American Agri-Women

CONTACTS Randy Myers, Osborn & Barr Communications, 314/746-1929
Gayla Daugherty, Monsanto Community Outreach Mgr., 314/276-9017
Mimi Ricketts, Monsanto Public Affairs, 314/805-2396

Local Farm Mom Among Five Finalists for America’s Farmers Mom of the Year
Online voting open through May 3; winner to be announced May 4

ST. LOUIS (April 19, 2010) – Cheryl Day, Cerro Gordo, Illinois, has been selected as the Midwest Region winner of Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Mom of the Year 2010. Day is one of five winners who will receive a $5,000 cash prize and advances for the chance to be honored as the first national winner of America’s Farmers Mom of the Year and receive an additional $2,500.

The public will determine the national winner by casting votes online at www.AmericasFarmers.com. A profile of Day, along with the other finalists, is posted online, and voting is open through May 3, 2010.
Day was nominated through a nationwide call for entries. One winner from each of the five regions was selected. Judging criteria were based on the nominees’ contributions to family, farm and community. The American Agri-Women, a national coalition of women’s farm, ranch and agribusiness organizations, partnered with Monsanto to spearhead the judging process.
Agriculture has been a passion for Day since she was a child. In high school, she convinced her father to let her raise her own small herd of Angus cattle, and she applied the proceeds toward her education at Illinois State University. Today, she says farming is “a true partnership” on the corn, soybean and registered Angus cattle operation she owns with husband, Mike. Her daughter Sierra, 12, and son, Chayton, 6, also love being on the farm.
“”I am blessed to have such a wonderful, supportive family,” says Day. “I feel strongly that I am just one member of the farming team. I want my children to learn about agriculture the way I did – by getting dirty and taking risks. Farming is a rollercoaster, but it has always been my passion.”
In addition to her work on the farm, Day spends many hours off the farm advocating for agriculture and educating others on natural resources issues. “I volunteer because I truly want to empower others to pursue his or her agricultural dream and protect the right to farm for the next generation,” she explains.
Day is a Croplife Ambassador and the Macon County 4-H leader and has held multiple leadership roles in state and national agricultural organizations, including the American Angus Association. She was also elected by her peers to be chairperson and M.C. for Illinois Ag Legislative Day. Says Sierra Day, “Although I am sad sometimes when my mother’s volunteer efforts pull her away from the farm, I understand her commitment to speaking out for agriculture so my generation will also be able to farm.”
Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Mom of the Year is part of the company’s America’s Farmers campaign, which celebrates the contributions of America’s farmers, who help provide food, energy and clothing for our growing planet.
“This is the first year of America’s Farmers Mom of the Year, and we are impressed by the outstanding nominations we received,” says Tami Craig Schilling, Monsanto community relations spokesperson and southern Illinois farm mom. “This contest really illustrates how farm moms and wives are a vital part of the American agriculture success story.”
Visit www.AmericasFarmers.com for contest details, to view profiles of each regional winner and to vote online for America’s Farmer Mom of the Year. Voting closes May 3, 2010.
About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both smallholder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

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Monsanto Seeks Nominations for America’s Farmers Mom of the Year
Program salutes the vital role of women in the family farm

ST. LOUIS (March. 8, 2010) – Women play a critical role in agriculture. Many of these women are wives and moms, which is the inspiration behind Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Mom of the Year, a new nationwide program tied to Mother’s Day recognizing the countless contributions that farm moms bring to their families and their communities.
Applications for the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year will be accepted at www.AmericasFarmers.com through April 9, 2010. From the nationwide call for entries, five regional winners will be announced, with each winning a $5,000 cash prize.
The five winners will be selected based on their contributions to family, farm and community and will be chosen from submissions describing how each nominee embodies the values and hard work that make up the family farm way of life. The American Agri-Women, a national coalition of women’s farm, ranch and agribusiness organizations, will partner with Monsanto on this promotion to spearhead the judging process.
One of the five regional winners will then be selected the week before Mother’s Day as the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year based on online voting on the America’s Farmers Web site and receive an additional $2,500 prize.
“Today’s farm moms are not only passionate about their families, they also share a common passion and commitment to agriculture,” says Tami Craig Schilling, Monsanto community relations spokesperson and southern Illinois farm mom. “These women play key roles in agriculture as they manage varied components of their farm operations, nurture and care for their families, and mentor the next generation of farm leaders. The past, present and future of American farming depends on these women, and we are honored to recognize some special farm moms through America’s Farmers Mom of the Year program.”
Eligible nominees must be female, at least 18 years old, a mother to one or more natural born or adopted persons or are the legal guardian of one or more persons, and live on a farm that produces at least 250 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton, vegetables and/or specialty crops (canola, sorghum, wheat or alfalfa); and/or at least 40 acres of fruits and vegetables; and/or raise at least 100 head of cattle or hogs; and/or maintain at least 50 head of dairy cows and/or at least 20,000 poultry (broilers or layers) within the United States.
Complete eligibility requirements and official rules for America’s Farmers Mom of the Year can be obtained online at www.AmericasFarmers.com or by calling 1-866-735-5267 or sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America’s Farmers Mom of the Year promotion, 914 Spruce St., St. Louis, Mo. 63102.
Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Mom of the Year is part of the company’s America’s Farmers campaign, which celebrates the contributions of America’s farmers who help provide food, energy and clothing for our growing planet. Monsanto also recently launched a national advertising campaign to build greater consumer awareness about the importance of U.S. agriculture, its economic impact and advances in preserving our vital natural resources.

About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Monsanto and Vine Design® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2010 Monsanto Company.