BAR HARBOR – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman will be unable to attend “Sowing Seeds for the Future,” the 26th annual American-Agri Women’s convention being held this weekend in Bar Harbor.

Diane Hemphill, co-chairwoman of the event, said Veneman continues to battle health issues and has sent a video and a representative in her place. Mary Waters, assistant secretary of congressional relations, will be the lunchtime speaker Saturday.

Other speakers at the three-day event include: Maine Agriculture Commissioner Robert Spear, Maine Farm Service Agency Director David Lavway, Lloyd Irland of the Irland Group and Laurie Jocha-Beard of McCain Foods International.

The convention will be held Nov. 7-10 at Atlantic Oakes-By-The-Sea in Bar Harbor.

The program will focus on issues concerning the future of agriculture, international trade issues, forestry concerns and agriculture issues.

Time has been set aside to allow attendees to explore Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

For more information, contact Sue McCrum at 425-5961.