Farm and Ranch Women Sharpen Leadership Skills

Seven women from South Dakota joined nearly 700 other farm and ranch women last week in Louisville, Kentucky, for the Farm Bureau National Women’s Leadership Conference.   Attendees from 38 states, involved in all types of agriculture, sharpened their leadership and networking skills and accepted a charge from American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman for women to lead Farm Bureau at all levels of involvement.

According to SD Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Team chair, Cindy Foster of Fulton, the conference included sessions on family business dynamics, grassroots political advocacy, adapting to change, challenges and opportunities in animal agriculture, educating consumers about agriculture, tips for marketing farm products, women’s health issues, and much more.  In addition to the U.S. farm women, guests from South Africa also attended the meeting.

“The AFBF Women’s Leadership Conference was a very eye-opening and educational experience for me,” said Foster.  “The sessions on recognizing the adapting to change, leaving a legacy for future generations, important health issues, and the amount and type of misinformation about agriculture that is out in cyberworld as well as in print, was enlightening.”

She added, “We all must stay informed so that we can effectively communicate the producers’ message to consumers and politicians.  Conferences such as this give us the essential tools and information needed to achieve positive results.”

Stallman stressed the need for strong women leaders throughout Farm Bureau.  “Crash through the old perception of Farm Bureau being a good ol’ boys club,” Stallman said.  “Make this organization one that people think of first when the words ‘women, agriculture and opportunity,’ are linked in a sentence.  Your Farm Bureaus – whether county, state, or even AFBF – will be better off due to your positive leadership.”

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