Women Stepping Forward for Agriculture Conference

Over the past 20 years, the Women Stepping Forward for Agriculture conference has hosted many wonderful opportunities to bring ladies together from all walks of life to celebrate agriculture and grow together. After much deliberation, the volunteer Planning Committee has decided to end on a high note after celebrating two decades in October of 2022 and we will not be continuing the conference in 2023.

We want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone that has helped make this conference possible. Whether you were an attendee, sponsor, vendor or venue, this conference would not have been so successful without your support and contributions.

 

The remaining balance of the conference funds will be donated to the Montana FFA Foundation, specifically to support the Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) Grant. As Montana’s largest school organization, FFA impacts the lives of many students who call the Big Sky State home. The reach of this organization goes beyond just the members, however. FFA members stimulate their area’s economy through work-based learning opportunities known as Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE). In fact, Montana FFA members add over $3 million annually back into our state’s economy as a result of their SAE projects. There are five immersive SAE categories an FFA member can participate in: Placement/Internship, Ownership/Entrepreneurship, Research: Experimental, Analysis or Invention, School-Based Enterprise, or Service-Learning. The main focus of the Montana FFA Foundation is to support FFA members in their pursuit of premier leadership, personal growth and career success and one of the ways the foundation does this is by offering grants to members they can use to start, sustain or expand their SAE projects.

 

Thank you again for making the conference a successful gathering for 20 years. We hope you will continue to pursue growth opportunities and advocate for Montana’s number one industry, agriculture.

 

Sincerely,

The Women Stepping Forward for Agriculture Planning Committee

Tara Becken (co-chair)

Chaley Harney (co-chair)

Heidi Brewer

Tierani Brusett

Callie Cooley

Tasha Gibby

Whitney Klasna

Carla Lawrence

Lori Valadez