Colette joined Farm Bureau in 2002 when she and her husband, Craig, needed insurance. They attended some YFA events and county events but did not become active until 2007 when Craig was elected to the county board. She then became active on the Women’s committee. She started helping with Ag in the Classroom and the essay contest. She also started helping with the Dairy Bar at the county fair. About two years ago they started co-chairing the Crawford County YFA committee.
Colette attended the Wisconsin Ag Women’s Summit a couple times, but for her, the most memorable one was two years ago. She got a lot of information from it and it is always fun to get away for a few days. She also enjoys working the Dairy Bar at the county fair because she gets to meet and see people and enjoys talking to them.
A stay at home mom, Colette also works seasonally at Cabela’s in Prairie du Chien. Colette enjoys gardening and working outside on the lawn. She also enjoys reading. Craig farms with his parents and they have three children. They enjoy spending time with family, hunting, fishing, canoeing and many other outdoor activities.
What makes you excited about the future of women in agriculture? “I don’t know if women in agriculture have changed or not, but what you hear about them has certainly changed over the years. Today, we hear a lot more about their involvement when it comes to educating others about agriculture. When I was in school, I don’t remember having a lot of classroom visitors who spoke about careers, but now people are visiting classrooms of all ages and talking about how agriculture affects them. More and more, kids are beginning to realize that agriculture is so much more than pigs and cows. There is even more involvement in the Ag in the Classroom programs and essay contest. I am also excited about women coming together and bringing ideas together. I like to connect and learn ideas from others using forums like LinkedIn, and other social media and events where women come together. It is amazing to network in these ways and learn new ideas from other women in agriculture.”
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