Jackie got her start in Farm Bureau when she and her husband attended a district YFA event. At first, she was hesitant to head to the restaurant because she wasn’t sure what to expect and she didn’t think she would know anyone there. All of those concerns were wiped away as soon as they walked through the door. The District YFA Chair gave them a warm welcome and made them feel comfortable. Jackie’s advice to anyone who is considering an event for the first time is to go and trust that when you get there you’ll meet people with similar interests and backgrounds. They’ll even understand if you’re an hour late because the silo unloader broke!
Jackie currently serves as the Lafayette County Ag in the Classroom Chair and Essay Contest Coordinator. In this role, she works to promote agriculture to the schools in our county and helps at the booth at the county fair. She recruits volunteers to help read essays and she visits the classroom of the essay contest winner and celebrates their work with an ice cream party. She also earned the distinct honor of becoming a member of the producer club. When asked how she found her success, she said that she simply started with family and friends; she shared the membership benefits and found that many of them wanted to support an agricultural organization.
Farm Bureau has helped Jackie connect with other women in agriculture through attending county, district and state events. She said, “The Farm Bureau is an amazing organization. I have met many amazing women in agriculture by attending events. I have made some awesome friends who are very supportive and definitely share my love for agriculture.” It is through these friends and contacts that Jackie has built part of her support network.
Jackie and her husband John are dairy farmers. She enjoys sewing, reading and spending time with family and friends. They also have three children who are active on the farm and love spending time outside. Additionally, Jackie is a Sunday School teacher at her church and is a participant and board member in the local Mom2Mom group that helps stay-at-home moms connect. Still on her bucket list is to take her family to Door County. Having been there in high school she wants to share the beauty, scenery, various aspects of agriculture and the state’s largest island with her children.
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