March 27, 2019
NASHVILLE, Tenn (RFD-TV) Women continue to make a difference in agriculture including farm to table and farm to schools. RFD-TV’s FarmHer host Marji Guyler-Aliniz was the keynote speaker at the 2019 Louisiana Women in Agriculture Conference speaking to the need for diversity and the positive impact women have on agriculture.
This conference not only helped plant a seed for those women thinking about a career in agriculture but for those already in agriculture it gave them creative and innovative ideas. Some people came from as far away as the island nation of Samoa. “I looked up and I saw this Women in Agriculture Conference and I said wow, we need to be out there,” said Amio Luvu. “Not many women are interested in Agriculture back home. It’s always the men who study to do agriculture. It’s a good opportunity going back and sharing the information with the women and also with the children in schools and also the women who are in college.”
on how to engage the non-farm community and increase their profitability as well as educated everyone on where their food and fiber come from.
“I’m so proud of all the women who have decided to pursue agriculture as a career,” said Donna Edwards, First Lady of Louisiana.
The women got to hear from the First Lady of Louisiana Donna Edwards. “It’s typically a male dominated industry so to have women stepping up and being who they are and feeding the children of Louisiana and to see them branch out. We were talking earlier with some about food from the farm to the table and the schools and to really get involved in that. It’s been a great afternoon getting to meet all these wonderful women doing these great things in the agriculture industry.”
The keynote speaker, RFD-TV’s FarmHer Host Marji Guyler-Aliniz. She’s been on the front lines, showcasing the importance of Women in Ag and how the landscape of the farming industry is changing.
“For the women out there doing it today to help them to have a platform and have connections and have them grow and get better at what they do and maybe take more of a leadership role in what they do,” said Guyler-Aliniz. “Diversity matters. In any industry agriculture as well.”
“I hope they take away that they work that they do everyday is so important to the state of Louisiana and to the nation, the communities and to their families,” said Amy Robertson with Louisiana Natural Resources Conservation Service. “So I hope they come away with feeling inspired and energy to continue on to do great great work.”
I think one of the biggest takeaways from this conference is not only that women know there’s not just a place for them in agriculture but they need to be in agriculture. We need their expertise in sharing the story not just growing great products, sharing the story not only by word of mouth but social media as well. In Alexandria Louisiana, RFD-TV’s Tammi Arender reports.