American Agri-Women Fly-In 2025

From June 8–10, 2025, more than one hundred leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the American Agri-Women (AAW) Annual Legislative Fly-In – an event that continues to be one of the most powerful forums for women in agriculture to engage directly with federal policymakers. The Fly-In combined dynamic educational sessions, agency briefings, and Congressional meetings with leadership development rooted in tradition, advocacy, and vision.

Among the participants was Jeanette Lombardo, CEO of the Farmer Veteran Coalition and a former national president of AAW. Lombardo’s presence symbolized the unique intersection of two powerful movements: empowering women in agriculture and supporting military veterans who choose farming as their second service.

The Fly-In began with a powerful orientation hosted at The Morrow Hotel, offering a lineup of national thought leaders focused on constitutional rights, environmental policy, and federal land use.

Marc Morano, a seasoned climate policy critic with the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), opened the orientation with a sobering analysis of the regulatory burdens placed on rural America in the name of climate action.

Jonathan Alexandre, Senior Counsel with Liberty Counsel, gave a stirring address on constitutional protections for landowners, emphasizing how agricultural producers must remain vigilant in defending private property rights.

Karen Budd-Falen, a revered attorney, Karen Budd‑Falen is serving in the Trump Administration as Associate Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Previously Budd-Falen held the position of Deputy Solicitor for Wildlife and Parks during Trump’s first term and earlier served in the Reagan administration in Interior’s legal office. She offered practical insights from decades of experience advocating for ranchers and farmers navigating federal land and environmental law.

The orientation empowered attendees with context, clarity, and conviction – preparing them for a productive week on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies.

A signature event of the Fly-In was the 30th Annual Past Presidents Symposium, titled “A New Era in Public Land Management – Healthy Forests, Grazing, and Water Resources”. This year’s symposium united current leaders with past presidents of AAW to explore solutions to increasingly complex challenges around land stewardship, natural resource access, and forest health.

AAW President Rose Tryon, a rancher and former Vice Mayor of Paradise, California, opened the symposium with remarks on rural resilience and leadership through adversity. Drawing from her community’s recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, Tryon offered a compelling narrative of rebuilding agricultural infrastructure with innovation and local collaboration.

Symposium speakers brought together government, industry, and policy expertise:

• Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR) shared his insights on public land use legislation, particularly issues impacting the West, such as forest management and grazing rights.
• Travis Joseph, President & CEO of the American Forest Resources Council, spoke about the role of private forest owners in mitigating wildfire risk and advancing sustainable forestry practices.
• Kristen Sleeper, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, highlighted agency initiatives aimed at collaborative land management and resource conservation, especially programs that directly support landowners and producers.
• Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY) delivered an impassioned speech on defending the rural way of life and ensuring that ranchers and agricultural producers remain central to land management policy.

The Fly-In also featured briefings with the USDA, EPA, and Department of the Interior, providing participants with direct access to federal officials and real-time updates on policy and regulatory changes. Attendees also visited the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, led by Michel Shaku Yumi. The AAW delegation received a warm welcome and briefing on the strategic importance of U.S.-DRC relations and learned about the embassy’s key priorities. The visit provided participants with a unique diplomatic perspective on how agricultural and environmental cooperation between the two nations can support conservation efforts, economic development, and sustainable resource management in Central Africa.

The Fly-In concluded with a Congressional Reception at the Longworth House Office Building, where members honored bipartisan Champions of Agriculture and forged relationships to advance key priorities. The 2025 American Agri‑Women Champion of Agriculture Award was proudly presented to two outstanding members of Congress:

• Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R‑WI‑3)
  Van Orden was recognized for his dedication to rural communities, support of veteran farmers, and active work on agriculture policy as a House Agriculture Committee member.
• Congressman Jim Costa (D‑CA‑21)
  Costa, a lifelong farmer turned legislator, received the award for his long-term leadership on water access, rural development, and bipartisan farm policies. His efforts to champion Central Valley agriculture and infrastructure earned him this honor.

As the 2025 Fly-In came to a close, American Agri-Women reaffirmed its role as a powerful force shaping the future of American agriculture – through leadership, legacy, and a shared commitment to stewardship, sovereignty, and sustainable solutions… for over 50 years.