Daily Conference Schedule
Pre-Conference FAM Trip
Visit Elkhart County
Pre-registration required
Pre-Conference Activities
Hosted by Visit Shipshewana, Indiana
6:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast (Included if staying at Blue Gate Garden Inn or Farmstead Inn)
Hotel or Local Option
7:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Bidding and Bargains
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Farm Fun in Amish Country
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Meet the Makers on Morton Street
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Amish Cottage Shops Off the Beaten Path
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Day in the Life of an Amish Housewife
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Downtown Art Scavenger Hunt, Carousel Rides and Scoops
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Graze LaGrange – Dinner Dine Around
Pre-registration required
Self-Guided or take shuttle from Blue Gate Garden Inn
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Pre-Conference Activity
Sips and Snacks – Hospitality Room
Welcome to the Midwest Travel Network Preview Night in Shipshewana! Join your hosts from the South Shore CVA located in Hammond, Indiana for a hosted “Sips & Snacks” evening experience. Nosh on candy, popcorn and snacks while sipping on tasty adult beverages while chatting, relaxing and enjoying the summer evening. Guests will have an opportunity to enjoy the outdoor firepit and get to know your fellow conference attendees while learning all about the fun found along on the South Shore.
Lilac Room at the Blue Gate Garden Inn
6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Breakfast (Included if staying at the Blue Gate Garden Inn or Farmstead Inn)
Hotel or Local Option
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Morning Tour
Buggies and Bison
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
8:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Morning Tour
Amish Quilt Trunk Show with Make and Take Barn Quilt
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
8:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Morning Tour
A Taste of Shipshewana
Pre-registration required
Depart from Blue Gate Garden Inn
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Vendor Set-up
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Lunch (On Your Own)
Local Options or Shawna Rae’s Food Truck at Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Registration
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom C
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Welcome Session
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Keynote
Why You Can Go Home Again. Connecting with Our Midwestern Values and Quality of Life | Gary Kroeger
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Telling Your Story with Photos: Tips and Tools for Capturing Amazing Images with Your Cellphone Camera
Speaker: Veronica Bareman
Sponsored by Visit Hendricks County
Discover the versatility of your smartphone camera, from mastering the camera app to capturing stunning shots in diverse conditions. Learn composition, lighting, and editing techniques to transform your photography game. Veronica’s practical insights and creative tips will empower you to harness the full potential of your smartphone camera, leaving you inspired and ready to capture extraordinary moments effortlessly.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom C
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Embracing Empowerment: Making the Word “NO” Your Best Friend
Speaker: Sara Broers
Be inspired and learn how you can embrace the word “NO.” Sara has heard the word many, many times. She has learned to view the word “NO” as a Yes. In this session you will walk away knowing that is OK to hear the word “NO.” You will learn that “NO” will be your best friend, as you grow your passion and/or business.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Drones 101: What You Need and What You Don’t
Speaker: Brian Abeling
Are you thinking about buying a drone? Or did you just buy a drone? We’ll talk about – What equipment you need and what you don’t need. Where to fly and where not to. When do most crashes happen and how do you avoid them? How do you get the best photos and videos from your drone.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Breakout Room C
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Win-Win for Both Content Creators and Destinations
Speaker: Kerrie Kuiper
Sponsored by Visit Fort Dodge
This session will discuss the best practices for destinations when working with content creators. It will explore how destinations can attract content creators and create lasting relationships with them for the mutual benefit of both partners. Destinations can create additional value opportunities for content creators, and these considerations reap lasting results for those destinations.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Opening Reception and Dinner/Auction
Sponsored by Visit Shipshewana and Visit Indiana
Join us and Meet the Makers INIndiana! Numerous Indiana destinations welcome you to a fun-filled evening of hospitality, food, and fun. There are so many unique things to see and do INIndiana. The evening’s experience will offer attendees over a dozen interactive opportunities to hear some of our destinations’ stories and highlights. Dinner is a chance-of-a-lifetime, authentic Amish Haystack Dining experience with Amish servers and a live “Buggy Buck” Auction. Gather your “bucks” at destination tables (negotiate and talk your way to earning more from your Indiana friends), then bid high and often to earn Indiana prize packages and gift baskets of local swag. You’ll have loads of fun, learn new things, and taste local cuisine all in one great evening.
NOTE: Buses will depart from the Blue Gate Garden Inn to the Farmstead Inn starting at 5:30 p.m. and will be available in a “loop” pattern.
Can also drive the short ½ mile to the Farmstead on your own
An easy paved walking path is also available between the Blue Gate Garden Inn and the Farmstead
Farmstead Inn Pavilion
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
SIZZLING SITES AND BITES OF FORT WAYNE
Sponsored by Visit Fort Wayne
Join us for a celebration of Fort Wayne’s food and beverage scene. Sample some Fort Wayne favorites while you mix and mingle with fellow attendees, and discover the hidden gems that await in Fort Wayne, including new experiences, award-winning attractions, and unique flavors.
