From the earliest colonists to the westward pioneers who built family farms across the frontier, agriculture has long been at the heart of America’s economic foundation. A new program established by the Illinois Agri-Women seeks to recognize the women of multi-generational family farms who not only work the land, but also preserve family legacy for future generations.
photo (left to right) Penny Lauritzen, Libby Larkin, Jenny Larkin
“Generations of Women in Agriculture Across America” (GoAg3) is a brand new, nationwide initiative that will celebrate three families involved in production agriculture who have been involved with the agriculture industry for three or more generations. Specifically, GoAg3 is looking for farming families with at least three living generations of women, with one generation actively involved in production agriculture.
“It’s time we honor the women who’ve been there on the farm and who’ve encouraged their daughters and granddaughters to get involved in the industry,” said Penny Lauritzen, co-chair of GoAg3.
The award, which will be given in August of 2026, coincides with the recent announcement by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer in an effort to increase awareness of the critical role women farmers play in agrifood systems.
“While this award is new, I think that Illinois Agri-Women have long been working towards helping women gain confidence in farming,” noted Karen Westbrook, co-chair of GoAg3. “Working to not only help younger women, but also have the more mature women on the farm feel more confident. We need to be celebrating women on the farm.”
Monetary awards of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 have been established through the support of sponsors like the Brandt Foundation, AgriSompo and the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Judges from the agriculture, education and media industries will select the finalists.
While this is the first time for the award, the hope is that it will become a long-term way to honor woman farmers and farming legacy – and even inspire duplicate awards in other states or within other farming or agricultural organizations.
The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2026, and the application and criteria to apply are available at illinoisagriwomen.org/goag3.
An educational/professional development event and celebration luncheon honoring the award recipients will be held on Aug. 21, 2026 in Normal, Illinois.
“We hope that those who are involved in the application process – even if they’re not winners – will come and support all of the women who did,” said Lauritzen.
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To apply for the “Generations of Women in Agriculture Across America” award, visit illinoisagriwomen.org/goag3.
