As a new season approaches, many things can be associated with spring, one of which is the annual Kentucky Farm Bureau State Women's Leadership Conference. For decades, members from county Farm Bureau women's committees across the state have gathered for this yearly learning event.

This year, 231 volunteers came from 83 counties to hear from KFB state leadership and numerous guest speakers discuss topics ranging from educational opportunities to policy updates.  

KFB welcomed Kentucky’s Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman to the event, marking the first time a sitting Lt. Governor has attended the conference.

She discussed the excitement that centered around last month’s Agriculture Education Week and an initiative she is involved with along with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Department of Education that is bringing ag ed to the elementary school level.

“In working together, we have been able to move a lot of groups and get a lot of folks involved, and there's never been, I think, a more important time to show the ways that we can come together and get things done,” she said. “The time is now to focus on issues like agriculture and education because they're both so critically important, not just to Kentucky, but the entire country and the world.”

Coleman met with the KFB Women’s State Advisory Committee last October to discuss the new educational endeavor and invite them to be a part of the initiative knowing how involved KFB women’s committees are with bringing ag education to students across the state.

“I think success for this initiative looks like kids getting their hands dirty, getting out onto farms, experiencing things they've never seen or done before,” she said. “This is a departure from the sit-and-get type of learning at a desk. This is an experiential learning process, and we're really excited about that.”

Jennifer Newby, first vice chair for the Women's State Advisory Committee said it is an exciting time to be working with the Lt. Governor on such an important issue.

“We're super excited about Lt. Governor Coleman partnering with us, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Education,” she said. “It's just an exciting time for us to be working together to bring a subject that's very important to our women's committee to light for everyone. I know of school districts who are taking this initiative and running with it.”

In discussing the conference, as a whole, Newby said it's important to bring women together who have common interests.

“Each of us comes to the conference taking away something completely different from the speakers that they hear, and the activities they do,” she said. “It not only strengthens us as a group by as individuals, as well. Not only do we meet new people and friends who have common interests, but we’re seeing old friends and family that you may not have been able to see for some time. It's just a great time of fellowship and fun and just being with each other.”

KFB President Eddie Melton, who addressed the conference, said the value of networking at such an event cannot be understated.

“One of the most important things we can do, as we gather together for events such as this, is to learn from each other,” he said. “Every person in every county has a story to tell and information to share and our women’s committees throughout the state network as well as anyone and bring such value to our organization.”

Newby said that as she leaves a conference like this, she thinks about all that she has learned and what she can bring back to her county farm Bureau and community to make it better. 

“When I leave a conference, I try to think, ‘What was my main takeaway?’ and ‘What is going to inspire me for my next move whether it's on the farm, or in my personal life?’”, she said. “Every person who comes to this conference is different. And that's what's so great about offering so many different workshops, tours, and speakers, it's because everybody gleans something a little bit different that applies to their life.”

Another big event that takes place during the conference is delivery of the annual American Farm Bureau Foundation’s Ag Book of the Year.  Each year, the Foundation identifies a children’s book that accurately covers agricultural topics. In keeping with their commitment to engage in agriculture literacy activities in their county, women’s committees take orders for the book. This year’s selection is “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” by Peggy Thomas.

These books also have an educator’s guide to help facilitate teaching the topic and an Ag Magazine on the topic as well.