2025 National WIFE Convention to be held in La Junta, Colorado, October 23-25, 2025

The event will include outstanding small-town hospitality, excellent meeting room facilities at Otero College with educational and engaging guest speakers, plus fun for you, your family and anyone who attends. Friends and family are always welcome! As many of the sessions as possible will be set up with a Zoom connection.

On Thursday, October 23rd the convention will kick off at 1:00 pm Mountain Time at Otero College and will conclude with a banquet celebration on Saturday, October 25th. Travel days will be Wednesday, October 22, 2025, or the morning of Thursday, October 23rd and Sunday, October 26, 2025. Make your travel arrangements soon and keep watching your email or mailboxes for updates on the convention.

Thursday will include a tour to Colorado Seeds Inc., producer and wholesaler of seedless watermelon, watermelon, squash and pink pumpkin seed.  Following the tour our group will enjoy dinner and an evening of fun at the home of Kerry and Jacob Froese.  The afternoon and evening are designed for the entire family to attend.

     Our Friday schedule will include a panel discussion, breakout sessions and speakers focusing on marketing, finance and the challenges of living in and working in rural America.  That evening will feature an appreciation dinner for legislators.

     Saturday’s highlights will include a speaker on mental health in agriculture communities and another on positioning ourselves for a successful future in agriculture.  In between our speakers and dinners, we will take care of our WIFE convention business, for sure!!

Please contact Julie Sumpter (719) 980-0460 or Kerry Froese (719) 469-7749 if you need help with ground transportation as there is no need for several members renting vehicles at the airport.

Pre-Convention Meetings via Zoom

National WIFE Pre-Convention Committee meetings will be held on Zoom prior to the convention since we have downsized the convention to two and a half days, making it easier for everyone with busy schedules. The National WIFE Executive Committee, National WIFE Budget & Finance Committee, National WIFE Nominating Committee and National WIFE Resolutions Committee meetings are included in the pre-convention committee meetings and these Zoom meeting dates and times will be sent out with the updated schedule.

Airports nearest to La Junta

  • Denver International Airport (DIA) 2hr 41 min (175.2 mi)

  • Colorado Springs Airport (COS) 1 hr 47 min (103.0 mi)

Amtrak

  • Amtrak has train service to downtown La Junta from the east (Kansas and beyond) and from the south (New Mexico and Arizona), but not a direct connection with Colorado Springs or Denver

Hotels

  • Holiday Inn Express,

    • 719-383-2031. Talk to the person at the front desk, not reservations. Tell them you are with Women Involved in Farm Economics.

    • Room rate $124. (The Holiday Inn Express will be our primary hotel for the convention.)

  • Hampton Inn, 719-384-4444. Talk to the person at the front desk, not reservations. Tell them you are with Women Involved in Farm Economics.

    • Room rate $119. Only 8 rooms available to us. There’s another conference in town!

Convention Facility

  • Otero College Student Center, 2201 San Juan Ave., La Junta, CO

Major Attractions

  • Santa Fe Trail: National scenic byway and historic trail runs through the area

  • Koshare Indian Museum and Trading Post

  • Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site