This boot camp taught me that the time to tell our stories—and stand up for our industry—is now.
You know a training is going to be intense when facilitators start off with the advice of ‘lean into it’ and ‘trust the process’. Little did I know that after exchanging nervous glances with 14 other women from across the country, I would walk away from Washington, D.C. later in the week with new friends, confident in my new skills and empowered to advocate for agriculture like never before.
After completing a robust application, I was thrilled to be accepted into American Farm Bureau Women’s Communication Boot Camp Spring 2025 session representing Ohio. Participants receive training on advocacy, public speaking, communicating with elected officials, social media strategy, targeted messaging and work with the media in AFBF’s Washington, D.C. office. I was initially interested in participating in the boot camp to further my communication skills when speaking with elected officials and media outlets. I quickly came to realize that I would be gaining much more than that from this experience.
Before arriving in D.C., each participant selected a topic and prepared a three minute speech. On Day One, we delivered that speech on camera and received one on one feedback on both content and body language. Midweek, during our media training session, we sat for a mock interview in the AFBF studio. Staff peppered us with tough questions, and we applied fresh interview techniques to stay calm, cool, and collected—skills that turn us into credible, trusted voices for agriculture.
The highlight (and my biggest nerve wracker) was our congressional visits. AFBF staff armed us with best practices for meeting congressional aides and shared a Thomas Jefferson quote that still resonates: “We in America do not have government by the majority, but government by the majority that participate.” Our stories as farmers and ranchers matter only if we tell them—and participation is the first step. With help from Ohio Farm Bureau policy staff, I was able to meet with aides to Rep. Bob Latta, Sen. Bernie Moreno, and Sen. Jon Husted to discuss Ohio agriculture and the urgent need for a new farm bill in 2025. Speaking up outside my comfort zone was intimidating but having that dedicated face time made all the difference. I can’t wait to go back in September with YAP!
Our boot camp cohort spanned ages, home states, backgrounds, occupations, and commodities. Learning and growing alongside them was incredibly rewarding. On the final day, we each delivered our speeches again—and the progress was undeniable. Though our topics shared themes, every woman brought her own unique perspective, rooted in her operation and her state’s needs. Cheering one another on and hearing “You passed!” made the experience truly humbling.
One final bootcamp quote has stayed with me: “If not now, then when? If not me, then who?” It’s easy to wait for the “right time,” but that moment never arrives on its own. This boot camp taught me that the time to tell our stories—and stand up for our industry—is now. Each of our experiences is unique; if we don’t share them, who will? After completing the program, I’m more confident than ever in my ability to communicate across multiple channels—and more determined to inspire others to do the same.
Applications are open for the fall boot camp. Apply by Aug. 11, 2025. The camp takes place Oct. 27-30 in Washington, D.C.
Women’s Communications Boot Camp is an intensive training opportunity for any female Farm Bureau member interested in building skills needed to communicate about agriculture and Farm Bureau. To date, 328 women have graduated from the program. These skilled alumni provide Farm Bureau with a passionate and persuasive group of advocates who connect with influencers on the local, state and national levels.
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