Women Changing the Face of Agriculture

The Women Changing the Face of Agriculture is a conference as well as an investment in the future of agriculture. This outreach project gives all women the opportunity to explore different career paths offered in the agriculture sector.

Our primary mission is to empower women to explore all career fields and opportunities within the farming, food and natural resources industries. Our secondary mission is to elevate the female leaders and friends in these industries as well. The Women Changing the Face of Agriculture Conference connects the incoming work force generation to those that have forged the path.

INTERACT with women in agriculture.
LEARN more about careers in the industry.
NETWORK with many women across the country.

Keynote speaker Maddie Caldwell
Caldwell grew up on a family farm near Elmwood, Illinois, was active in 4-H and FFA, and today serves as a District Sales Manager with ProAg, supporting crop insurance agencies and farmers across the Midwest. She is also an advocate for mental health awareness in agriculture.

Her keynote will speak directly to the moment many high school students are facing: deciding what to do after graduation. Caldwell will talk about the fears and anxieties that come with that choice—including the fear of failing—and why failure is not the end of the story. She will share practical tools young women can use to navigate uncertainty, stay grounded in their values, and move forward with resilience and authenticity.

Haley Underwood, one of the WCFA Event Co-Chairs, was very moved by Maggie’s own mental health journey and story of finding her path post high school and says Caldwell’s message is a natural fit for an event built around real career paths and real people. Students will leave not only with exposure to agriculture careers, but with language and tools for the questions that follow high school: What if I choose wrong? What if I fail? What do I do next?

Represented Careers in Agriculture:
Ag Business
Ag Eduction
Agronomy
Animal Sciences/Veterinary Medicine
Communications
Engineering
Environmental Science
Food Science
Food Science
Law
Marketing
Natural Resource Conservation
and more