Tri-County Women Gather to Learn, Laugh and Celebrate

Reprinted with permission from the Shelby County Herald , 4/22/09

A gathering for Tri-County Women in Agriculture was held Thursday evening, April 16, at the Father Buhman Center in Shelbina, hosted by Macon, Monroe and Shelby County FSA Staff. At least 220 enjoyed a delectable meal and the program which combined information about federal farm programs, a humorous look at life on the farm with a positive message for meeting life’s challenges, and a presentation about women in agriculture and The World Food Prize.

Tony Francis, Executive Director of the Monroe County FSA office was the emcee for the evening. He said the purpose of the gathering was to increase public awareness and participation in farm programs and to have a laugh along with the educational aspects of the program. He also explained how the county committee system helps bring local representation to the programs.

Michelle Motley, District Director in East Central and Central Missouri with the USDA Farm Service Agency related some of the history of the agency before telling about the various programs they administer.

She said the Department of Agriculture and the first farm bill had its beginning in 1933 during the Great Depression. In 1938, they began using conservation programs and 10 year average parity programs to encourage farmers to continue farming. Some other significant years were 1953 when it became the Commodity Stabilization Service; and the most recent change when it (the agency) became the Farm Service Agency in 1995.

Motley presented information about the numerous USDA federal farm programs and the funding they brought into Missouri as well as a breakdown of figures for the three county area in 2008. The programs encompass farm commodity, farm loan, conservation and emergency assistance. Some examples are the Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Crop Disaster Program, Market Assistance Loans, Loan Deficiency Programs, Operating and Ownership Loans and Rural Youth Loans.

After telling about some of the changes that were made with the new farm bill (Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008), Motley closed with a demonstration using an apple to show what a tiny fraction of the planet is suitable for food production.

Many in the audience could relate to the experiences of farm life as told by Susie Oberdahlhoff, a city-born preacher’s daughter who moved to the farm when she married. Her humorous presentation was titled “Kids, Crops, Sows & Plows: Life Happens – Learn to Bounce.”

Oberdahlhoff’s grandmother had told her, “Life is a bumpy road,” and as she began to encounter these bumps she decided people have a choice – either stop and quit or bounce and rebound. Her message for the women centered on “four Ps”: Be Proud, Be Positive, Be Patient, Be Persistent.

She closed her remarks with a challenge to everyone to stretch themselves by remembering to Be Proud, Positive, Patient and Persistent.

The featured speaker for the evening told about the many roles that women play in agriculture in the United States and around the world. Karey Claghorn, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture with the Iowa Department of Agriculture said the number of women making a living in agriculture is increasing and what these women are doing is amazing.

One reason for this, she said, is how technology is making a difference by helping to do more with less. She encourages women to get involved in policy making because it is people who put limitations on people.

Claghorn said women were meant for agriculture and know what people need to keep their families healthy. She told about the World Food Prize that honors contributions in any field involved with the food supply. She also related some of the experiences she has had had visiting Asian countries.

Claghorn congratulated her audience on their accomplishments as farmers and told them that people around the world are coming to the United States to learn research, visit farms, and get ideas. These visitors take what they learn back to their countries and teach others.

A crowd of over 200 gathers for the first Tri-County Women in Agriculture meeting in Shelby County, Mo. The gathering brought together ladies from Macon, Monroe and Shelby counties.

Speaker Susie Oberdahlhoff gives a humorous presentation on her experiences as a farm wife.

Karey Claghorn, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture with Iowa Department of Agriculture, presents information on the World Food Prize.