By Madeline Schultz and Lisa Scarbrough
Four women were honored with the Women Impacting Agriculture Award for their significant influence in Iowa agriculture during the 8th Annual Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Leadership Conference, held in Ames on Dec. 4-5.
The Women Impacting Agriculture Award was established to recognize and celebrate women who are driving positive change in Iowa by enhancing economic resiliency and stability, conserving natural resources, and serving as influential agricultural leaders, family members and community volunteers.
The 2024 Women Impacting Agriculture honorees are Chris Cornelius, Wendy Johnson, Julie Kenney and Janette Smith.
“Each year, the award selection committee is impressed by the dedication to agriculture demonstrated by all applicants, and the decisions are always difficult. We are truly pleased to honor and celebrate the achievements of this year’s honorees,” said Madeline Schultz, Women in Ag program manager.
Chris Cornelius
Chris Cornelius is a fourth-generation owner and manager of Cornelius Seed in Jackson County, where she works alongside her husband, two sons and daughter-in-law. Together, they manage a farm covering approximately 3,200 acres of grain and raise 300 head of cattle for market. In addition, they keep replacement heifers and sell bulls throughout the tri-state area.
In October 1996, Cornelius experienced a life-changing farming accident that resulted in the loss of several fingers on her left hand. Though the accident was deeply traumatic, she turned it into a valuable teaching moment. “I just want to be able to share my story so nobody gets hurt like I did,” she said. Using her experience to raise awareness about farm safety, she emphasizes the importance of a positive attitude in recovery and strives to reduce accidents in the agricultural industry. She regularly speaks to various groups, promoting farm safety and educating others on the risks of working on a farm.
Cornelius currently serves as the third female president of the Independent Professional Seed Association Board of Directors, which represents 100 independent seed companies nationwide. She is also the chair of the Iowa Master Farm Homemaker Foundation and has served two terms as chair of the Jackson County Conservation Board.
Wendy Johnson
Wendy Johnson and her husband, John, run Joia Food Farm near Charles City, where they raise grass-fed sheep, pigs, chickens and cattle. She also oversees direct marketing and their annual apprenticeship program, while advocating for sustainable practices such as adaptive grazing. Beyond Joia, she manages conservation efforts on her family's conventional farm, Center View Farms. Johnson is committed to community; she co-founded the Clark Street Community Garden and Edible Arboretum and is involved in national agricultural organizations, advocating for regenerative farming and climate resiliency. Her work exemplifies the fusion of agriculture, sustainability and community.
Johnson is also an active leader in agricultural policy at both the state and national levels. She serves as chair of the USDA Farm Service Agency State Technical Committee, federal policy co-lead for Climate Land Leaders and vice president of the Perennial Promise Growers Cooperative.
Julie Kenney
Julie Kenney is a passionate advocate for agriculture, food security and rural development in Iowa. As the CEO of Agribusiness Associates of Iowa, she works to advance the interests of the state’s agribusiness community, supporting policies that ensure the growth and sustainability of Iowa’s agricultural economy. She has also served as Iowa’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture from 2018 to 2023, where she led key initiatives focused on sustainability and innovation in farming, helping shape the future of Iowa agriculture. Her experience spans both the public and private sectors. Kenney worked at DuPont Pioneer (now Corteva Agriscience), where she gained insight into the integration of technology in agriculture. As a consultant, she has helped farmers adopt sustainable practices that increase productivity while protecting the environment.
On her farm in Story County, she and her husband, Mark, implement conservation practices like cover crops and buffer strips. An active community leader, Kenney serves on the board of directors for the Ankeny School Foundation and supports rural mental health initiatives. Through her work, she continues to strengthen Iowa’s agricultural and rural communities.
Janette Smith
Janette Smith has become a true leader and advocate for women in agriculture. Starting her career as a customer service specialist at West Central Cooperative, Smith steadily advanced through the ranks, breaking down barriers and creating pathways for other women to thrive in leadership roles within the industry. Now at Landus, she plays a key role in helping farmers optimize their returns through effective grain marketing strategies. As the leader of the GROW Grain team at Landus, Smith oversees a group of 18 grain experts, 16 of whom are women, empowering them to make a significant impact on the industry. One of her most notable achievements is launching the Landus direct ship program, which gives farmers the ability to ship their grain directly to end consumers, offering them greater control over incentives tied to sustainable farming and energy practices.
Smith is also deeply committed to mentoring and supporting women in agriculture. She serves on the committee for the Women in Ag Leadership Conference and frequently shares her expertise as a panelist and guest speaker at Annie's Project events, where she helps women build their skills in grain marketing.
Farm Credit Services of America is a partnering sponsor of the leadership conference and award program. Other sponsors include Christensen Farms, Cornelius Seed, Corteva, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Landus, Pro Cooperative and USDA-NRCS. Visit the website for more information about the ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag program.