SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Agriculture is one of South Dakota’s leading industries, but for women in the career field, it can be hard to connect with other women on the same path.
Rebecca Blue has been involved in agriculture for most of her life. She grew up in South Dakota, earned her master’s degree at South Dakota State University and set out for a career in Washington D.C.
“It was kind of a path I hadn’t imagined taking. I went out and did an internship with the Agronomy Crop and Soil Science Society and realized science policy was a career you could have. I loved it. I was hooked,” Blue said.
She eventually moved to Argentina before making her way back home.
“I realized when it was time to look for an opportunity in South Dakota, I just didn’t have a network in ag in South Dakota,” Blue said.
So she started a podcast, called “The Best Job in South Dakota.”
“Women have always played an important role in my own career in agriculture, and I thought, ‘Gosh, if we could help spread their stories and highlight the amazing work they’re doing, that would be wonderful, so let’s do it,'” Blue said.
Blue’s podcast helped her create a network.
“I always like to say that networking clearly works because through networking, we were able to find a funding opportunity for the larger networking project, which we’re just launching now,” Blue said.
Blue’s goal with her new project, Blue Consulting, is to help connect women in agriculture in South Dakota.
“How can we help to bring about collaboration and really open them up to some opportunities in leadership? Because at the end of the day, I would love to see more women in ag getting involved in leadership positions,” Blue said.
Her idea impressed Angela Ehlers of the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts and Colete Kessler of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who both helped the project earn a $1.2 million grant.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re in urban or rural areas. We need to develop that female leadership to bring another perspective to the boards in another capacity,” Ehlers said.
“We’ve got great people across the state and sometimes we just need to do a little connecting. And that’s why I believe in this project,” Kessler said.
Blue also set up an advisory committee. Liv Stavick of the South Dakota Agri-Business Association is one of the members.
“The advisory committee was formed to establish recommendations for the program to support women in growing their networks, fostering connections and providing professional development opportunities, and ultimately enhancing the leadership development capacity in South Dakota,” Stavick said.
Now, with everything in place to get the project off the ground, the people involved believe it can grow into something special.
“I just can’t believe how all of this has come together, all of the support, which just makes me realize why something like this would be such a great success,” Blue said.
“We’ve created that permanent network that continues to encourage women to become involved in leadership capacity around the world in time, but let’s just start in South Dakota now,” Ehlers said.
Blue and her team also set up network hubs in six different cities across the state and created a survey. The feedback they hear will help them understand how they can meet the needs of South Dakota women in agriculture. You can find a link to the survey here.
