Standing in front of a group of young, beautiful, enthusiastic, smiling faces, it was reaffirmed to me that women in agriculture are “the ticket!”

If you’re thinking, “Great, here we go again, another column about women in agriculture,” you’re partially correct. But my main focus in writing about this unique, passionate group is shine the spotlight on a fantastic opportunity for the women in your life, or maybe for you, as a farmwife, to reap the rewards of a lasting friendship and solid bond to enjoy if you were to take just three days out of your busy year and head to Muskegon, Mich., March 9-11.

The kids need you, your husband needs you, you have no one to replace you, you have nothing to wear, you have a dentist appointment, it’s the kids’ birthday, it’s reading month and you have to make 152 cupcakes and decorate them in a Dr. Seuss theme for the entire third grade class or else you’ll lose your school mom of the year title … yadda, yadda, yadda.

Those may all be very valid excuses and they have been used and over used. I know from experience, they are among some of my favorites, but the fact remains, you need a break from the farm and this is the perfect time to relax and enjoy the company of a group of women who used to use the same excuses on why there was no way on God’s green earth they could attend the Farm Women’s Symposium (FWS).

At the recent Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmers Conference, Sheryl Smith, one of the FWS planners, was promoting the event and reminded me of just exactly why this should be an essential part every yearly farm plan. She talked about the invaluable friendships that are made at this event and the unintentional mentoring that happens between experienced women and the younger generation. The topics that are discussed, from family farm transitions to legislative updates are vital to every farm owner. And we haven’t even gotten to the laughter that happens when women begin to share their stories of … we better just leave that alone.

When the farm women converge on Muskegon, it will be for the 20th time. And like every year before the schedule is packed full of great speakers, tours and of course, food! Travelling from Loop City, Neb., our favorite big hat wearing, mustache clad, bald cowboy, Trent Loos will be on the agenda. Although he’s a fun guy to be around, he is well informed and has strong convictions about agriculture. Never at a loss for words, my favorite radio buddy will bless the women twice on the last day and leave them with a great story, a good laugh and a strong challenge. For those who hate change, keynote speaker David Okerlund will help attendees to embrace the changes we resist on the family farm. And for those who hate exercise, there will be a doctor in the house who will motivate you to embrace getting active, and this is just the beginning!
Farm Women’s Symposium has been encouraging women in agriculture for two decades and I urge you to make it a priority to attend this one-of-a-kind event. Throw caution to the wind and your excuses out the window and head to Muskegon!

Will I be there? I’m afraid not, I’ve got to take a group of students to the FFA State Convention that week. But if I weren’t vying for FFA Mom of the Year, I would be there in a heartbeat!

For more information on the event contact Sheryl Smith at Sheryl.Smith@
greenstonefcs.com

 The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.