The nation’s commissioners, directors and secretaries of agriculture gathered in Washington, D.C., for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s 2026 Winter Policy Conference, where members honored the International Year of the Woman Farmer through several engagements.
“We were proud to be able to give International Year of the Woman Farmer the stage at NASDA’s Policy Conference, and we look forward to elevating the voices of women farmers throughout 2026,” says Ted McKinney, CEO of NASDA. “Women are vital to agriculture worldwide, from production to innovation to leadership. NASDA is committed to amplifying women farmers’ voices and ensuring policies reflect needs and opportunities for all farmers.”
NASDA opened the conference with a plenary session panel, “International Year of the Woman Farmer: What It Is and Why It Matters,” that examined the pivotal role women play in advancing global agriculture and highlighted how empowering women in agriculture helps strengthen and advance the entire industry. Moderated by NASDA President and Maine Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal, the session featured remarks from U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Global Farmer Network CEO Mary Boote and U.S. Dairy Export Council President and CEO Krysta Harden.
Among the topics addressed, panelists discussed how to ensure women are not only inspired to work in agriculture but are also a respected and valued voice in the field.
“Seeing is believing, and I think when you raise up other women in leadership positions, as farmers, that next generation gets to see them as well as an opportunity not only to be a farmer, to be involved in agriculture, but also to provide some leadership that their voice matters, that their perspective matters,” Boote says.
Additionally, panelists talked about how the International Year of the Woman Farmer can spur meaningful change through policy and beyond.
“Don’t be afraid to introduce new legislation; whether it’s in the statehouse or whether it’s on Capitol Hill, that would make a difference,” Hyde-Smith says. “That may not seem that easy, but as long as it’s logical and you have people that agree with you, it’s like, wow, we can get that done.”
“That recognition, to honor and to make real change, lasting change, is not just in one year. It’s not a snapshot,” Harden adds. “It’s forever changing our policies, it’s changing our attitudes, it’s changing our commitment, it’s changing the way we spend money, how we spend, where we spend, who we recognize, who we honor. This is just the beginning. This is the launch of what I hope is going to be a change, so more women will not have to have these conversations. That they will just be recognized for what they contribute.”
Overall, panelists emphasized the importance of bringing all people together to advance the agriculture industry, epitomizing NASDA’s Winter Policy Conference theme of “United We Thrive.”
“There are a lot of good things that we can do alone, even more that we can do together,” Boote says. “And this is where I think the agriculture story is: men and women, the next generation, the institutional knowledge of those who went before us, the intuitiveness with innovation that the next generation is bringing, understanding that we need all of them and all of us to be able to do that together is important.”
Your Next Read: As Women Farmers Rise, Organic Agriculture Leads the Way
