American Agri-Women recently drafted resolutions to address issues and threats to agriculture. Representatives from this all-volunteer coalition of more than 50,000 farm, ranch, and agribusiness women will deliver these resolutions to elected officials in Washington, D.C., in early June.
The group's resolutions, which are reviewed each spring, cover ag business and economics, commodities, and natural resources.
"It's our mission - and our duty - to represent and protect those who produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for the world," says Karen Yost of Billings, Montana, AAW president. "Our meetings are also an important way we educate legislators and policy-makers."
Issues: Education
Members also heard from ag experts at the midyear meeting, which was held at Lied Lodge, in Nebraska City, Neb.
Senator Mike Johanns from Nebraska, former secretary of agriculture, addressed the 2012 Farm Bill.
Gary Sides, Cattle Nutritionist, Pfizer Animal Health, addressed misconceptions regarding beef nutrition and production.
Damien Schiff, senior staff attorney from the National Litigation Center, spoke as lead attorney in Sackett v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, which concerns whether Clean Water Act compliance orders can ever be judicially reviewable.
A panel of animal ag experts answered questions regarding threats to livestock owners and producers. The panel included Mindy Patterson from the Cavalry Group; Andrea Hutchinson, Chain Land and Cattle Co., Canton, OK; Sarah Hubbart, Animal Agriculture Alliance; and Sue Wallis, Wallis Ranch, Recluse, Wyoming.
Rick Sheehy, Lt. Governor of Nebraska, shared the gravity of the lean finely textured beef misconceptions sweeping the media, and the results of the recent news conference held in conjunction with the governors of Kansas, Iowa and Texas, and the lieutenant governor of South Dakota.
Melissa Keyes, UN-Lincoln student and member of the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute spoke on ag advocacy and the use of social media.
Joe Gerstandt, diversity consultant, offered perspectives on how to bring authenticity and energy to your mission.
For more information on the AAW Fly-In to Washington D.C. to be held June 4-7, contact Karen Yost, at president@americanagriwomen.org or (406) 794-0888 or visit http://www.americanagriwomen.org/.
"American Agri-Women is a force for truth, a reasoned, non-partisan voice for the agriculture community to the public."