Ava Splear

5 days ago | farmprogress.com | Ava Splear |Holly Spangler

Women in agriculture have many and varied roles on and off the farm, and each woman’s approach to her role is as unique as she is. Today, women can “bring” consumers to their farms via video, advocate at the state and national level, launch entrepreneurial farm enterprises and raise up the next generation of farmers — managing mud and all. These women are real-world influencers. While they may not be dancing on social media, they’ve positively influenced their families, communities and agriculture.

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Ava Splear |Holly Spangler

Ask Brady Holst what his top five concerns are for the 2025 crop year, and he’s thoughtful but decisive. “Tariffs would be No. 1,” says the Augusta, Ill., farmer, as his planter rolls across his last field. “The other four? I don’t know, tariffs might be one through five!”Holst may have more insight into tariffs and markets than the average farmer, thanks to his position as market development chair for the Illinois Soybean Association board.