During the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, a “Women in Ag” networking event was held in the Indiana Convention Center, where female FFA members were invited to connect with corporate partners, sponsors and one another.
The event encouraged members to learn about navigating leadership roles as women in agriculture. Ashley Swanson, senior field marketing manager for Rabo AgriFinance, shared her support by inspiring attendees to pursue their goals confidently.
Space to Connect
The environment was also filled with FFA members eager to foster mentorships, share career insights and create meaningful connections.
“You never know what a simple conversation might lead to, and that’’s super exciting for us,.” says Emily Wilson, stewardship manager for the National FFA Foundation. Wilson’s hope is that one discussion could turn into a job opportunity, career path or an interview.
However, these impactful moments aren’t limited to Indianapolis. Through the Impact FFA: Women Growing Women webinar series, which has been held annually for the past four years, “we hear from great speakers that are also from corporate partners — women who are in their career,” Wilson says.
The National FFA Organization also offers exclusive resources to support female members entering the agricultural workforce. “It’s really more than a fundraising effort; it’s about building a bridge for young female FFA members to careers in agriculture,” says Kimberly Coveney, senior manager of individual giving for the National FFA Foundation.
Although agriculture has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, Coveney says companies are eager to diversify. “We launched Impact FFA as a way to create a bridge for high-achieving young women to go from success in the classroom to success in the agriculture sector,” she adds.
That vision came to life as members spent an afternoon networking with companies and peers during this year’s convention. “I think they’re great opportunities for me, and other young women in agriculture, to build our networking and background for future jobs,” says Tri-City United FFA member Ellen Hartman from Minnesota.
“We need people willing to advocate for the agriculture industry and agricultural education,” Coveney adds, reminding members that FFA continues to provide opportunities for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
