WASHINGTON — In celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership program, together with a coalition of U.S. agrifood system stakeholders, recently hosted a landmark national gathering honoring the vital role women play in agriculture and the supply chain.

Six Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) members attended the International Year of the Woman Farmer ACE (Advocate, Cultivate, Empower) Summit, held June 1–3 in Washington, D.C. The signature event empowered and connected women farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals through skill-building sessions, high-impact networking, and advocacy-focused programming.

MFBF President Cyndi Johnson, a seasoned advocate for agriculture in the nation’s capital, said bringing members to Washington is incredibly rewarding.

“Having our members experience what they are able to do here—and seeing how meeting with elected officials to discuss our policies face-to-face works—is the greatest part of having a Farm Bureau membership,” Johnson said.

Johnson praised the conference lineup, noting that while all the speakers were fantastic, Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, particularly captured her attention. Harden shared her experiences navigating the agricultural field as a woman in the late 1970s through the 1990s.

“She hoped she was one of the women who laid the groundwork for other women to step up into more relevant roles,” Johnson said. “She shared great stories about her early experience working with the Agricultural Statistics Service, back when women weren’t counted, whether they worked off the farm to support the family business or were co-

owners or owners of an agricultural enterprise. The level of involvement we see from women in agriculture and ag business today is 50 years in the making.”

The Montana delegation attended the Wednesday morning Montana Breakfast, hosted by the state’s congressional delegation, before conducting Capitol Hill visits. The group met with staff from the offices of Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Troy Downing, and Rep. Ryan Zinke to discuss critical issues including drought, the farm bill, water rights, Endangered Species Act reform, and large-animal veterinarian student loans. Sen. Tim Sheehy also visited personally with the group.

For Huntley rancher Kathy Teter, it was her first time visiting the nation's capital. She noted how different the experience was from typical news portrayals.

“It was clean with friendly people, and our monument tour at night was wonderful,” Teter said. “In addition, this conference was so inspiring. It gave me hope to see so many young women who are ready to step in and move forward. Often when I attend events, it is an older demographic, so seeing this influx of young leadership is very exciting.”

Teter found closing keynote speaker Sarah Frey, CEO and founder of Frey Farms, especially motivating. Frey’s book, The Growing Season, chronicles how she saved her family's farm from foreclosure at age 17 by borrowing money to buy the business, which now successfully ships produce nationwide.

“Hearing the tough times she experienced and the difficulties she overcame was incredibly motivating,” Teter added.

MFBF member Jeanne McKamey also praised the conference speakers as excellent spokeswomen for the industry.

“Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association, taught us that collaboration is the new currency,” McKamey said. “She reminded us to see the other 500 women in the room as resources and support, not as competitors.”

McKamey noted that AFBF’s Johnna Miller delivered an equally inspiring message, encouraging attendees to advocate by sharing their personal stories with the media. “Her message was, ‘Don’t just listen. Listen, learn, and then do something with what you’ve learned.’”

The opportunity to network with agricultural professionals from Ohio, Florida, and even Ireland left a lasting impression on McKamey, as did Frey’s entrepreneurial journey of expanding a small business into seven states.

“It was inspirational to hear how to be brave when you feel like David fighting Goliath,” McKamey said. “D.C. is a wonderful place to feel unity, power, and pride—all the things our country has fought for. I feel we have immediate respect when we walk into congressional offices. It can seem intimidating at first, but we can sit in their offices, talk policy, and just shoot the breeze about what Montanans need. This was an awesome opportunity Montana Farm Bureau gave me to celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer.”