By Marlee Jackson

Smiles stretched ear to ear across the faces of nearly 200 ladies who attended the Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Conference April 8-10.

Held during the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the event celebrated the impact of Alabama farmers, farm wives and industry leaders. The stacked speaker lineup included Monica Carroll — a Dale County farmer, former State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) member and the first female to lead Alabama’s division of the Farm Service Agency.

“A woman knows how to get the job done,” Carroll said to her peers during the closing address. “We’re not just participating. We are driving billions of dollars in impact. We are making decisions that impact the future of ag.”

She continued, “You are the heartbeat of women in ag. You are the strength of agriculture.”

Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin hailed women’s impact in the public policy arena. He and Federation National Affairs Director Mitt Walker offered state and federal legislative updates during the conference.

“If this session has shown us anything, it’s the influence of women,” Hardin said. “You are mothers, daughters, grandmothers. You bring a connection, a credibility and a passion no one else can bring. You are Proverbs 31 women; that makes a difference. You live differently. Know the power you have with your House member and senator.”

State WLC Chair Lisa Lake of Cullman County commended the ladies — who represented every corner of Alabama — for their work.

“Use your voice,” Lake said. “Use it forcefully with lovingkindness.”

In addition to encouraging advocacy, sessions focused on healthy habits to strengthen physical, financial and social wellbeing.

Sarah Zastrow brought humor and hard topics to the table. Zastrow is a farmer, certified exercise physiologist and host of the podcast Throwing Wrenches, Mending Fences. Her keynote comments empowered women to shift their mindsets to combat stress. An additional session emphasized exercise, debunked diet myths and encouraged social activities.

“Perfectionism is a total myth we waste a lot of time battling,” said Zastrow, the Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee chair. “As we go through life…keeping this in perspective is a great tool.”

Additionally, Farm Bureau Bank’s Neal Zeanah shared practical strategies to avoid fraud and identity theft, while Melissa Lester of Victoria and Southern Lady magazines discussed the art of creating a gracious home.

“So often, we complicate inviting people into our homes,” Lester said. “Simplicity is best when it comes to hospitality. We can become stressed and overwhelmed during times of entertaining, or we can be purposeful and focus on connecting rather than try to create something that is perfect.”

During Day 1, the ladies sported their favorite farm T-shirts during registration, which included a floral photo station, flower bar, vendors and complimentary massages. Regional meetings allowed attendees to share suggestions on ag promotions, events and advocacy efforts.

During Day 2, the conference joined with the Alabama Farm-City Awards Program to recognize successful agricultural advocacy efforts. That night, a themed Western Partner Roundup roped attendees into networking with new friends from different counties.