Farm Bureau Women

Women's Leadership Committee

"The Women's Leadership Committee is a strong contributor to Farm Bureau, especially on health and safety issues and issues that affect the family and rural way of life. FB Women introduce people to Farm Bureau through their activities such variety shows, speech contests, women of the year, and county fairs to mention a few." - Frank Priestley, President Idaho Farm Bureau.

Check the calendar on the home page for upcoming events.

Snack bag deliveries at the state legislature.

Annual Goals

• Agricultural Education
• Consumer Understanding
• Leadership
• Media & Information
• Organization
• Policy Development
• Political Education & Public Affairs

IFBF Women's Leadership Committee

• Carol Guthrie, Inkom, chairman, guthrieranch@sitestar.net
• Shari Kuther, Nezperce, vice chairman
• Jane Ann Ward, Malad, district 1, Southeast Idaho
• Shirlene Schwendiman, Newdale, district 2, Upper Snake River Valley
• Doris Pearson, Buhl, district 3, South Central Idaho
• Allis Chandler, Weiser, district 4, Southwest Idaho
• Carole Rust, Saint Maries, district 5, North Idaho

Mission Statement

The AFB Women's Leadership Committee surfaces and develops women as leaders in agriculture through actively participating in the implementation of priority issues and educating consumers and students about agriculture.

Contests

2010 Speech Contest Winners First place winner was (l. to r.) Justin Rast from Filer High School in Twin Falls County; a tie for Runner-up was Daniel Hiekkila from Highland High School in Bannock County and Wes Freeman of Middleton High School in Canyon County.

• Speech Contest (grades 9 - 12)
  District winners compete in Boise on February 1, 2010 at 9 am at the Comfort Suites. Reception at the hotel beginning a 7 pm Sunday. Topic: The Influential Voice of Idaho Agriculture. Cash prizes to be awarded on District and State levels.
• Essay Contest (grade 5)
  Creative writing project prompts students to ponder agriculture and its connection to today's world. Theme: Idaho Agriculture Making a Difference. Deadline April 1st. Cash prizes to be awarded on District and State levels.
• Idaho Agriculture Photo Contest (ages 6 and above)
  Contest is limited to amateur Idaho resident photographers only. Deadline for submissions: September 1, 2010. Cash Prizes to be awarded.
• Art Design (grades 6 - 8)
  Promotes the arts and furthers the understanding of agriculture in our lives. Theme: Idaho Agriculture. Deadline for submissions: April 1st, 2010. Cash prizes to be awarded on District and State levels.
• Variety Show for Amateurs
  The Variety Show is tailored to attract people to participate in their own development. Winners of their county contest in Districts I & II will perform on the last Saturday of the Eastern Idaho State Fair in September. Cash prizes awarded.

For more information about an IFBF Women's activity in your county, contact your local Farm Bureau Women's Chairman or a member of the State Women's Leadership Committee.

Peg Pratt, Program Coordinator, ppratt@idahofb.org
Phone: 208-239-4228
275 Tierra Vista Drive
Fax: 208-232-3616
PO Box 4848
Pocatello ID 83205

Programs

Gold Star Award Program Application
The Women's Awards Program is a recognition and awards program for county Farm Bureaus to strengthen the organization.

Quarterly Reports
What better way to keep track of your projects than by quarterly reports.

Woman of the Year Application
Annually, the districts choose a woman to honor at the annual meeting.

Teacher of the Year Application
To honor those teachers supporting agriculture in their classrooms, a teacher is chosen and receives an expense paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom Conference. The 2010 event will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, June 24-26; 2011 in Florida.

Bookmarks

Available on a variety of subject matter dealing with commodities grown in the state, health and safety issues.

Table Tents

Five styles available for distribution on current themes.

Ronald McDonald House donations.

Leadership Conference

Annually in the spring, women from across the state meet for the opportunity to help explore ways needed to develop strong leaders now and in the future. The 2010 conference was held in Idaho Falls, March 26 & 27th. Further information is available from your county or state women's chairman.

Food Check-Out Day

County and state women celebrate Food Check-Out Week with donations to Ronald McDonald House in Boise. In February 2010, over $1,200.00 in donations of cash and commodities were made to the House from across the state. In addition, the Women's Leadership Committee prepared dinner for the 19 resident families. The Committee also provided snack bags of Idaho commodities to members of the Legislature, Governor and Lt. Governor.

Women's group at Ronald McDonald House.

County History

History books keep the most interesting record of yearly activities and can be a great help in the years to come to other chairmen.

Health & Safety

Goals of the IFB Health/Safety Committee are incorporated and supported by the Women's Leadership Committee. New materials have been obtained to assist the counties in their program. In addition to the GlitterBug Handwashing kit, a gravity flow wagon, magnetic display, bulletin board templates, ABC story book and CD; Ride Safe, Ride Smart DVD; A Guide to Off-Hwy Riding DVD; plus ATV guides for youth and parents have been added. A newsletter is distributed containing project ideas and website addresses. A Health Fair is held at the annual meeting of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.

2010 Women's Leadership Conference

Judy Woody and Margene Harris with group on the Melaleuca Tour.

Meghan Zielinski listening to Shari Kuther at Health & Safety Roundtable.

Sherrie Jo Garner - Great job on the Brainteaser game!