By Anita C. Stuever
Mich. Soybean Promotion Committee 

 

As an early minority in the ranks of FFA membership, as a college of agriculture student and as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, I never wanted publicity for being a woman in agriculture. I didn’t want to be thought of as different.

I was usually the only woman in the room, so I only wanted to be one of the guys. I longed for the day when I would no longer be treated differently. For the most part, that day has arrived – but not necessarily for women farmers.

Women farmers are one of the most rapidly growing segments of agriculture. The number of women operating farms more than doubled between 1982 and 2012. Add primary and secondary operators, and nearly 1 million women are farming, accounting for 30 percent of U.S. farmers.

All categories of minority-operated farms increased between 2007 and 2012 – the number of farms operated by Hispanics increased by 21 percent in just five years. But when you look at the people who govern our checkoff programs, you won’t see a representative number of the 288,264 female principal operators. Only four women serve on the 70-director United Soybean Board (USB).

Most commodity boards have similar numbers. Some are made up completely of white males. Two shining spots for women are the national Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Ethnic minorities are even scarcer than women on most state and national checkoff boards.

For checkoff programs to be successful in leading and advancing American agriculture, it’s important their board members reflect the diversity of American agriculture. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden have urged commodity checkoff boards to reflect the industry’s diversity by encouraging women and minorities to apply for open board positions.

The agriculture industry competes in a marketplace that is itself growing more diverse. The ability to draw from a wide range of viewpoints, backgrounds, skills and experiences is important to its continued success.

Gail Frahm, the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee’s (MSPC) executive director, is working hard at securing more diversity on the state board. Last year, two women answered the call to serve on the MSPC’s board of directors.

Laurie Isley and Sarah Peterson are a generation apart, but have a lot in common. They’ve been trailblazers in their fields, but bring different perspectives to the board.

Their male counterparts seem to value the board’s diversity. “I have not felt at any point that we were being undervalued because we are women,” Isley says.

Peterson agrees. The most surprising aspect of serving on the board, she says, “is the openness of the gentlemen involved.” After her first MSPC meeting, she told her husband, “They’re awesome guys; they talk with you like you’re just another person in ag. That was very, very encouraging to me.”

“I think diversity does matter,” Isley says. “I think sometimes women have a slightly different perspective, whether it’s because of their role on the farm or the fact that sometimes we relate more closely with the consumer.”

“I might put a different spin on it, but I think that’s what makes the board strong,” Peterson says. “We look at the same problem from a lot of angles to come up with what’s best for everybody.”

“I think there are a lot of women and minorities who have a lot to offer the program,” Isley says. “Joining the board is an opportunity you won’t regret. You’re going to be valued for the unique perspective you share. You’ll feel like an active participant in the commodity you’re producing.”

Checkoff boards are challenged with developing new markets, strengthening current markets and conducting important research and educational activities. Women and minority soybean farmers who want to influence the direction of the industry, have a voice in how assessments are invested and expand their knowledge and their networks should get in touch with a commodity checkoff group.

It’s time to match the increases in farm productivity and increases in women and minority farmers with increases in the number of women and ethnic minorities governing the state and national checkoff programs. U.S. agriculture needs all the passionate, smart farmers it can get. We have the talent in the field; let’s make our boards reflect all that talent.

Anita C. Stuever works as a communications contractor with the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee.