California Ag Network

Tag: AAW

  • American Agri-Women Announces Road to Influence Inaugural Cohort

    Six dynamic women will make up the inaugural Cohort of the American Agri-Women (AAW) Road to influence. The Road to Influence (RTI) is a new program developed by AAW designed to be a bold and innovative personal development experience for members. The program is intended to identify and move beyond limiting beliefs and behaviors, ultimately resulting in stronger leaders for AAW and beyond. The initial cohort will kick off their journey on August 24 in conjunction with the AAW event, Leading, Empowering & Aspiring toward Progress (L.E.A.P.) in Reno, Nev. L.E.A.P. is open to all AAW members, registration is available at www.agr.fyi/leap.

    Through a combination of virtual and in-person sessions, participants will develop critical skills in areas such as communication, collaboration, driving vision and purpose, trust, managing conflict, and persuasion. In person sessions will be held in conjunction with AAW events through the 2024 AAW Convention in Wisconsin and the program will culminate in a capstone project designed to bring value to AAW, its state and industry affiliates, and members.

    “AAW has a vision to create a one-of-a-kind development program for members,” said AAW Leadership Development Team Lead Sara Reid Herman. “Road to Influence is the culmination of an 18-month effort of a team of established leaders within the organization to identify the core competencies we want to develop in our membership. We are confident this program will strengthen and refine those skills within the culture of our organization.”

    AAW is grateful for sponsorship from key industry alliances such as John Deere, Syngenta, Valent, and AAW Past President Mitzi Perdue to make this vision a reality. These partners will provide financial support, curriculum consultation, and additional resources to bring the program to fruition. In addition, AAW will partner with learning and development professional Sarah Hummell to provide key course content and program facilitation.

    Initial Cohort members:

    • Debbie Bacigalupi – Co Owner, BaciBeef and Ranch Hand, Cold Springs Ranch, Montague, Calif.
    • Vikkie Becker – Co Owner, Becker Farms, Alexander, Ill.
    • Jenny Hitner – Owner, Timber Town Real Estate & Century Forest Management, Monroe, Ore.
    • Ally Moreau – Business Analyst, American National Insurance Co., Feura Bush, N.Y.
    • Donnell Scott – Food Labeling Professional, AIB International, Manhattan, Kan.
    • Chrissy Wozniak – Founder, North American Ag, Cape Coral, Fla.About American Agri-Women

      American Agri-Women (AAW) is the national coalition of farm, ranch, and agribusiness women’s organizations and state and commodity affiliate organizations. AAW’s Vision for the 2023 Farm Bill can be found at www.americanagriwomen.org. AAW promotes the welfare of our national security through safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW website for more information and to join www.americanagriwomen.org.

  • American Agri-Women Release Vision for 2023 Farm Bill

    “We in agriculture need to block out the noise and move forward with a vision that works to solve the critical problems facing our country,” said American Agri-Women (AAW) President Heather  Hampton+Knodle.  “Agriculture is on the front lines of challenges such as dealing with climate extremes, food security, national security, and worldclass telecommunications to enable further advancements in natural resource management.”   Yet, agriculture receives approximately 1% of federal discretionary funding each year. And less than one quarter of a percent of total spending.

    AAW’s recent work builds on concepts the group published in 2022 that included fundamentals like well-funded, flexible crop insurance; revitalizing research infrastructure that has outlived its intended life; access to markets and inputs including credit to pay for exponential increases in inputs and equipment; and modernizing aging utilities for water and underserved telecommunications in rural areas.

    Additions to the vision include using export programs to secure global supply chain logistics for inputs and exports; increasing programs to support rural, large livestock veterinarians; and workforce development for the timber industry.

    AAW envisions a Farm Bill that tailors programs to support a robust and self-sufficient food and agriculture sector based on ownership of private property because it leads to innovation and continual increases in production to feed, clothe and fuel our domestic population and much of the world.

    AAW supports food programs as part of the Farm Bill. In order to feed people with programs such as SNAP and school lunches, investments begin at the farm level with critical components for managing risk such as crop insurance and access to credit; research and innovation that is transferred to farms and value-added processing in rural areas; symmetrical connectivity and data transfer for real-time decision making and communications; conservation programs that emphasize the health of working lands rather than discourage their wise use.

    Hampton+Knodle said, “We need healthy and vibrant rural communities where we can train qualified minds and hands to enact the vision. The Farm Bill is needed for food security and national security as well as playing roles in maintaining a positive trade balance in agriculture and sustaining rural economies throughout the U.S. Given the importance of agriculture to solving key problems in nutrition, trade, energy, and conservation, AAW believes Congress should increase baseline funding for the Farm Bill.”

    AAW’s Vision for the 2023 Farm Bill can be found at www.americanagriwomen.org.

