PRESS RELEASE: WIA Recognizes Female Farmers With Demeter Award. Nominations Now Being Accepted.

NEW ORLEANS, March 19, 2026 – In recognition of 2026 being designated the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Women in Agribusiness (WIA), in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), has added a new award to its annual WIA Demeter Award of Excellence. Exclusive to this year, the award category will be for female producers only. Nominations are now being accepted through June 22.

This fourth award joins the three traditional awards that Women in Agribusiness has bestowed upon exceptional women in agribusiness each year since 2013. The award highlights women who have achieved excellence in their field or demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the agribusiness industry.

“It was more than fitting that we extend our popular WIA Demeter Award of Excellence to highlight a female farmer this year in light of the United Nations’ declaration of it being the International Year of the Woman Farmer,” said Svitlana Synkovska, portfolio director for WIA. “We encourage all women to apply for this prestigious award that continues to flourish and serve as a hallmark of elevating women’s achievements and strengthening their leadership influence across the ag and food sectors.”

The award, so named after Demeter, the goddess of the harvest from ancient Greek mythology, is presented to each recipient at the annual Women in Agribusiness Summit, which this year will be in New Orleans, September 22-24. Recipients will be notified prior to the event and receive a complimentary registration to attend and accept their award on stage.

This year the American Farm Bureau Federation will collaborate with WIA to promote the award opportunity to farmers and also be a part of the selection committee to choose the final recipient. Additionally, a representative from AFBF will greet and present the award onstage to this notable female farmer.

“American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee is excited to collaborate with Women in Agribusiness on this year’s female farmer category of the Demeter Award of Excellence,” said Isabella Chism, chair, American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. “As we recognize the International Year of the Woman Farmer, this award provides an important opportunity to celebrate the leadership, innovation, and contributions of female farmers whose work strengthens the success and sustainability of American agriculture.”  

Nominations are now being accepted for all categories of the Demeter Award through Monday, June 22, 2026. There is no limit to the number of entries, and self-nominations will be accepted as well. Criteria for nomination includes:

1. Woman with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the ag and/or food industry

2. Woman who is a positive example to other women in the industry

3. Woman who breaks down barriers and serves as a resource for others

4. Woman who consistently exemplifies professionalism

Read about all the past Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence recipients and their contributions to agribusiness here.

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About Women in Agribusiness

Women in Agribusiness (www.womeninag.com), an Arc company, is the foremost organization dedicated to leading the growth in global female agribusiness leadership with a platform that encourages collaboration for innovation and development. Its renowned annual Women in Agribusiness Summit serves as a vital platform for women to network with professionals across the agriculture value chain, build business relationships, learn from esteemed thought leaders and stay informed on key commercial topics in agribusiness. Follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About American Farm Bureau Federation

The American Farm Bureau Federation is the nation’s largest general farm organization. We are a farmer-led organization with more than five million members nationwide. We are farm and ranch families working together to build a sustainable future of safe and abundant food, fiber and renewable fuel for our nation and the world. www.fb.org