In 1974 Oregon Women for Agriculture along with Women for the Survival of Agriculture in Michigan, Wisconsin Women for Agriculture, and Washington Women for the Survival of Agriculture came together in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to form American Agri-Women. This past November the group returned to Fond du Lac with members from California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming for the organization’s 50th anniversary.
Wisconsin is home to over 5,500 dairy farms.
The convention started off with a “Taste of Wisconsin” social. While the night showcased everything from potatoes to pork, and from mutton to bison, Wisconsin cheese was prominent in more varieties than I can even attempt to list.
In between the business meetings we toured the Vir-Clar Farm and Dairy, the Ledgerock Distillery, and the LaClare Creamery. We heard from Wisconsin State Senator Joan Ballweg and had a chance to listen to Jazmine Jurkiewicz on “The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System”, Annaliese Wegner on “Becoming a Modern-Day Farm Chick; Discovering How to Share YOUR Story”, or Heidi Slinkman on Wisconsin cranberries and “Harvest Your Agricultural Identity to Power and Enrich Your Community”.
OWA President Sarah Puls provides an update at the AAW Conference.
AAW has updated their website and has a member’s only section which was promoted heavily at the convention. Their policies and procedures as well as by-laws have been cleaned up correcting grammatical errors and clarifying points. Student membership has now been defined as a full time high school or college student.
The 2024 treasurer books for AAW were reviewed by a three member financial review committee, which included OWA’s own Jenny Hitner. AAW recorded an annual profit of $58,660 for a balance of $164,000 with the AAW Foundation listing over $800,000 in its accounts.
The first Road to Influence class, including OWA members Jenny Hitner and Arlene Kovash, graduated at convention. This was an eighteen month program that worked on personal and leadership growth through finding their strengths and leadership style. Applications are currently being accepted for the next Road to Influence.
OWA Treasurer Jenny Hitner served on the audit committee for AAW.
The hot topic of the convention was a proposed dues increase. Ultimately the discussion was tabled until the mid-year meeting after affiliates have a chance to discuss it with their boards. The next AAW Convention was originally planned to be held in Bloomington, Illinois. Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding between the AAW Executive Board and the Illinois Agri-Women which caused Illinois to pull out of hosting. At this time the 2025 convention is tentatively planned for Kansas and being put on by Past Presidents.
Marie Bowers (r) and Jenny Hitner after Bowers was awarded the AAW LEAVEN Award.
Out of eighty voting members at the convention, eleven were from OWA! At Saturday night’s gala, Marie Bowers received the AAW LEAVEN Award in recognition for her hard work and dedication to the organization. Carol Marx was awarded the Erickson-McCrum Mentoring Award.