Farm Bureau Honors 20th Women’s Communications Boot Camp Graduates

Fifteen farm and ranch women leaders graduated from the spring session of Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The agricultural leaders completed an intensive four-day course that featured hands-on sessions focused on public speaking, working with the media and messaging. Program graduates will use their training to strategically support Farm Bureau’s priority issues. This includes participating in local media opportunities, sharing information with elected officials and joining social media campaigns that spotlight modern agriculture.

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Row 1 (L to R) – Jodie Drange, Montana; Gracelynn Dale, Illinois; McKayla Shannon, Utah; Corina Brant, Indiana

Row 2 (L to R) – AFB Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Isabella Chism, Indiana; Victoria Lee, North Carolina; Shavon Via, North Carolina; Paige Norton, Utah; Katie Iverson, Oregon; Jennifer Marshall, Utah; AFB Women’s Leadership Committee Northeast Representative Lisa Wherry, Pennsylvania

Row 3 (L to R) – Deanne Frieders, Illinois; Katie Glaser, Oregon; Morgan Washburn, Virginia; Kim Miller, New Mexico; Rachel Duncan, Louisiana; Michelle Shooter, North Carolina

“Boot Camp class members are ‘all-in’ when it comes to teamwork, supporting one another, networking and thoughtfully considering how what they’ve learned relates to agricultural advocacy,” said Isabella Chism, an Indiana row crop farmer and chair of the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. “They’ve been both fully present in this training and forward thinking about how to apply their skills to benefit agriculture’s future.”

Boot Camp graduates are Gracelynn Dale and Deanne Frieders, Illinois; Corina Brant, Indiana; Rachel Duncan, Louisiana; Jodie Drange, Montana; Victoria Lee, Michelle Shooter and Shavon Via, North Carolina; Kim Miller, New Mexico; Katie Glaser and Katie Iverson, Oregon; Jennifer Marshall, Paige Norton and McKayla Shannon, Utah; and Morgan Washburn, Virginia.

“From engaging with elected officials to consumers, agricultural advocacy is a cornerstone of Farm Bureau,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’re proud to recognize the women farmers and ranchers who completed this training and congratulate them for taking this next step in their leadership journey.”

This is the 20th Boot Camp hosted by AFBF. The program has 299 graduates and is open to all women involved in Farm Bureau.

“I feel empowered after completing this training,” said Corina Brant, an Indiana corn, soybean and beef cattle farmer. “I’m also more confident about taking my skills to the next level, which will help me to advance in leadership.”

The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, in partnership with AFBF staff, hosts and provides training for Women’s Communications Boot Camp biannually. Applications open in June for the next fall session of Boot Camp, slated for Oct. 14-17, 2024.

Photos from this event may be downloaded at https://fb.org/spring24bootcamp.