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Note to Editors: Adapted from the Kansas Profile radio series, this column profiles a different Kansan, Kansas community or Kansas-based company every Wednesday, as a regular feature of the K-State Research and Extension News lineup. A photo of Ron Wilson is available at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/news/sty/RonWilson.htm. Released: March 19, 2008 Kansas Profile – Now, That’s Rural  The kids gather around the young woman in the classroom. But this woman isn’t their classroom teacher and today’s lesson isn’t about math or reading. Instead, this woman is a member of American Agri-Women and she’s helping these kids learn about agriculture. Today, in the conclusion of our series on national ag leaders from Kansas, we’ll learn about American Agri-Women and the Kansas woman who is slated to become president of this organization. For me, it’s a story which is close to home – and I mean that literally. Chris Wilson is slated to become the national president of American Agri-Women – called AAW for short – in 2009. But for me, Chris already has a title that’s much more important: Mom. She happens to be my wife and the mother of our children. Chris grew up on a farm in Illinois. After college, she went to work as assistant to John Block, then director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. While there she encountered a group called Illinois Women for Agriculture. Chris was impressed with the many projects which this group was working on to promote agriculture. She learned that Illinois Women for Agriculture was affiliated with a similar organization at the national level called American Agri-Women. In 1981, her boss was appointed to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Chris moved to Washington, became director of public liaison at USDA and worked directly with AAW. Again, she was very impressed with AAW, and became active in the organization after we moved to Kansas. Chris got her law degree at Washburn University and now represents several agricultural organizations, plus the Kansas Building Industry Association. As of the end of 2009, Chris will begin a two year term as national president of American Agri-Women. Chris says, “AAW is the national organization of farm, ranch, and agribusiness women. Today, AAW has 54 state and commodity affiliate organizations plus individual members throughout the country, representing some 50,000 women involved in agriculture.” These groups range from Oregon Women in Timber to Georgia Cotton Wives. Many farm organizations are dominated by men, but the women have a special niche in consumer education. Chris says, “Many of our members are ag producers, but we are also consumers, mothers, and grandmothers. We can relate to consumers on issues of food safety, nutrition, and marketing.” One of AAW’s greatest achievements was the creation of Ag in the Classroom, which is a national program helping teachers educate schoolchildren about agriculture. AAW is actively involved in advocacy for agriculture on legislative and regulatory issues. Each year AAW conducts an annual mid-year fly-in of members to Washington, D.C. as well as an annual issues forum. The organization is now working on a food branding program called American Grown Goodness. AAW also includes younger women, such as several collegiate chapters of agri-women and the Sigma Alpha professional agricultural sorority. Chris will be the third Kansan to be president of AAW, along with Jeanne Mertz of rural Manhattan and Jean Pettibone of Kanorado. Coincidentally, we now live on a farm just seven miles from the Mertz farm. These farms are situated outside Manhattan near the rural community of Zeandale, population 21 people. Now, that’s rural. Chris says, “AAW facilitates networking among women involved in agriculture and provides excellent leadership development activities.” For more information, go to www.americanagriwomen.org. The day’s lesson is coming to an end, as the kids say goodbye to the woman who has been teaching them about agriculture. For example, she’s helped them understand that milk comes from a cow, not just from the store. This woman is a member of American Agri-Women, which is doing such an excellent job to educate and connect producers and consumers. We commend Chris Wilson and all the members of AAW for making a difference with their education and outreach. And
please forgive me for bragging on my wife. The idea for this series began
before Chris got elected to be national AAW president. But nonetheless, we
in Chris’ family are very proud of her achievements. Just like a garden, we
think the best ag leadership is home grown. K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus in Manhattan. For more
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