This 2025 YFA Conference featured keynote speaker Emily Reuschel. A speaker, facilitator, podcaster and guide, Reuschel encouraged Farm Bureau members to break free from expectations and build lives rooted in purpose.
Reuschel doesn’t come from a farming background, but she married into agriculture and quickly found her place in the industry. Today, much of her work centers on connecting and empowering women in agriculture, which made her feel right at home with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.
Her keynote tied into this year’s theme, “Shine Bright & Lead Boldly.” Throughout the session, members leaned in, completing worksheets that invited them to reflect, reimagine, root and rise, and then share their experiences with one another.
Members were first asked to reflect on their past experiences and identify the areas of their lives where they feel grounded and confident. Some shared these reflections with the audience, citing their families, faith or college communities. They were also encouraged to dig deeper and consider areas where they feel stuck or where they sense untapped potential.
Next, members were prompted to reimagine their lives. They were asked to picture themselves shining bright and leading boldly in each of the areas they had previously written down. Reuschel asked, “What would shift?” and “What would that version of you look like?”
Reuschel then guided the audience to “root” by selecting one specific area of their life, whether professional, personal or agricultural, where they are ready to grow and lead.
Finally, members were ready to step into the last part of her speech, rise. Participants were encouraged to write down one step they were ready to take to achieve the reimagined versions of themselves.
“The future of agriculture will be shaped by grounded, bold and authentic leaders,” said Reuschel.
Her speech not only encouraged members to re-envision their lives but also opened the door for honest and sometimes difficult conversations. Her keynote shone light on a topic that hits home for many in the agriculture industry: mental health.
Farmers have one of the highest suicide rates of any occupation, and with unstable markets and an ever-changing industry, many often feel stuck. Conversations like the ones Reuschel fostered are essential and can help farmers feel supported and connected to the resources they need.
“The seeds you plant in your life, your work, your community will become someone else’s roots. You’re not just growing crops, you’re growing legacies,” said Reuschel. “So, shine bright and lead boldly.”
Parker Litterick is a senior at Iowa State University studying agricultural communication. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Theresa, Wis. At Iowa State, she serves as an ambassador for ISU’s College of Agriculture and is active in Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, where she writes for the club’s magazine. She is a former Wisconsin State FFA Officer and has completed internships with WHO Radio, on The Big Show farm broadcast and with Agri-Pulse Communications in Washington, D.C. Parker served as one of the WFBF Event Ambassadors in 2025.
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