Like it or not, I am convinced this current high cost conference model rules out MOST all the Soil and Fish Farmers from attending (most soil farms have ponds and the owners want/need info!). These people work very hard and struggle to make ends meet, so this venue is likely out of the question. Most of the local hatcheries are one bad week away from closing the doors!
I'm a working stiff and find the total cost, plus travel to be unrealistic. The total cost is >/= most middle/upper income class annual vacation spend!
IMHO, if you keep a lower cost convention center venue as being the center of the conference for the week, and suggest people to stay in the general area at whatever level hotel/motel/YMCA they can afford, your attendance will likely blossom.
Maybe try it and see if it works? Maybe it has been? Don't know.
