March is Women’s History Month and the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee is celebrating women in agriculture. And one of these women is a fourth-generation wheat farmer from Conrad who’s also the 2017-18 Montana FFA state president.
“Well, it’s a very inborn knowledge for me, and a lot of people don’t have that knowledge,” said Sheridan Johnson. “So, I want to be able to share agriculture’s story across our state, country and world because it’s so important. Because we all have to eat three times a day.”
Agriculture has always been part of the Montana State University college freshman's life.
“I grew up on a wheat farm that my great grandparents homesteaded on in the 1920s with the Desert Claim Act. So, we’re called Desert Claim Farms to help honor that. I was able to learn about the history of our farm at a very young age,” Johnson said.
These deep roots serve as her inspiration to continue on her family’s agricultural heritage.
“It really inspired me to try to keep that tradition alive,” said Johnson. “Maybe if I’m not able to come directly back to the farm, which I would like to, but depending on where life takes me I would like to be involved in production, agriculture somehow because it’s so important we continue to do this.”
It’s this passion that caught the attention of the U.S. Senate’s Agriculture Committee.
“It was really incredible to be noted by the Senate Ag Committee, and they can recognize women across the country within the agriculture field because it’s so diverse. There’s me in the leadership capacity with high school students, and then there’s women out on the farm and to be recognized with that group of that very inspiring individuals was just really incredible,” Johnson said.
She hopes that by serving as president of the Montana FFA Association, she can inspire other young women.
“Traditionally, agriculture is a very male-dominated field. But especially in the world of FFA, we’re seeing young women come up through the ranks and really take the most of every opportunity presented to them in this industry,” said Johnson.
As for her own role models, Johnson said it’s her parents, Ken and Cyndi, who have always encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
Over 1,800 other young people who share similar dreams will be in Billings next week for the Montana FFA State Convention April 4-7. For more information, visit www.montanaffa.org.
Source: MTN & Northern Ag Network
