The 2024 American Agri-Women (AAW) Fly-In, a groundbreaking event that brought together women from across the agricultural and natural resource industries, took place this past week in the nation’s capital. The AAW Fly-In was opened to all women in these fields for the first time in its history, offering a unique platform to engage with legislators, agencies, and professionals on critical agricultural issues and policies.

The annual June event, organized by the American Agri-Women Fly-In Committee and the AAW Road to Influence Leadership Program, aimed to amplify women's voices in agriculture and natural resources. Participants had the opportunity to speak directly with their legislators, attend high-level agency roundtables, and explore key historical sites in Washington, D.C.

AAW President Rose Tryon said about the event, “Our annual Fly-In is one of our most important events of the year. For the first time in our history, we opened this event to women outside of our membership because it is important for us to speak with a united voice about issues and policies affecting agriculture.”

Event Highlights:
Attendees received valuable insights from speakers on Sunday. The event featured notable speakers, including David R. Legates from the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, who discussed the impact of climate change on agriculture, highlighting that extremism is not helpful in this arena. Rob Gordon, a conservation expert, spoke on the Endangered Species Act.

A panel moderated by AAW President Rose Tryon, featuring Mindy Patterson of The Cavalry Group LLC, Debbie Bacigalupi, a cattle rancher, and Chrissy Wozniak, host of the North American Ag Spotlight podcast, discussing the real-life implications of agricultural policies.

Insightful speakers made their presentations on Monday during the American Agri-Women’s 29th annual Symposium titled, "Climate Change… At What Cost?" Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small opened the 2024 AAW Symposium with a message of hope and gratitude for the agricultural community. Other influential speakers included AAW Past President Heather Hampton+Knodle, William Hohenstein from the Office of Energy & Environmental Policy, Darci Vetter of PepsiCo, Rebekah Adock from the International Fresh Produce Association, Kelsey Barnes of the Farm Journal Foundation, and Anthony Watts from the Heartland Institute.

Agency, Senate and Congressional Visits:
Attendees met with regulatory agencies and various members of Congress to discuss AAW’s priority issues and their concerns.
The EPA roundtable was held on Monday afternoon. Rod Snyder, Senior Advisor for Agriculture, and Venus Welch-White, Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OARA), welcomed attendees to the EPA. Members also heard from Mae Wu, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water, and Michal Ilana Freedhoff, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

The annual USDA Roundtable was held on the final day of Fly-In. It featured discussions with representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Forest Service (USFS), APHIS, Agriculture Future for America (AFA), and NASS. This roundtable emphasized the importance of a united voice in advocating for agricultural interests.

The 2024 AAW Fly-In successfully wrapped up with the annual Congressional Reception, a hallmark of the Fly-In. At this reception, members network with legislators and industry leaders while celebrating the achievements of two Congressmen who have made an exceptional contribution to agriculture with the Champion of Ag Award. The Congressional Reception also gave the women a chance to celebrate a week of impactful discussions, learning, and advocacy. The event underscored the power of uniting women across agriculture and natural resources to influence policy and drive positive change.