WIA Summit 2026 Week: Share in the Stories
By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, Women in Agribusiness Media (September 22, 2026)
We're at the 15th annual Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit this week in New Orleans! 🌾🎉 If you couldn't make it this year (we miss you! 💛), here are some ways to follow along and share the stories of the Summit from afar. 📱✨
Meet the first-ever recipient in the Female Farmer category of the WIA Demeter Award of Excellence, Terri Hawbaker. In this interview, Hawbaker is interviewed by Eliza Petry of RFD News (a longtime supporter and partner/sponsor of WIA), noting “I could think of many women who are very deserving of this award, and I’m just quite honored.”
Hawbaker was nominated by a local marketing manager from Farm Credit, for her work on Grazeway Farms in Pewamo, Michigan, a pasture-based, seasonal dairy that she and her late husband started in 2002. Listen to this four-plus minute video for all the details.
What’s on the agenda you ask? Successful Farming, a longtime WIA media partner, has the details. From new ag legislation to building artificial intelligence literacy to ag innovation, it’s all being discussed in New Orleans this week.
From muddy boots to boardrooms, RFD-TV covers ag. In this episode of Dirt Diaries with host Kirbe Schnoor, WIA Portfolio Director Svitlana Synkovska explains the philosophy and community behind Women in Agribusiness, and spills the dirt on some of her favorite ag things — not to mention her passion for championing women in ag leadership. Watch now.
And North American Ag's Chrissy Wozniak interviewed Susan Backus of the Meat Institute to discuss What Changing Food Trends Mean for Animal Agriculture. Tune in for the discussion on changing consumer food trends, nutrient density, affordability, federal nutrition policy, and the growing influence of GLP-1 medications on how Americans eat. Backus also previewed her upcoming Food Consumption Trends and Nutrition Policy Panel at the Women in Agribusiness Summit this week. Listen to the podcast.
And to highlight the International Year of the Woman Farmer, WIA Summit features three sessions on female farmers, and a new category for its Demeter Award of Excellence. WIA worked in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation to review, select and promote this outstanding farmer, who will be recognized on stage.
“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 of the AFB 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. Learn more.
Rounding out over 20 sessions featuring more than 60 expert speakers, and hours of dedicated networking time are special activities that include a tour to the CHS grain terminal in Myrtle Grove, Louisiana; a local coffee and beignet walking tour with a focus on the women making history in New Orleans; a special Members Only Night Out; an off-site reception to Mardi Gras World and more!
Tune in for Summit takeaways and updates next week.
We’ll look for you in 2027!
