MADISON — The Association of Women in Agriculture Benefit Corporation (AWABC) recently elected new members to the board in April at the annual AWA Day held on UW-Madison’s campus. The AWABC looks forward to welcoming a new class of AWA members this fall and is excited for all that the student membership continues to do on campus and in the agriculture community.
Elected president for the 2017 – 2019 term was Chrissy Meyer ‘08, the US Marketing Manager for Alta Genetics. Meyer is from Viroqua, Wis. and graduated with dual degrees in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication. Meyer resides in Sun Prairie, Wis. and looks forward to giving back to an organization that helped to shape her throughout college.
Kristin Natzke Olson ‘10 was elected the group’s vice president, also serving the organization from 2017 – 2019. Olson currently is Media Relations Manager for World Dairy Expo. She graduated with a degree in Life Sciences Communication.
AWABC’s current secretary is Cassie Endres from Waunakee, Wis. Cassie currently works at Filament as a Marketing Executive and resides in Waunakee, Wis. She recently graduated in 2015 with degrees in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication.
Serving as treasurer is Jaime Sawle from Sauk Prairie, Wis. Sawle is a Marketing Coordinator at Filament. She graduated a year ago with a degree in Agricultural Business and Certificate in Entrepreneurship.
The Communications Committee Chair is Taylor Holterman originally from Watertown, Wis. Taylor graduated from UW-Madison in 2015 with a degree in Life Sciences Communication and Certificate in Entrepreneurship. She currently works in the Chicago area for Union Pacific Railroad as a Business Manager of Sales.
Abbey Wethal ‘13 is serving as the Advancement Committee Chair. Abbey hails from Brooklyn, Wis. and continues to reside in the area as she uses her Life Sciences Communication degree in her current role at Filament.
The Education Committee is led by Jodi Hoynoski. Hoynoski grew up in Berlin, Wis. and is the Executive Director of Holstein Identification and Member Services at Holstein Association USA. Hoynoski graduated in 2001 with a double major in Dairy Science and Ag Journalism.
Jessica Held is serving as the Financial Management Chair. Jessica is a 2012 Agricultural Business Management graduate and hails from Burlington, Wis. She currently works as a Lending Officer with Compeer Financial.
Danielle Brown ‘12 and Jodi Berndston ‘15 are leading the House Management Committee as Co-Chairs. Brown grew up in Dodgeville, Wis. and graduated with degrees in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication. She currently resides in Sun Prairie, Wis. and is the Central Plains Area Representative for American Jersey Cattle Association. Berndston grew up in Horicon, Wis. and uses her Animal Science degree as a Graduate Research Assistant on campus.
Co-chairs for the Programming Committee are Sami Benz and Kirsten Henning. Benz is a 2013 graduate and uses her Life Sciences Communication degree as a Marketing Coordinator at Didion Milling. Benz grew up in Granite Bay, CA and currently resides in Sun Prairie, Wis. Henning also graduated with a Life Sciences Communication degree in 2014 and is the Events Manager for Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. She continues to reside in Madison, Wis.
Maggie Seiler and Lisa Behnke ‘85 are both Directors at Large. Seiler grew up in Valley Center, Kan. and currently works as an Associate Editor for Hoard’s Dairyman in Fort Atkinson, Wis. Seiler graduated from Kansas State University in 2015 with a dual degree in Agricultural Communications and Animal Sciences and Industry. Behnke is the Marketing and Communications Director for AgSource and resides in New Glarus, Wis. She graduated with a degree in Dairy Science and minor in Ag Journalism.
Liz Matzke is the student advisor. Liz resides in Fitchburg, Wisconsin and is the Attendee Services Manager for World Dairy Expo. Liz graduated in 2005 with dual degrees in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication. She looks forward to providing guidance to the student membership.
For more information on AWA and AWABC, visit the website at: http://awamadison.org/
The Association of Women in Agriculture Benefit Corp is the alumni association in support of the Association of Women in Agriculture at UW-Madison. The purpose of AWA is to help members prepare for a career in agriculture and agricultural related fields; to aid women in agriculture in achieving their goals, to improve communication among women in agriculture and for the general betterment of agriculture.
— Association of Women in Agriculture Benefit Corporation
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