Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Spring Boot Camp is being held April 3-6, 2023 at the AFBF office in Washington, DC. Fifteen women have been selected through a competitive application process for this intensive training to build the skills needed to communicate about agriculture and Farm Bureau. The 18th class will enhance their leadership and advocacy skills to prepare them to strategically address Farm Bureau priority issues. Utahns Nancy Harris from Sevier County and Tiffany McConkie from Duchesne County were accepted into the program. 

Other members of the class include: Leslie Bauer (Maryland), Maggie Blankenship (West Virginia), Amber Cheatham Owens (Arizona), Kelsey Decloux (New York), Melanie Hendrix (Georgia), Lindie Huffman (Kentucky), Rachel Hyde (Indiana), Renee Keith (Mississippi), Ashley Kuhler (Virginia), Tara Luckie (Washington), Jodi Morgan (Georgia), Linda Pryor (North Carolina), and Brittany Scott (Arkansas).

Women’s Communications Boot Camp is an focused training opportunity for any female Farm Bureau member interested in advancing their communications skills to share their farm stories. Hundreds of women have graduated from the program, taking their skills further advocacy efforts, engage with consumers and lead in their communities.

Several Utah women have attending the training in the past, including Sara Harward, a produce farmer from Utah County. The intensive training helped Sara push past her fears and become more comfortable with public speaking, testifying in front of legislative committees, targeting her message, working with the media and seeking elected office. 

“I learned that I needed to stand up and have the courage or nothing was ever going to change,” Harward said. “I needed to let people know how I feel and tell them my story because if I don’t stand up and give them the positive side of agriculture, the public will only have the negative side.” 

Two sessions of Communications Boot Camp will be held in Washington, D.C. in 2023 - this coming April and another session in October. Participants will receive training on advocacy, public speaking, communicating with elected officials, social media strategy, targeted messaging and working with the media. The fall session will run October 16-19, 2023, with the application period running from June 19-August 7, 2023, and those interested are encouraged to visit https://www.fb.org/program/womens-leadership#bootcamp once the application period opens to apply.