The Bear Grass Charter FFA Chapter was presented with a daunting statistic in its North Carolina community. Its president, Mollie Chandler, observed that “girls make up the majority of our FFA chapter, yet women in the agriculture industry are a minority and are often overlooked.”
To combat this problem, the chapter’s members organized an agricultural leadership conference designed to encourage and empower women considering a career in North Carolina’s industry of agriculture.
The first Women in Ag Banquet, which was proposed by Bear Grass Charter FFA members, was recently recognized as one of the top three events for the National Premier Chapter Award in the strengthening agriculture division. Chandler and her sister, Madeline, presented the event to a selection of judges.
“We were constantly asked how we could improve this event,” Chandler says. “We knew we wanted to expand the impact of the event by inviting members from across the region. Our officer team led every aspect of the event, from the very first planning meetings to the night of the banquet.”
In February 2024, Bear Grass Charter FFA held its second annual Women in Ag Banquet. More than 100 young women and their family members attended this event. The conference was presented by National FFA Facilitator Shelby Roberson, Liz Stalls from the Greenville Public Works Department and Kaci Denmark from the North Carolina State University FFA Alumni and Supporters. Compared to the year prior, the chapter expanded the opportunities available to young women by implementing workshops directed by agriculture leaders.
“Although conversing with agricultural professionals was an amazing opportunity, we wanted to provide the chance for participants to gain tangible skills that would help them as they furthered their careers in FFA and started to think about their future,” Chandler says.
In these workshops, attendees learned about professionalism and career opportunities. Furthermore, they practiced job interview skills and developed a better understanding of creating a polished resume.
The evening led the Bear Grass Charter FFA Chapter and conference members to the Deadwood Restaurant in Williamston, N.C. The spot is a local favorite that provided members with a meal and the opportunity to interact with agricultural companies and corporations from the University of Mount Olive, AgCarolina, Edgecombe-Martin Electrical Membership Corporation, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Stokes Seeds, Agri-Waste Technology and Flatlands Insurance.
During their meal, participants were presented with guest speakers, including North Carolina FFA Vice President Haily Eason and North Carolina Agricultural Coordinator Beth Farrell. These speakers testified about their experiences as women in agriculture.
The chapter was proud to see members from 10 different schools in attendance and hopes to see those numbers grow in the future.
“The most special thing about the event is the sense of community that was felt,” Chandler says. “I was able to make connections with agricultural professionals, members in my region and members in my chapter.”
As Bear Grass Charter FFA continues plans for next year’s banquet, its goal is to inspire and encourage young women throughout North Carolina to be a part of agriculture and become the leaders of tomorrow.
