Celebrating women in agriculture

<p>In spite of all the challenges presented to livestock producers during the COVID-19 pandemic, pork producers, like new Nebraska Pork Producers Association president, Shana Beattie, Sumner, Neb., did not waiver from their jobs as caregivers. "We were still on the farm, every day, caring for our livestock, and that was never interrupted," Beattie said recently in an interview with Nebraska Farmer. Beattie farms with her husband, Bart, and their four children, caring for hogs in their swine operation, as well as working on the family's fifth-generation family farm, growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa, and in their commercial cow-calf operation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Shanna: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/livestock/new-nppa-president-anxious-get-ba... NPPA president anxious to get back to promoting pork</a></strong></p>

<p>Young farmer Ashleigh Lerg has brought bison production to her family’s farm in northeast Clinton County, Michigan. She is the owner of Humble Beginnings Ranch LLC and works in cooperation with her parents, Kim and Roger Lerg. The animals are a component of her effort to practice regenerative agriculture, which strives to minimize soil disturbance, maximize soil cover, incorporate diversified rotations and perennial crops, utilize livestock manure and enhance biological activity in the soil.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Ashleigh: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/livestock/young-farmer-brings-bison-product... farmer brings bison production to family operation</a></strong></p>

<p>Kimberly Wolter and her husband, Bradley, are building an Angus herd in southern Illinois based on numbers, genetics and research, and drawing in communities of cattle folks to produce and sell beef from the calf to the counter.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Kimberly: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/beef/moneyball-beef">Moneyball for beef</a></strong></p>

<p>Embarking on her fifth year as Missouri’s Director of Agriculture, Chris Chinn understands the plight of farmers and ranchers because she is one. As a fifth-generation farmer from northeast Missouri, Chinn works to mitigate rules and regulations that not only benefits, but also sustains agriculture production in the state. She is just one of Missouri’s strong women leaders in agriculture.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Chris:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/chinn-tapped-next-director-miss... tapped as next director of Missouri Department of Agriculture</a></strong></p>

<p>Theresia Gillie, Hallock, Minn., is well-known in ag circles as a state and national farmer-leader. Gillie is a past president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and is currently a state director on the board. Many residents in northwestern Minnesota know her, too. She was re-elected to the Kittson County board of commissioners, of which she currently serves as chair. She is active with the county Farm Bureau and ag society, and is involved with public health, aging, Extension, rural development and water quality boards and committees. One ‘club’ that Gillie never considered, and of which she is now a ‘member,’ is that of suicide survivor. Her husband, Keith, overwhelmed with their farm’s financial stress, died by suicide in April 2017. He was 53. Since then, Gillie set the pace for her unique grief journey, giving voice to those impacted by suicide. She travels the U.S., sharing her story to let others know they are not alone as they struggle with depression and financial stress. Gillie farms 950 acres of soybeans and wheat and looks forward to future speaking engagements at conferences and in-person meetings. And she continues to advocate for agriculture, particularly for women in ag. “I feel it is my job as a woman in ag and in leadership to help support and promote young women and to be there for them as they take on new positions,” Gillie says.</p>

<p>Wife, mother and USDA Public Affairs Specialist Dee Ann Littlefield finds time to document ranch life during February’s winter storm, which included rescuing calves, breaking ice 8 to 10 inches thick, and the fallout from rolling blackouts. But she also shares some of the unexpected blessings that came from a week of subzero temperatures and endless trials. Adrienne Synatschk, wife, mother and Olton Chamber of Commerce manager, &nbsp;and Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, wife, mother and Texas A&amp;M AgriLife ag law specialist, also documented their week. All three accounts are included within the article, “Winter storm 2021.” All three women, and many others, did a great job, in the midst of adversity, sharing the story of agriculture. Their story is our story. Tell your story to someone today!</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Dee Ann and the other women: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/weather/winter-storm-2021">Winter storm 2021</a></strong></p>

<p>Nancy Kavazanjian is a whirlwind of activity. Here Kavazanjian explains to Craig Ficenec of Sand County Foundation how she and her husband Charlie Hammer are restoring marginal land on their 2,000-acre farm near Beaver Dam, Wis., to pollinator habitat. “Farmers can get a great return on marginal crop lands by enrolling these acres in conservation programs,” Kavazanjian says. “Monarchs need small patches of habitat in as many places as possible rather than a few large ones. This approach can bring monarch populations back and benefit the land and the farmer. Every little bit helps.”</p>

<p>Kavazanjian won the National Conservation Legacy&nbsp;Award during the annual American Soybean Association Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, in March of 2020.</p>

<p>Kavazanjian served on the United Soybean Board of Directors from 2012-2018. She served as chairperson of the U.S. Farmers &amp; Ranchers Alliance and is past communications director for the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association She also served a term on the Agricultural Advisory Board of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank from 1989-90. Kavazanjian also worked with the CommonGround initiative in Wisconsin and organizes the annual Wisconsin Corn/Soy Expo.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Nancy: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/conservation/wisconsin-farmer-wins-2020-con... farmer wins 2020 Conservation Legacy Award</a></strong></p>

