WASHINGTON, D.C. – In celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Farm Credit Council has announced an initiative to provide leadership development training to women leaders across the Farm Credit System: Advancing Women in Agriculture through Resilience & Distinction (AWARD). Participants will take part in a groundbreaking leadership experience at Gettysburg in the summer of 2026. Each of the 55 Farm Credit Associations and four banks, representing all 50 states and Puerto Rico, will be invited to nominate one female leader for this distinguished honor.

The AWARD experience will take place August 31 – September 4, 2026, on the historic grounds of Gettysburg, a fitting place to reflect on courage and influence in times of change.

“These women are not only leaders in the fields they tend, but in the futures they cultivate,” said Christy Seyfert, President & CEO of the Farm Credit Council. “We’re proud to invest in their growth and amplify their stories.”

This program blends historical lessons in decision-making, legacy-building and resilience with modern leadership strategies, preparing participants to return to their communities with renewed purpose and power.

Applications for Farm Credit institutions will open on December 1, 2025, with a nomination deadline of February 28, 2026.

Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. It has been fulfilling its mission of helping rural America grow and thrive for more than a century with the capital necessary to make businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. For more information visit www.farmcredit.com.

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