ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 11 AUGUST 2023 Finding a supportive group of professional women in agriculture and building a trusted mentor relationship with them is a great way to really start on a leadership path. Robinson, has recently been named vice president of the World Farmers' Organization. BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION Despite more visibility in top leadership roles, women still experience barriers to participation in agriculture organizations, with the CAHRC study citing balancing careers and family obligations, an 'old boys club' mentality, and a lack of role models as reasons for the gap in representation at the board table. For Barb Keith, a beef, goat, cash crop, and custom farm operator from Perth, Ontario, the realities of managing a farm, a part-time off-farm job, and being the primary caregiver for her two sons, Logan and Lucas, meant she had to make a hard decision about running for a position on a provincial agriculture board. "I just couldn't see how I could make it all work," says Keith, who anticipates one of her sons will need major surgery this year which will require several months of recovery. Keith's husband, Don Badour, is also a director for Beef Farmers of Ontario, which means he is often away from home or busy with board meetings. "Having an off-farm job makes it harder to join commodity boards," she adds. EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION In recent years, agriculture organizations from across the sector have engaged in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) training and programming to help better understand how to be inclusive and welcoming of traditionally underrepresented people, including women. Grain Farmers of Ontario's Women's Grain Symposium, an annual event held in November, gives women in the grain and oilseed industry the opportunity to network, develop leadership skills, and engage in professional development. Among the goals of the event, together with the Grains in Action program, which provides young farmers and agri-food professionals with an overview of the entire grain value chain, is to build a pipeline of interested, enthusiastic, and committed leaders who will contribute at the District level or as future Board members. The programs have been successful: in 2023, 24 women were elected as Delegates or Alternates (up from 19 in 2022), and two women were elected to Grain Farmers of Ontario's Board of Directors. MENTORSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY Leaders in the grain and oilseed industry have some advice for women who want to use their skills, knowledge, and expertise to contribute to the industry at a local or provincial level. "You don't need to start big to be involved," says Lauren Benoit, a Delegate from District 8 (Huron). "Show up to a meeting, get to know a few of the delegates and directors, then go from there. Once you've dipped your toes in, you can branch out and find the opportunities that are right for you." "Don't be afraid to invest in yourself to help round out your skill sets and your competencies to make sure that you are able to 'show up' at your best," says Jennifer Doelman, a Delegate from District 13 (Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa). "This can be training, connecting with mentors and coaches, or even just starting small and working in volunteer roles on projects with leaders you admire and respect. Practice makes perfect — leadership is a skill that one never stops being able to develop." "First and foremost, know that you have incredible value to bring to this industry, and the way you see the world is a viewpoint we need more of," says Victoria Berry, manager of communications at Grain Farmers of Ontario. "Many women work in maledominated fields and know how to help others navigate those spaces. Many of you have juggled home lives, family management and business management. But, it's just not as easy as knowing you are talented, great leaders. It often also takes working with a mentor on how to present yourself, how to find confidence, how to network and be a strong leader. I think finding a supportive group of professional women in agriculture and building a trusted mentor relationship with them is a great way to really start on a leadership path." In August 2023, Grain Farmers of Ontario will be highlighting many of the women leaders in the grain and oilseed industry. Visit www.OntarioGrainFarmer.ca or follow @GrainFarmerMag on Twitter to learn more about their paths to leadership and their advice for women who want to take their leadership opportunities to the next level. l JENNIFER DOELMAN.
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