<p>Brandy Cherry is a partner in Essary and Cherry Farms, a 4,000 acre grain operation near Milledgeville, Tenn.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Brandy: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-operations/family-farm-maximizes-effic... farm maximizes efficiency</a></strong></p>

<p>Mindy Bunselmeyer has long had a heart for young people, for FFA and for ag education. Today, she serves as head of the Illinois FFA, helping shape young people and develop FFA experiences for every FFA member in Illinois.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Mindy:<a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/ffa/prairie-profile-mindy-bunselmeyer"> Prairie Profile: Mindy Bunselmeyer</a></strong></p>

<p>Stephanie McLain is not a native Hoosier but she came to Indiana a few years ago midst the excitement Hoosiers were generating over soil health. She is on the state Natural Resources Conservation staff, and loves to demonstrate the power of soil conservation and ability of no-till and cover crops to curb it with demonstrations like this one. She also is a chief contributor to the Salute Soil Health feature which appears monthly in Indiana Prairie Farmer.</p>

<p>Amanda de Oliveira Silva, Oklahoma Extension small grains specialist, works with Oklahoma producers. In this article, "Oklahoma's wheat, cattle freeze losses rated minimal," she discusses the state of the Oklahoma wheat crop following February's cold spell.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Amanda: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/wheat/oklahomas-wheat-cattle-freeze-losses-... wheat, cattle freeze losses rated minimal</a></strong></p>

<p>Julia Hamblen is the 2020-2021 Indiana FFA state president. Two things make her story extra special. First, she is the first state FFA officer from your school in modern times. The current Shelbyville FFAS chapter is only four years old. Second, she was diagnosed with a stuttering impairment as a child. Despite that she won the Indiana FFA state prepared public speaking contest!</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Julia: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/ffa/7-unique-individuals-represent-indiana-... unique individuals represent Indiana FFA this year</a></strong></p>

<p>Well before Holly King was elected to chair the Almond Board of California, a federal marketing order, she began her agribusiness career in ag lending. She recalls having to find a manager who would agree to send her to a training program with the idea that after training she would be guaranteed a job in ag lending as the industry at that time was still a male-dominated vocation.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Holly: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/almond-boards-king-shares-multi-f... Board's King shares multi-faceted mission</a></strong></p>

<p>Samantha Otten is a key cog in recruiting personnel for Bane-Welker Equipment, a Case-IH dealer with 13 stores spread across Indiana and Ohio. Recently, she began a campaign to visit vo-ag classrooms and explain the potential careers in the ag equipment industry. By the end of 2020, she had visited 10 schools in person and another 10 virtually. Ironically, two of her college internships were with John Deere. When it was time to choose a career, she was intrigued by the friendly-feel of the locally-owned dealership. Color didn't matter to her.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Samantha: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/equipment/ag-industry-vies-young-talent">Ag industry vies for young talent</a></strong></p>

<p>Agronomist Jourdan Bell, Texas A&amp;M AgriLife, works with producers throughout the Texas Panhandle to resolve issues pertaining to crops such as wheat or sorghum.</p>

<p><strong>Hear more from Jourdan: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/wheat/agronomist-jourdan-bell-gives-wheatla... Jourdan Bell gives wheatlage production tips</a> and <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/sorghum/forage-sorghum-silage-trials-aim-re... sorghum silage trials aim to resolve production questions</a></strong></p>

<p>Kelly Woodbury, left, explains some of the preparation that goes into getting Percherons ready for a six-hitch horse class to Carla Bechman in the barn before a 2020 show at Britt, Iowa. Kelly and her husband, Dean, raise and train horses near Winchester, Ind. They show for Blue Ribbon Days, owned in part by Albert Cleve, Farmington, Mo. The Blue Ribbon Days 'Belles six-horse-hitch was reserve supreme champion at the 2020 Britt show.</p>

<p>Shelby Watson-Hampton farms with her family on their fourth-generation family farm in Brandywine, Md.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Shelby: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/vine-crops/its-still-cold-im-getting-vines-...’s still cold, but I’m getting vines ready</a></strong></p>

<p>Though not raised on a farm, Annie Dee grew up in farming country in southern Illinois.&nbsp;After studying agriculture in college, she farmed land her parents owned in Florida. This land was later sold to start another in west Alabama. Over the years, she transformed Dee River Ranch near Aliceville, Ala., into a modern row crop and beef cattle operation.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Annie: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/annie-dee-sunbelt-farmer-year-alabam... Dee: Sunbelt Farmer of the Year for Alabama</a></strong></p>

<p>Lynn Rohrscheib always wanted to be a farmer, evident from her early days pulling her red wagon around her family’s farm and farm supply business, “delivering” bags of seed or jugs of chemical. That she would become the ninth generation to farm her family’s Fairmount, Ill., farm was simply a fact of life. More of a surprise was that the central Illinois farmer would rise through the ranks of the Illinois Soybean Association and become president while still in her 30s.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Lynn: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/soybean/prairie-profile-lynn-rohrscheib">Pr... Profile: Lynn Rohrscheib</a></strong></p>

