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Meet the 2023 GFB Women’s Leadership Committee pictured from left: Chairwoman Kathy Sanders, Laurens  County, 6th Dist.; Vice Chair Melanie Hendrix, Evans County, 7th Dist.; Andrea Sims, Catoosa County, 1st Dist.; Stephanie Branch, Rabun County, 2nd Dist.; Kaylee Patterson, Paulding County, 3rd Dist.; Patsy Spear, McDuffie County, 4th Dist.; Amy Moncrief, Crawford County, 5th Dist.; Vickie Brown, Turner County, 8th Dist.; Julie Hardy, Thomas County, 9th Dist. Not pictured Mary Elizabeth Branch Pridgen, Coffee County, 10th Dist.
Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

 

By Breanna Berry, Georgia Farm Bureau

 

The Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) had a successful 2022 full of new events. We’re excited about the future and strengthening programs for 2023!

Last year the WLC hosted district meetings for county WLC members in each of GFB’s 10 districts. At these events, attendees usually visited a farm, had an educational lesson and enjoyed a meal. Planning is underway for this year’s district meetings. Watch for announcements from your county offices and GFB district federation managers.  

In November, the GFB WLC hosted its first Women in Ag Summit in Peachtree City to provide professional development to women in Georgia agriculture. The committee will host the 2023 Women in Ag Summit Nov. 2-3. Summit details for registration will be sent to county office managers and advertised when finalized. 

At the 2022 GFB convention, the WLC held a “trade show bingo” to encourage GFB members to meet each other. Members got bingo cards at the WLC booth and then got members who had done things listed in the bingo squares to sign their cards. When they earned “bingo” they submitted their card at the booth and were entered in a drawing for a set of rocking chairs, fire pit or cooler. 

“We hope activities like this encourage new and longtime members attending convention to network with fellow attendees,” said 2022 WLC Chair Melissa Mathis. “We hope they saw a familiar face or met someone new.”

Many thanks to the GFB members who represented Georgia at the Annual Meeting of the American Farm Bureau Women in January as part of the AFBF convention. GFB delegates were: 2023 WLC Chairman Kathy Sanders, Melissa Mathis, Donna Barrett, Connie Copelan, Doris Jean Malone and Lisa Rainwater. 

The women’s meeting allowed delegates to discuss ways to promote agriculture to consumers and students. 

WLC partnered with the YF&R Committee to host the 2nd Annual Legislative Drive-In Feb. 13 to prepare WLC and YF&R participants to engage with state legislators during GFB Day at the Capitol. 

In March, GFB WLC members will participate in the AFBF Fusion Conference in Jacksonville, Fla., and the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Orlando, Fla., in June.

 

 Georgia Farm Bureau WLC Coordinator Breanna Berry may be reached at bcberry@gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 5232. Contact your county Farm Bureau if you’d like to volunteer with your local Women’s Leadership Committee.