Paving the Way: Esteemed panel offers advice to women involved in agriculture
The 31st Annual Wyoming Women in Agriculture (WWIA) Symposium was held in Laramie on Nov. 7-8, featuring two full days of educational programming, networking opportunities, local entertainment and facility tours to educate and empower women involved in Wyoming’s ag industry.
A highlight of the event was the Women in Ag Career Panel, featuring four esteemed individuals with a large presence in the Cowboy State.
Wyoming State FFA Advisor Stacy Broda is the fifth generation on the ranch she grew up on outside of Cheyenne, where she currently resides with her husband and two sons. She graduated from the University of Wyoming (UW) with bachelor’s degrees in ag business and ag education and taught at Hannah Elk Mountain before moving back to the family ranch and eventually taking over in her current position.
Diana Berger hails from Saratoga where she runs a cow/calf operation with her husband Jack Berger, current president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, and her children. She attended Laramie County Community College and UW and continues to be an active force on countless boards, committees and organizations in the industry and her local community.
Tori Teegarden is the legislative assistant for Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), handling his agricultural, natural resource and federal lands and water portfolio. She received her undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and obtained a master’s degree from Texas A&M University.
Leah Taylor is the business development financial officer for Farm Credit Services of America. She grew up as an active member of 4-H and attended the University of Nebraska, where she met an advisor who steered her toward her current career.
Advocacy
The topic of advocacy weaved through most of the panel discussion, with attendees raising concerns about how far removed consumers have become from the ag industry.
Teegarden noted her time spent on The Hill in Washington, D.C. has opened her eyes to how far removed the public actually is, which often results in negative feelings and connotations towards agriculture.
She believes it is up to those involved in the ag industry to start bridging the gap between urban and ag communities to help consumers understand what farmers and ranchers stand for and where their food comes from.
“In Washington, D.C., which is about as far removed as one can get, ag organizations will actually bring agriculture to the people – they will set up John Deere and Kubota tractors on the National Mall and invite people to come look at them,” she shared. “I think this is really important because going to the public is a good place to start, and if they are interested and have more questions, they will start to engage with us.”
While advocacy in big urban communities is essential, Berger pointed out individuals don’t have to look far to find people with little knowledge of the ag industry.
“I was shocked to find out how few kids in our boys’ classes had nothing to do with agriculture,” she stated. “They lived in a tiny Wyoming town, but they were so far removed from agriculture, it was terrifying.”
To help bridge the gap in her community, Berger and her husband started hosting eighth graders from Rawlins on their operation to ask questions and get hands-on experience on a ranch.
“It’s nice to think we can do something for the people in Los Angeles, but we have a lot of other issues closer to home,” she said. “If those people can leave here with a little bit more knowledge about Wyoming agriculture, they will be better off for it and so will we.”
With this, Berger noted it is important to also be compassionate of others’ viewpoints and opinions, even when they don’t match up with those in the industry.
“We see a lot of people who are passionate against our industry – not because they actually hate it but because of what they think they know about it,” she explained. “So, one of my biggest things is taking the time to understand their point of view and reaching across the aisle to have a civil conversation to let them know all of the good things we do.”
Additionally, Berger mentioned the importance of telling agriculture’s story.
“Our older generation does not tell our story. Older generations are very private, and as an industry, we are kind of notorious for that. We keep everything to ourselves,” she said. “But there is a huge platform on social media for the younger generation to get their voices out there and tell our story.”
Broda noted, in her opinion, the best strategy for advocacy is planting a seed at a young age.
“If I was queen for a day, I would make every student in every public school take an ag class,” she said. “I think they are just as important as the other life skills and core subjects learned in school.”
Leadership
The panel agreed strong leadership skills and great mentors have been a driving force in the success of their careers.
When asked which leadership skills have served them best, Broda and Taylor said being a good listener, being a team player and building solid relationships are what they believe is most important.
Teegarden noted it is okay to be honest about being unsure of something, and instead of pretending to know, it is better to ask questions.
Berger encouraged individuals to be active members of the industry and their communities, urging them to get on school boards or run for local political office.
But, similar to Teegarden’s sentiment, Berger also noted it is important for individuals to understand their limitations, especially when it comes to making commitments.
“One of my pet peeves is when somebody gets on a board, but they don’t go to meetings or contribute in any way. This is the biggest detriment to those organizations,” she said. “Know what you have time for and give it 100 percent.”
Additionally, in the realm of leadership roles, the women expressed the importance of having and being a good mentor.
“For me, the women mentors I have had in my life filled my bucket and gave me the encouragement and the nudge I needed to know I could do whatever I wanted to do,” Taylor said.
Teegarden shared she has had the privilege of looking up to two female mentors whom she found along her career path and strives to play the same role in someone else’s life someday.
“There is always someone younger in life who is interested in agriculture, and it’s on us to become mentors to them along the way,” she said. “This is something I’ve really tried to do since I have been fortunate to have wonderful mentors in my life.”
Adversity
Like women in any field, those in agriculture face their fair share of adversity. Each panel member shared anecdotes of being pushed to the side because they are female and offered some advice in paving the way as a woman in the industry.
Broda explained, in her experience, she has found it easiest to compartmentalize relationships, be understanding of people’s worldviews and backgrounds, take hurtful comments with a grain of salt and have confidence.
“Be confident in who you are and what you can and can’t do,” Berger agreed.
Teegarden reiterated, “Know your worth and be confident in your knowledge.”
Teegarden also expressed her excitement for the changing of the tides in an industry that has been historically male dominant, as the new generation of agriculture includes a lot of women.
Other advice
The panel continued to offer up plenty of advice.
Berger encouraged fellow women in ag to surround themselves with a strong support system and chase their passions.
“There are going to be a lot of obstacles. There is going to be a lot of heartbreak. There is going to be a lot of changes in plans, but if you are truly passionate about what you do, you’re eventually going to make it,” she said.
Teegarden stated, “Speak up for yourself because no one else will. You are your biggest advocate. At the end of the day, no one else is going to speak up for you like you will.”
She also urged attendees to branch out and try new things.
Broda noted one of her biggest life lessons has been to learn to pick her battles and understand what is worth fighting for and what isn’t.
She also said, “We have to be flexible. Not everything is going to be perfect all of the time, and sometimes we have to make do with what we have.”
Taylor suggested, “Get comfortable with money. Get comfortable with financing. Take a class. Money is power – not in a bad way. Being comfortable and having confidence in understanding finances gives individuals power and peace of mind and allows them to focus on all of the other great things in life.”
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
