ISA Attends 2023 Women in Agribusiness Summit

By Olivia Key

During the last week of September, ten Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) staff members attended the 2023 Women in Agribusiness Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. Attendees included Executive Employee Relations, Nicole Butler; Human Resources Coordinator, Riley Cochran; Executive Administrator to the CEO, Cathy Payne; Communications Manager, Claire Weinzierl; Communications Coordinators, Lexi Hoffman and Olivia Key; Market Development Coordinator, Jaidyn Miller, Agronomic Programs Coordinator, Deanna Burkhart; Agronomy Team Coordinator, Connie Copley; and Outreach Coordinator, Noelle Neef.

ISA was once again a proud sponsor of the Women in Agribusiness Summit, which began on Tuesday, September 26, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Keynote speaker Meggie Palmer, a globally renowned speaker and founder of PepTalkHer, kicked off the conference by delving into the importance of writing your own success story. Palmer believes that our personal stories are not only a reflection of who we are, but they also play a significant role in shaping our confidence levels. Her presentation was truly inspiring, leaving attendees eager to continue their own personal and professional development. From there, attendees heard from agricultural professionals from across the U.S. on various topics, including the current policy landscape, artificial intelligence and how governance from an organization’s board of directors is crucial to success.

The second day began with a panel comprised of female leaders from FMC, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Bayer, moderated by GROWMARK’s Director of Innovation, Heather Thompson, and the group discussed their perspective of the agricultural inputs industry. Following the opening presentation, attendees were able to choose from a variety of breakout sessions that covered topics from bio-based crop solutions and biofuel markets to talent recruitment trends in agribusiness. The day commenced with a panel of female producers who shared their ideas, concerns, and messages to the rest of the supply chain. Following the panel discussion, ISA staff attended a reception hosted by Syngenta, where we enjoyed a live band, firepits with s’mores, Nashville BBQ, and games like cornhole and ping pong.

On the third and final day, attendees first sat in on six presentations that all covered diverse innovations that are changing the future of agriculture and food, like Impossible Foods, a company that uses the heme found in soybeans to produce plant-based meat. Following the presentations, two female leaders from ADM gave a presentation on regenerative agriculture, its increasing importance and how organizations like ADM are utilizing it to move toward broader sustainability.

Overall, the 2023 Women in Agribusiness Summit proved to be an enlightening and empowering experience for the ten ISA staff members. As proud sponsors of this event, we had the privilege of immersing ourselves in a wealth of knowledge and inspiration over the course of three days. The summit not only reinforced the vital role women play in the agriculture industry but also highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of agriculture. ISA looks forward to continuing its support of Women in Agribusiness and utilizing the knowledge gained to drive positive change in the soybean industry.