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On the farm, if something needs doing, someone steps up and does it. Farm kids grow up feeding hogs as soon as they can walk and driving tractors long before they have state-issued driving permits. Women, historically, cook meals, care for the house and the kids and frequently manage finances, all while helping with those never-ending farm chores. Today, many women are the principal operator of their farm, responsible for all of the daily management decisions. Everyone steps up where they can. This same mentality inspired the creation of American Agri-Women, a coalition of women united for agriculture. 

While the role of women in agriculture is changing rapidly, some women continue to face challenges as they navigate careers in farming, ranching and agribusiness. American Agri-Women and its affiliate organizations (hereby referred to as Agri-Women) provide women the opportunity to make their voices heard in agriculture and learn valuable leadership skills in the company of their peers.

Currently, farmers face a multitude of overlapping hurdles that range from international trade wars, a partial government shutdown, multiple years of low commodity prices and consecutive natural disasters. To help policymakers understand the landscape, three Farm Credit CEOs came to Washington, D.C., to offer an on-the-ground perspective.

To teach students how to manage their finances without the risk of real-life financial consequences, Farm Credit partnered with the University of Idaho Extension to create Night of the Living Debt (NLD), a video game where zombies have taken over the financial world and a failure to pay off their demands will result in a diminished credit score.

The Arkansas Agriculture Department and Farm Credit recently partnered to provide four $1,000 Homegrown by Heroes academic scholarships to military veterans, currently serving military personnel and their spouses or children who are pursuing an agricultural or an agriculture-related degree.

FFA’s New Century Farmer conference develops participants’ planning skills to help them prosper in the business of farming. Farm Credit is deeply committed to the future of agriculture, and we believe in the efficacy and value of FFA and the New Century Farmer program.

When the National FFA Organization was established by 33 delegates from 18 states 90 years ago, FFA stood for “Future Farmers of America.” While the organization remains focused on preparing the next generation of farmers, it is clear that FFA means even more today.