    About American Agri-Women

    American Agri-Women (AAW) promotes the welfare of our national security through safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW website for more information and to join www.americanagriwomen.org. Find AAW on social media at: Facebook.com/AgriWomen/, Twitter.com/Women4Ag/ (@Women4Ag) and Instagram.com/americanagriwomen/(@americanagriwomen). #standupspeakout4ag

  • American Agri-Women “Road to Influence” Leadership Program Applications Due June 21

    American Agri-Women (AAW) members can apply now for the “AAW’s Road to Influence” personal and leadership development program.  The group is making history with this unique program that is for women only, from across the nation, from a variety of backgrounds in farming, agribusiness, ranching, forestry and the food industry.

    AAW’s President Heather Hampton+Knodle said, “We are not tied to one state or emphasizing one set of issues. It is not a “one hit wonder” one-day event.  We are investing in the growth and evolution of women so they can lead meaningful conversations and progress in their homes, work, communities, and the industry.”

    The 14-month program will launch in August in conjunction with AAW’s LEAP: Leading, Empowering and Aspiring to Progress event in Reno, Nevada which is open to all AAW members.  As they travel the AAW Road to Influence, participants will explore three phases: a deep dive into themselves to identify and manage blindspots and strengths; maximizing working in teams; and enacting a program or initiative to advance the AAW mission.  The program will integrate virtual meetings with intervals of three to four in-person seminars that culminate with graduation at the 2024 AAW Convention in Wisconsin.

    Applications are due by June 21st to the AAW Leadership Development Team Lead, Sara Reid Herman.

    The packet and membership information can be found at the organization’s website, www.americanagriwomen.org.

    About American Agri-Women

    American Agri-Women (AAW) promotes the welfare of our national security through safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW website for more information and to join www.americanagriwomen.org. Find AAW on social media at: Facebook.com/AgriWomen/, Twitter.com/Women4Ag/ (@Women4Ag) and Instagram.com/americanagriwomen/ (@americanagriwomen). #standupspeakout4ag

  • Daughters of American Ag Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted

    The American Agri-Women (AAW) Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2023 Daughters of American Agriculture Scholarships. The application may be found here:  https://americanagriwomen.org/scholarships. The deadline is March 1. Late applications will not be considered.

    The Jean Ibendahl Scholarship (for ages 18-23) and the Sister Thomas More Bertels Scholarship (for ages 24+) honors the memory of these courageous and adventurous women who played an essential role in serving and leading and who encouraged agricultural pursuits.

    These scholarships are available to any farm, ranch, or agri-business woman to pursue accredited courses in agriculture leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine or other college-level studies directly related to agriculture. American Agri-Women members and affiliates maintain the scholarships.

    About American Agri-Women

    American Agri-Women     (AAW) promotes the welfare of our national security through a safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW web site for more information and to join, www.americanagriwomen.org.

  • American Agri-Women Call to Rescind Arbitrary Water Rule

    American Agri-Women (AAW) call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rescind the proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).

    “The proposed WOTUS rule exposes farmers to arbitrary and confusing case-by-case determinations,” said Heather Hampton+Knodle, President of American Agri-Women.

    The proposed rule features an overreaching, expanded definition of the qualifications of WOTUS to include ephemeral drainage paths, low drainage areas, artificial ponds, and ditches. In addition, the proposed rule removes exemptions for several agricultural related activities. These changes would lead to increased regulations, complex permitting, and increased costs.

    Hampton+Knodle said, “Given the Agency’s past abuse of their authority under the Constitution and the Clean Water Act, AAW members are convinced this proposed rule will be detrimental to our livelihoods and ability to produce food, fiber and renewable fuels for our country.”

    The letter emphasized that the proposed WOTUS rule fails to follow legal decisions and precedent set by the courts as well the intent of Congress. In contrast, the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) provides clear and concise definitions and regulations that follow the law.

    Gayle Baker, P.E., AAW Issue Lead for Water Quality, said, “I work with farmers that are trying to achieve Prior Converted Cropland determinations, which under this proposed rule, would not have the previous exemptions regarding the ‘Change of Use’ policy. This, as well as other exemptions that are no longer included in the rule, would restrict farming activities and regulate farming and ranching operations. It is so important that AAW’s voice is heard on this proposed rule.”

    AAW expressed concerns that the proposed rule removes the power to administer the Clean Water Act from the states and prescribes limited management practices that will stifle innovation and best solutions for site-specific sustainability.

    The AAW letter concludes, “One thing is clear: even though America’s farmers and ranchers care about the land, care for it because it is paramount to our livelihoods and our nation’s food security, and we continue to innovate our farming methods based on science and research, the Agencies and the proposed rule will make it more difficult to improve the land and water practices, thereby hampering our self-sufficiency and potentially leading to negative impacts on our land and water due to bureaucratic interference.”

    For more information, contact communications@americanagriwomen.org or visit the organization’s website at www.americanagriwomen.org.

    About American Agri-Women

    American Agri-Women (AAW) promotes the welfare of our national security through a safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW web site for more information and to join, www.americanagriwomen.org. Find AAW on social media  at: Facebook.com/AgriWomen/, Twitter.com/Women4Ag/ (@Women4Ag) and Instagram.com/americanagriwomen/(@americanagriwomen.) #standupspeakout4ag