Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (original) (raw)

Brian Roe

AAEA President

January 2026

Perhaps it hasn’t happened to you in a long time, or maybe it occurred when you attended the Annual Meeting that was ‘new’ to you: that awkward moment when you are between sessions and would like to engage with fellow conference goers, but you do not know a single person around you. While others re-establish long-standing acquaintances or forge new connections, you feel like the new kid at school navigating seating choices in the cafeteria. At the Annual Meetings, these casual moments between formal activities can be rich opportunities for professional growth and often justify the time and money spent to attend. But for newcomers, Annual Meetings can be a frustrating experience and can drive decisions about future meeting attendance.

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