluence ticket provides a fully immersive experience at Paicines Ranch including complete conference programming, shared lodging, all meals prepared by the ranch culinary team, and shuttle transportation.
Beyond the logistics, you're investing in three days of deep connection to the land, workshops, keynote speakers, and to a community of women who understand the unique challenges and rewards of this work.
This year's gathering honors the voices from our community asking for space to go deeper. You'll have time to build genuine connections over meals, learn from each other's experiences on the land, and leave with both practical tools and renewed energy for your ranching operation.
Locals Pass $475
Includes full conference program & meals only (No Lodging)
Locals Pass+ Cooking Class $525
Includes full conference program & meals only (No Lodging) + Cooking Class
When you register to attend the WIR Confluence, you can receive a $500 refund by applying to the Rancher Resilience Grant.
The grant helps producers attend educational events around the country. Application is simple and due by February 19th.
For questions about registration, lodging, meals, venue, agenda, programming, or any other inquiries, please email here
