A Past President of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) was part of a White House ceremony last week recognizing women is agriculture. Pam Johnson joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden for the Dialogue on Women Leaders in Agriculture, along with more than thirty participants representing ag associations, businesses and higher education, including the first women to lead each of the commodity organizations.
“You’re the first generation of women ag leaders, but you’re not the last.” said Deputy Secretary Harden. “My challenge to you is to identify what you will do to bring the next generation of women along this path and beyond.”
“We have a responsibility to recruit, inspire and empower current and next-generation women leaders,” said Johnson. “It was such an honor to be at the White House, in the center of a very important discussion.”
Attendees discussed common barriers women in the ag industry face, and shared best practices for recruitment and leadership development.
“Women play an increasingly important role on family farms, as both operators and landowners,” said Johnson. “It makes good business sense to involve women of all ages in this process.”
The White House Rural Council, an organization established to address challenges in rural America, sponsored the event.