Throughout March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been highlighting inspiring women in agriculture as part of National Women’s History Month.
Recently, I participated in the fourth annual Women in Agriculture – Women, Farms & Food Conference. This year’s theme was “Put Your Best Foot Forward.” During the one-day virtual gathering, more than 650 women across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington State were linked via satellite in 28 locations. This enabled women from all walks of life and every sector of the agriculture supply chain to empower one another.
Conference keynote speaker Emily Asmus, Owner of Welcome Table Farm in Walla Walla, Washington reminded us that women in agriculture face a unique set of challenges. She urged us to “Take pride in what you are producing and share what you do with confidence.” The conference also offered break-out sessions on a variety of topics including sales and marketing, building and understanding brand development, best practices and more.
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) co-sponsored the conference, and I was a member of the planning committee and responsible for the conference handouts. I also co-lead the Spokane site with Diana Roberts and Pat Munts, Washington State University, Chris Bieker, Washington State Farm Service Agency and Wendy Knopp, Northwest Farm Credit Services. My participation was personally poignant as I come from a multi-generational family of women working on the farm. My mother, sister and sister-in-laws are all part of farming and ranching in Colorado and Oregon and the conference attendees make me feel right at home with family.
USDA has taken its support for women in agriculture even further this year with the creation of the Women in Agriculture Mentoring Network. This newly established network is designed to support and engage women across all areas of agriculture and to foster professional partnerships between women with shared backgrounds, interests, and professional goals.
You can join the Network by sending us a note at, agwomenlead@usda.gov, with your suggestions, stories and other snippets on how we can build a new generation of women leaders in agriculture. By e-mailing us, you will automatically be added to the Women in Agriculture Mentoring Network. It’s a great way to share what you’re doing to support women in agriculture and help lift up the next generation of women farmers.
I had the honor of spending a whole day with 650 inspiring women. These stories are prevalent across the country. Use #womeninag to identify the inspiring women in agriculture that you know.