Play outdoor games, make S’mores, enjoy a beverage and the summer night.
Farmstead Inn Pavilion
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom C
6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast (Included if staying at Blue Gate Garden Inn or Farmstead Inn)
Hotel or Local Options
9 – 9:30 a.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION
How Can You Rank in Google Without Sounding Like Everybody Else, Even the Robots?
Speaker: Theresa Goodrich
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
BreakOut Session
How Did You Manage to Romanticize Kansas? Tips for Revealing the Beauty Others Overlook with Video
Speaker: Steven Kimmi
In today’s fast-paced society, we often overlook the world around us as we dream about a world beyond our reach. The grass is always greener, right? Well, sometimes it turns out that there is just as much green beneath your feet as there is anywhere else. With video, we have the unique opportunity to reveal the beauty and magic many people fail to recognize. In this session, Steven will share the tips and tricks he has learned along his travels to re-engage our communities, build a sense of pride and belonging, and celebrate the world around us.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom C
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
BreakOut Session
The Artful Journey: Forging Dynamic Partnerships Between Travel Influencers and Destinations
Speaker: Phil Gerbyshak
In this engaging session, Phil Gerbyshak offers his expertise to travel influencers and destination representatives, focusing on cultivating productive partnerships. As a traveler at heart, Phil provides actionable insights for creating a symbiotic relationship between the storytellers of the travel world and the destinations they bring to life
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION
All in the Family with Natasha Nicholes of Houseful of Nicholes
Speaker: Natasha Nicholes
In this session, we will examine multigenerational travel trends and why every CVB needs to explore and encourage them through the content creators it partners with.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom C
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
Sponsored by Southernmost Illinois
Blue Gate Garden Inn
Magnolia Room
1:00 – 1:15 p.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
BreakOut Session
The Robots Will Not Take Our Jobs: How to Befriend AI in the Digital Age
Speaker: Linsey Knerl
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here, and it’s changing how we create and consume content. What should creators and destinations know before they use it? Linsey will explore the legal, ethical, and practical considerations for creatives wanting to supercharge their storytelling. Learn how – with the right boundaries – AI can be harnessed to improve workflows and bring even more humanity to your work.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Break-Out Session
A Conversation About Confidence and Collaboration
Speaker: Sheila Jenkinson
You have something to say, but you’re not the only one! Sheila has spent most of her life performing on stage or talking through a microphone, but she hasn’t always been the best listener. In this interactive session, Sheila will walk you through confidently expressing yourself while hearing what others say. She’ll also discuss collaboration and why we should be each other’s biggest fans.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom C
2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
2:30 – 3:15 p.m.
General Session
Community Panel
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom A
3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Speed Networking
Pre-scheduled appointments required
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom C
3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Headshots By Veronica Baremen
Pre-scheduled appointment required
TBD
3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Media Marketplace
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Ballroom B
6 – 10 p.m.
Evening Reception
Hosted by Visit Shipshewana
We will be treated to a buffet dinner followed by an evening with the “Bee Gees Gold – The Tribute” at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center. Tickets for guests not registered for the conference will be available for purchase.
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast (Included if staying at the Blue Gate Garden Inn or the Farmstead Inn)
Hotel or Local Option
9 – 10 a.m.
Round Table Discussions
Farmstead Inn Conference Room
10:15 – 11 a.m.
Panel
Midwest Travel Network – Our Community, Partnerships, and Stories
Farmstead Inn Conference Room
11 – 11:15 a.m.
Networking Break
Sponsored by Visit Nebraska
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Closing Session
2024 Midwest Travel Network Awards & 2025 Conference Announcement
Farmstead Inn Conference Room
12:30 – 2 p.m.
Vendor Teardown
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
1 – 6 p.m.
Post-Conference Activity
Extended Weekend Shipshewana Flea Market
Flexible, on your own, not guided
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Depart from Hotel
Post-Conference FAM TriP
Southern Indiana Tourism (SoIN)
Pre-registration required
Own Transportation
Note: Schedule is subject to change.
Conference Location: Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
760 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565
The Blue Gate Theatre is a top entertainment destination in Shipshewana and a well-known name in the Midwest. With over 300 shows and 100 artists, including incredible Amish Musicals, it is the go-to place for entertainment. You may find musicals and concerts for some acts, such as big stars like Gary Allan, Bill Engvall, Michael W Smith, Josh Turner, Phillip Phillips, and more! They also offer Southern Gospel favorites and family-friendly entertainment.