Last week in Tennessee, we had the opportunity to bring together voices from across agriculture for a meaningful town hall conversation. From small family farms to growing agribusinesses, the focus remained the same—supporting, strengthening, and advocating for the future of agriculture in our state.

Next week I’ll be walking into the Tennessee State Capitol not just as an advocate, but as a farmer, business owner, and mother who believes deeply in the future of agriculture.

Young people today are growing up in a world where food appears instantly. Milk comes from a carton. Eggs come from a foam container. Wool is a sweater on a rack. Produce is shrink-wrapped and stacked beneath bright lights. In what many of us call a “grocery store generation,” agriculture can feel distant, almost abstract.

Every year during National FFA Week, we celebrate the blue jackets, the contests, the early mornings, and the community service projects. But for those of us who once zipped up that corduroy jacket ourselves, this week carries something deeper.

I was once an FFA student.

In agriculture, we talk about grit. We talk about weather. We talk about yield. But we don’t talk enough about capital. 5fFinancial confidence is the quiet backbone of every successful agricultural operation. And for women in agriculture, it’s no longer optional — it’s essential.

There was a time when women in agriculture were introduced as “the farmer’s wife.” We were the ones who helped with the books, ran the Facebook page, or worked the register during busy season. Our work was visible, but our leadership was often softened or minimized. That era is ending.

On most farms, the workday doesn’t follow a clock. Calving doesn’t wait for daycare drop-off. Weather windows don’t align with preschool pickup. Planting and harvest move when conditions demand, not when childcare is available.

For women in agriculture, access to reliable childcare is not a convenience. It is infrastructure. And across rural America, that infrastructure is increasingly strained.

On Tuesday February 10, 2026, NWIAA convened farmers, ranchers, agricultural stakeholders, and state leaders to elevate real-world experiences and advance state-level solutions addressing the growing pressures facing Georgia agriculture. The convening centered on building a resolution for the Farmers Aid & Assistance State Bill, a comprehensive proposal designed to strengthen Georgia’s agricultural safety net through both immediate relief and long-term stability, particularly for underserved and minority producers.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much women truly carry in agriculture — and honestly, how much more they could accomplish with the right support behind them. That’s a huge part of why the International Year of the Woman Farmer initiative matters so much, and why stories like Jamila Norman stand out as such a powerful example of what this movement represents.

Women farmers are not a modern trend or niche movement. We have always been here; planting, tending, raising, managing, and problem-solving. What’s new isn’t our presence. What’s new is the willingness to finally say it out loud. 

When you think of a farmer, who do you picture? This year, we find ourselves in a moment of global reflection and celebration: the United Nations has designated this year as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF). This designation recognizes the indispensable, yet often overlooked, roles women play across agrifood systems worldwide. It’s a call to highlight their contributions, shed light on inequalities, and commit to tangible actions that strengthen women’s empowerment in agriculture. 

The Farmers Grassroots Advisory Council Farmers Aid & Assistance Program, under the leadership of the National Women in Agriculture Association (NWIAA), has launched a nationwide movement dedicated to rebuilding America’s agricultural foundation through direct farmer engagement, sustainable policy reform, and bipartisan legislative collaboration.

Women farmers and agribusiness leaders across the United States are traveling to 15 states to meet with legislators, governors, and community partners to introduce the Sustainable Farmers Aid & Assistance Program — a bold, farmer-driven solution designed to provide critical resources to struggling farmers and strengthen food security for all citizens.