17/06/2026
What an incredible experience representing Canadian ag and farm women on Bayer’s International Year of the Farm Woman panel last week.
As someone visiting St. Louis for the very first time, I couldn’t have asked for a better reason to head south. A huge thank you to Bayer for the invitation, the thoughtful conversations, and the opportunity to tour the Chesterfield Innovation Center. Seeing the work being done in advanced breeding and crop innovation was fascinating and a reminder of how much science, technology, and passion go into helping farmers produce more with less.
The panel discussion covered everything from why we farm, to the challenges we face as women in ag, the realities our farms navigate each season, and the innovations we’ve adopted to help our operations thrive. I especially enjoyed hearing the diverse perspectives from fellow panelists, from grain farming in Idaho and Missouri to fruit and vegetable operations in the East.
It was a privilege to share the stage with Rebekah Alstede Modery from Alstede Farms, Lisa Hill from Southern Hill Farms, Jamie Kress, and Addie Yoder. Thank you all for your honesty, insight, and the conversations that continued long after the panel ended.
One of the highlights of the day was looking down the stage at the incredible women beside me and realizing how different our farms, regions, and experiences were, yet how many common challenges and opportunities we shared. It was also pretty cool to receive a standing ovation at the end of the panel, something none of us were expecting and a reminder of how much these conversations matter.
And yes…I had to wear my canola pants to make sure the North was represented 😆🌼💛
Thank you again to Bayer for creating a space where women in agriculture can share their stories, celebrate our differences, and recognize the common threads that connect us all.
Bayer U.S. Crop Science Bayer Crop Science Canada