Today’s woman doesn’t just bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. Chances are, she’s managing that feeder-to-finish operation. And if she’s like Jenny Dewey Rohrich, she turned that pork into bacon.
Farm women are changing the ag landscape. As farming becomes more technologically advanced, farm women are becoming increasing involved in data analysis, site-specific farming, regulatory compliance, commodity marketing, public relations and social marketing. Today’s farm woman works every aspect of the farm, keeps everyone on task, and even advocates for the industry she loves.
That’s why Monsanto Company recognizes farm moms for the important roles they play within their families, their farming operations and their communities. Anyone can nominate his or her favorite farm mom – whether it’s their own mom, sister, aunt, daughter, friend or community member – for a chance to win up to $10,000!
Nominations for the Farm Mom of the Year contest are open through March 31, 2014. To nominate a favorite farm mom, visit AmericasFarmers.com and submit a brief essay online or by mail that explains how the nominated farm mom contributes to her family, farm, community and agriculture. Each nomination will be judged based on published criteria by a panel of judges from American Agri-Women.
Monsanto will select five regional winners based on the judges’ decisions. Each regional winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Profiles of the regional winners will then be posted to AmericasFarmers.com, where the public can vote for one national farm mom winner. Announced just prior to Mother’s Day, the national winner will receive an additional $5,000 cash prize above and beyond her regional prize.
Farm Moms are truly inspiring women like Iowa farmer April Hemmes, who lives in our home county, and Kansas rancher Debbie Lyons-Blythe, whose family was featured in a Super Bowl ad. April traveled to Uganda to help women farmers get their grain to market and also helped raise money for much needed equipment and infrastructure including bicycles and wells. Debbie is a great advocate for agriculture and works tirelessly to help bridge the gap between producers and consumers. Check out her blog, Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch, where she writes about the Flint Hills and shares delicious ranch recipes. (I’ve certainly downloaded my fair share of her recipes!)
Chances are, you know of some equally amazing farm woman. Be sure to submit a nomination on her behalf for Farm Mom of the Year by March 31!