COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite increased participation in agribusiness women continue to face unique challenges in the workplace. Anne Cook, safety director with Custom Agri Systems in Napoleon, Ohio, described her experience. “I’ve encountered more than my share of challenges as a female working in agribusiness, Cook said. “Thirty years ago, when I was getting my start, women in ag were rare and the culture was very different. I learned very early on that my success would not come from trying to act like one of the guys. Rather, I learned to leverage some of my innate feminine skills like my intuition, high EQ, sincerity, and humor to influence people.”

To help meet those challenges and offer support, the Ohio Agribusiness Association (OABA), a state trade association that represents the interests of businesses that serve Ohio agriculture, held its third Women Leading in Ohio Agribusiness Fall Summit on Nov. 30.

Approximately 80 agribusiness professionals attended the six-hour program which featured keynote speaker Heather Suerdieck, of Inside Out Coaching, who delivered a presentation on ‘’Unlocking Your Everyday Power.”

Following the keynote address two breakout sessions on the topics of “Leading from Where You Are, Multigenerational Teams that Work, Communication and Conflict Management, and Mental Health When Working in Agriculture” were sandwiched around lunch.

The program closed with a presentation on “The Future of Agriculture” by Aimpoint Research’s director of communication, Jennifer Coleman. Coleman focused on the digital revolution of the agriculture industry and how the entire agri-food value chain is transforming.

The Fall Summit specifically focuses on non-farming careers. “When we first launched this program we had heard from our members that there was a gap,” said Lauren Prettyman, Ohio Agribusiness Association director of communications & member experience. “There’s plenty of conferences for women on the farm but there didn’t seem to be an opportunity for women strictly in agribusiness — we wanted to fill that gap.”

Coleman’s session was a favorite of Haylee Van Scoy, director of grain purchasing for Heritage Cooperative, in Delaware, Ohio. “The agriculture industry is no stranger to navigating volatility and uncertainty, however, the shifts that are expected over the next 10-20 years will reshape the entire industry as we propel into the digital era of agriculture,” Van Scoy said. “Changes in ag tech and traceability, shifts in consumer demand, and understanding the needs of the farmers of tomorrow are all topics that I and the industry in general are trying to better understand and prepare for.”

Cook, a first-time attendee, valued her experience. “As for the summit, I thought it was fabulous,” Cook said. “The committee and the presenters did a great job of acknowledging what women need but without viewing those needs as a crutch. Women do have some special innate skills but sometimes our ability to take care of others can drain us emotionally. Being able to recharge our emotional and mental “batteries” is key to our long-term health and success.” 

VanScoy took advantage of the breakout sessions to further her capacity relevant to her leadership situation. “As a leader of a multigenerational team, it can also be challenging to understand what motivates each individual on my team,” VanScoy said. “I enjoyed Melanie Wilt’s breakout session about Multigenerational Teams That work and the conversations had around a diverse workforce that currently spans four different generations and how we can find strength in the unique perspectives we all bring to the table.”

Prettyman said, “I will say from my point of view as a woman in agribusiness, I start with brainstorming topics that I think that someone in my position would be interested in. I think our agenda topics cover a lot of those nuances that seem to come along with being a woman in agribusiness. This year we’re talking about mental health, working across generations, and communication and conflict, which are not necessarily specific to women, but we pull those topics and make it specific for this conference.”

Prettyman works along with OABA director of education and professional development, Janice Welsheimer to develop the summit agenda. “Janice is our events coordinator, so she is in charge of the agenda and getting the speakers. However, we brainstorm all year long, coming up with ideas and speakers that would draw both of us to the table.”

Over 30 different companies were represented by women with a variety of job titles, including agronomist, controller, grain buyer, human resource manager, seed manager, and vice president.

Feedback on the 2023 summit was positive from both attendees and OABA staff.

The summit satisfied all my needs and I left with a smile on my face and a spring in my step,” Cook said. “My notebook was full of notes and ideas to carry me forward into 2024. I look forward to attending next year.”

Van Scoy said, “The 2023 Women Leading in Ohio Agribusiness Fall Summit is a great event put on by the OABA team. I look forward to it every year. From making new connections to catching up with old friends, developing new skills, or gaining fresh perspectives, there’s something for everyone at this summit.”

Added Prettyman, “I feel like it went well. We’ve had a ton of positive comments, I feel like more than in past years. More people said they love the sessions, or it was a good mix of ages and careers.”