American Agri-Women

COLORADO AGRI-WOMEN ARE “MILE HIGH!"
 

Bennett, CO (AgPR), January 25, 2010 -- Colorado Agri-Women are a mile high with enthusiasm after organizing a new state group in Denver last Friday.

Fifteen Colorado women met with three national officers of American Agri-Women (AAW) and agreed, as one participant put it, that “women have to be involved". Many more have communicated that they want to be partners in this movement.

Danell Kalcevik of Bennett was elected president at the founding meeting. She and her husband, Kent, represent the fourth generation of a farm family in Eastern Colorado that raises wheat, millet, sunflowers and cattle.

Danell became acquainted with AAW members at a Syngenta Leadership Conference in North Carolina last spring and wanted to join the team. She commented that she liked AAW’s vision statement: “We are a force for truth, a reasoned, non-partisan voice for the agricultural community to the public.”

Janell Reid of Ordway is vice president of Colorado Agri-Women. Her husband, John, was president of the Colorado Independent Cattle Growers Assn. last year and her background is in the cattle business. Although married to a rancher for 37 years, she grew up in the Denver suburbs and understands the city woman’s point of view.

Becky Ravenkamp of Hugo is the first secretary. She and her husband, Scott, are part of a family operation that is exclusively dryland farming, raising wheat, corn, millet and sunflowers. She teaches special education and had to reschedule a school meeting in order to attend.

Treasurer is Korry Lewis, a senior at West Texas A&M, who will be back on her family’s Muddy Valley Ranch south of LaJunta in the spring. In order to join, women may send a check for $40 (which includes both state and national dues) to: Korry Lewis, 43200 Highway 109, Kim, CO 81049.

Colorado Agri-Women will meet again to vote on by laws and elect district directors prior to the AAW midyear meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver, April 8-11. There will be a welcome reception honoring Colorado Agri-Women on April 8.

National president Chris Wilson of Manhattan, KS, said, “We’re excited to have this lively group of women join us in American Agri-Women. They will be strong advocates for agriculture and capable of meeting the challenges we know lie ahead.”

AAW is the nation’s largest national coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women with 53 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliate organizations throughout the country. AAW is a volunteer organization working to provide true information about agriculture to the public since 1974.