I am guest blogging today from the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow all the blog posts here. Below is my first entry after attending a women’s leadership luncheon.
Today I was honored to be a guest at the Women’s Leadership Luncheon at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. I sat at a table with the lovely ladies of the Florida Women’s Leadership Committee. They are from different areas of their state, raising everything from dairy cows to watermelon to Caladiums. These women are diverse, different ages and active in their farms and ranches. They also take their role in agriculture seriously and are active leaders.
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| The Florida Women’s Leadership Committee |
As I listened to their backgrounds, it took me back thinking to the generations of women ahead of me that laid a foundation for me to have a role in food and agriculture today. My great-great aunt Iris, age 107, lives 25 miles from my parent’s and grandparent’s farm in a nursing home. Iris and I have frequent conversations of the struggles of life 100 years ago from living on the farm to pursuing an education. It was not easy for Iris to get to and from school from the farm my family still works today. But her parents were dedicated to she and her brothers getting an education. By horse and wagon her father took the kids miles to and from school because the Model T car couldn’t get through North Dakota winter roads. Iris graduated from the University of North Dakota with an education degree in 1928. Her family’s dedication and example to education while farming inspired next generations like my grandma and my mom, both college graduates and active farmers with my grandpa and dad.
I was the first of the fifth generation on our family farm. I gained leadership skills from women and men in my family and have been the first woman to pursue an off the farm career in agriculture. I also am gaining personal leadership skills by the examples set around me through my membership in Farm Bureau.
Julie Anna Potts, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of American Farm Bureau spoke to the Women’s Leadership luncheon today about leadership development in action. She talked about women strengthening skills and developing confidence to talk to lawmakers. Julie Anna stressed the important role women play to listen to what non-agriculture audiences are saying about food and agriculture and women’s unique ability to engage in authentic conversations.
100 years ago, women in agriculture had an important role like they do today. But women like my 107 year old great aunt, Iris, did not have a leadership program to follow or examples to follow. Survival on the farm was first and foremost with education as a top priority beyond the farm. Today, I am on the same prairie of North Dakota my family was 100 years ago. My parents farm the land my ancestors broke. But today, I have the leadership opportunity to help build trust in farmers, where food comes from, how it is raised and help tell the story of agriculture.
Together women from across Farm Bureau and women outside of the organization can find common connections to discuss what so many women are passionate about: feeding their families quality food. It impacts our families, our farms and our state and national policies.
As Julie Anna Potts said, “Women are credible spokespeople for agriculture.” We can build on the reputation of our farms and ranches, tell the stories non-agriculture audiences are craving to hear of where and how their food is grown and strength American agriculture for generations to come.
I know generations ahead of me, like my great aunt Iris laid a foundation of leadership in agriculture and education for me. Now it is up to me to do the same for my son and daughters, community, state and country.
How have women leaders impacted your role in food and agriculture?
Wonderful that you get to meet so many women involved in agriculture.
That is soo wonderful! I love seeing so many women involved in agriculture! It’s so critical that we tell our story! Looks like you all had a wonderful time!
As you know, I come from a City Slicker background. However, I’ve been influenced by some strong women in my family. My grandma was an OB nurse back in the 40s, 50s and 60s. She became a very respected woman in our community because she was so instrumental in the births of many of the children in our Detroit suburb. “Mrs. Schave” was everyone’s grandma, and she took that role seriously. Her devotion to career and family and leadership in community organizations has served as a great example to her daughters and granddaughters. Because of her I never felt that as a woman I am less than a man. Because of my grandmother I have always felt strong and powerful! She gave us all a great sense of common sense confidence!