(ND Ag Connection) – The North Dakota Department of Agriculture will hold its Pride of Dakota Business Education Conference on Friday, March 22, from 9 am to 4:30 pm, in the State Capitol’s Pioneer room, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND.

“We encourage current Pride of Dakota members to attend. This year’s conference includes sessions on branding your business, starting a food business, patents and trademarks, pricing and more,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “It is also a great time to network with other entrepreneurs.”

The conference is held annually in March during Pride of Dakota Month. The Pride of Dakota program is celebrating 39 years of helping North Dakota businesses develop and expand domestic and foreign markets for their products and currently has more than 500 active and associate members.

“I encourage North Dakotans to support local businesses both during Pride of Dakota Month and the rest of the year,” Goehring said. “During the month, retailers may be displaying signs and holding promotions in support of Pride of Dakota businesses they have relationships with.”