Supporting Friends, Educating Future Generations, Empowering Women Farmers

Over the weekend, dear reader, The Bean and I traveled to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to attend the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau's Women's Leadership Conference. This experience was threefold. First and foremost, my dear friend Jenna is very involved with this organization. So, we wanted to attend to support Jenna. Secondly, I feel it's important for The Bean to experience professional/work/farm-related educational programs for her personal development. Attending this conference may not be her first choice in how to spend a weekend, but it is good for her to see that young women can make a difference in the agricultural community. Lastly, it is the year to celebrate International Women Farmers, and I feel this is an important theme for us to explore. Especially, when we are making 2026 the year we expand and utilize our farm as a business. 

I treated this weekend as a girls' getaway. Two of my favorite young women were involved, so we did things that only we girls enjoy. We ate at our favorite restaurants, went shopping, and explored Williamsport with fresh eyes. It was a good weekend filled with information, lots of laughs, good food, and good company. 

The keynote speaker was Coach Kiah, a California cattle rancher and motivational speaker. Kiah was very relatable, honest, candid, and willing to share about both her professional and personal journey. The Bean found her to be very interesting, and we listened to her podcast on the two-and-a-half-hour trip home. I believe she gave my girl some insight into how the family farm can become not only a legacy but also relevant to younger generations. 

The legacy aspect is very important to me. My grandfather raised his family here. My dad was at his happiest here. My dad's life's work was destroyed, dismantled, and left in ruin. The vision he had for the future and how it would serve his family was disrespected. My motivation for this farm is to turn it into something he would be proud of, something that will honor him, something that will propagate his legacy. I can't undo what has been done, but I can try to salvage and build upon what he imagined and put my own spin on it. I think I am on the right path. 

I don't know what The Bean's future holds, but she sees the farm in her future at some level. Only time will tell, but I believe, someday, my girl will return to her roots and really dig in. I believe my dad would have been very proud of his granddaughter, and I believe that although she never had the honor of knowing him, she will do her best to honor him and his memory. 

It was a wonderful weekend, dear reader. We learned a lot, spent time together, laughed, and connected. It really doesn't get any better. On this lovely Monday, stay safe, be smart, enjoy each other, never stop learning, bury those roots deep, and keep washing your hands.