<p>One sister manages the ranch&nbsp; full time and is expecting her first baby. You might recognize the other sister’s name. She works the ranch part time and is a writer pursuing a doctorate. They are both bound to the land and a way of life their father left&nbsp; them.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Rebecca and Rachel: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/livestock/sisters-take-family-ranch-and-fat... take on the family ranch and a father’s legacy</a>.</strong></p>

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<p>Sharon Roden is as actively involved in farming pistachios as she is working to promote the U.S.-grown commodity to domestic and international markets. As the former chair of, and the first woman to lead the board of directors at the American Pistachio Growers, a voluntary trade association based in California, she helps shape the direction of an industry that in 2020 harvested its first-ever billion-pound crop.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Sharon: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/tree-nuts/roden-farms-family-first-multi-ge... Farms: Family first for multi-generational California pistachio, beef operations</a></strong></p>

<p>Sandy farms rice with her husband Wally near Willows, Calif. She holds a law degree and has served on numerous boards and committees dealing with water in northern California.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Sandy: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/rice/rice-harvest-family-affair">Rice harvest is a family affair</a></strong></p>

<p>Once an English major, Jean Payne dove into agriculture and never looked back. She’s been with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association since 1998 and served as its head for 17 years, and has just announced her retirement.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Jean: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/regulatory/prairie-profile-jean-payne">The Prairie Profile: Jean Payne</a></strong></p>

<p>After more than 10 years with AgSafe, a non-profit membership organization geared to helping agricultural employers navigate the maze of state and federal regulations, Amy Wolfe left that position for a role with Daniel C. Salas, Harvesting, a Lemoore, Calif.-based company that provides farm labor crews from Madera County to Kern County. Her new role as chief development officer is not much different as she still advocates for agricultural employers on a variety of topics. Most recently she is working to ensure that agricultural labor crews have access to the COVID vaccine as state officials have declared them "essential" workers.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Amy: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/safety/agsafe-advances-agricultural-worker-... advances agricultural worker safety programs in various states</a></strong></p>

<p>Colleen Callahan is a legend in farm broadcasting, and a clear-eyed leader in Illinois agriculture. Following a 30-year career in farm broadcasting in the Peoria market, she ran for Congress and was later appointed Illinois director of Rural Development by President Obama. Today, she’s director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Colleen: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/story-prairie-profile-colleen-callahan-9-15... Prairie Profile: Colleen Callahan</a></strong></p>

<p>Shannon Douglass stands in a sunflower field on her family’s ranch in Orland, Calif. A long-time Farm Bureau activist, she was elected as the California Farm Bureau Federation’s first vice president in December.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Shannon: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/marketing/new-cfbf-officer-has-passion-pres... CFBF officer has a passion for preserving ag's future</a></strong></p>

<p>Adrienne Desutter has become a leading champion for farmer mental health in the Midwest. A behavioral counseling specialist and farm wife, she’s worked hard through speaking and social media to break down walls around mental health stigmas and urge farmers to talk to each other about their struggles.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Adrienne: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/rural-health/depression-what-look">Depression: What to look for</a></strong></p>

<p>Wife, mother and grandmother Kayla Parkey feeds the harvest crew every year with recipes women before her used.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Learn more about Kayla: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/cotton/harvest-dont-forget-kiss-cook">Harvest: Don't forget to kiss the cook</a>; and <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/harvest/bringing-harvest">Bring in the harvest</a></strong></p>

<p>Rita Frazer’s voice has delivered ag news, markets and weather across Illinois, and this past president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting has long worked to bring people together and celebrate their accomplishments in agriculture.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/communications/prairie-profile-rita-frazer"... Prairie Profile: Rita Frazer</a></strong></p>

<p>Hannah Harms started driving&nbsp;a tractor and&nbsp;digging peanuts at&nbsp;16 years old. She's recently received her spray license and is gradually learning to work on equipment. She aspires to take over the family farm one day.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Hannah: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/peanuts/custom-harvester-farmer-training-ho..., farmer-in-training hopeful about future</a></strong></p>

<p>Cynthia Ryan is a central Illinois farm girl, turned Alabama professor of writing. But she’s still managing the family farm back home, and shares her experience as an off-farm heir.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Cynthia: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-succession/family-ground">On family ground</a></strong></p>

<p>Kim Kidwell became the first female dean of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in 2018, championing students, research and excellence all along the way.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Kim: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/education/prairie-profile-kim-kidwell" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Prairie Profile: Kim Kidwell</a></strong></p>

<p>Named in 2011, dairy farmer Linnea Kooistra was the first female Master Farmer in Illinois. She has selflessly served as a judge selecting future Master Farmers ever since, and encourages everyone in her path.</p>

<p><strong>Read more about Linnea: <a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/blogs-agriculturalists-influence-linnea-koo... Who Influence: Linnea Kooistra</a></strong></p>