National Farmers Union hosts annual women's farm conference

Women farmers refine their leadership and farm management skills and learn from agricultural experts.
Women farmers refine their leadership and farm management skills and learn from agricultural experts. | File photo

Women farmers were treated to a conference especially formatted for them through the National Farmers Union (NFU), focused on skills and guidance for addressing and solving risks on their farms.

“This conference offers women of all ages the opportunity to come together to network, refine their leadership and farm management skills, and learn from agricultural experts and leaders,” NFU President Roger Johnson said. “Family farm operations and agribusiness board rooms alike benefit from the views and ideas provided by women in our industry.”

The January conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida, was a mix of networking, training and listening to experts from different aspects of running a successful farming operation. Speakers included Lilia McFarland, new farmer coordinator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture; Bridget Holcomb, executive director of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network; Shannon Ferrell, associate professor at Oklahoma State University; and Gary Matteson, vice president for Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach at Farm Credit.

The conference was sponsored by Farm Credit, CHS Foundation, FUI Foundation, NFU Foundation and AgrAbility.