Listen in to today’s extended PAC Show with Dan Jackson & Eric Horton as they visit with High Plains Winegrowers President Bree Nelson & Representative Katy Jane Seaton. They talked about the legislation that they helped get passed in the 86th Texas Legislature. Senate Bill 1939 which is relating to the storage of grapes in a public warehouse was passed by both chambers and is now at the desk of the Governor to sign. So listen in to the show!
Commentary: Dan Jackson, Women in Ag
When I was growing up the Equal Rights Amendment group was in its beginnings and while I didn’t understand so much then…I do now…all they had to do was look to agriculture then and now for an example of how men and women work together. I grew up with a Mom that was a cotton marketer and bookkeeper. She along with my Dad took great pride in the job they did for the member/owners at Union Co-op. Along the way they were a terrific example to me of how a business should be run. The same can be said for Alvin and Ruth King, and Kyle and Dana King at Terry County Co-op. Today we have folks like Mary Jane Burkle who is Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Plains Cotton Growers, Shelley Heinrich with the Cotton Board, and Susan Everett with The National Cotton Council. All of these folks are leaders and respected for the job they do in the cotton industry. Recently Suzy Davis the Manager and CEO of Brownfield Farmers Co-op Station became the first woman to serve as President of Texas Ag Co-op Council, and is also Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Texas State Chemist. Jennifer Perez runs our office at Meadow Farmers Co-op Gin, and also works in the Meadow community in different organizations. But let’s not stop there.
Also in Terry County we have Lindy Patton and Michelle Cooper with South Plains Water District, who work to take care of our most precious resource. Lindy also works to keep tabs on legislative and regulatory issues as well. We have our friends in the Grape and Wine business. Katy Jane Seaton, Traci Furgeson, Marissa Bingham, Bree Nelson, DeAnn Seaton, and Betty Bingham who all work not only in their own family operations but work to represent the West Texas Wine Growers legislatively, and on regulatory issues. Then we have Katy Day who works in the community and serves on several boards that impact producers and ranch families in this region, along with working in their family operation on the Day ranch. Recently Lauren Decker, who worked with Congressman Arrington, is now with Rolling Plains Cotton Growers as their Executive Vice-President.
I’ve just named a few, there are so many more . While other industries may struggle to break the glass ceiling, agriculture doesn’t have that problem. We are blessed by the efforts of women in agriculture today and we will continue to see more and more examples of their leadership going forward. I visited with Dr. Darren Hudson with Texas Tech who said, “Fifty percent or more of those pursuing degrees in agriculture are women. The perspective they bring to the table is great.”
Indeed it is, and it demonstrates what can be done when we all work together to get things done. Perhaps the most important thing to me as the father of twin daughters, is all of these
Women are respected for their hard work and dedication to their chosen profession. At the end of the day isn’t that what we all aspire too?
