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March 16, 2000
Women's History Luncheon March 25By SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- The 13th Annual Women's History Luncheon will be held at noon Saturday, March 25, at the Holiday Inn, in New Ulm. The theme for this year's luncheon is "Women in all aspects of Agriculture," with the guest speaker will be Sharon Clark, who is the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, St. Paul. This year nine women from Brown County who have achieved recognition in the field of agriculture will be honored at the luncheon. These women are Deborah Dove, Hilda Radloff-Fritsche, Selma Retzlaff Havemeier, Cloe Klinkner, Lucy (Mrs. Dennis) Potter, Joan Richert, Kathy Schnobrich, Nora Greenwald Snow, and Carol Speckman. The guest speaker Sharon Clark, who has been involved with agriculture her whole life, represents an important, but sometimes overlooked aspect of agriculture -- the women who work in the agricultural industry. Clark will be speaking about women in agriculture and the challenges they face by relating some of her own experiences in agriculture, she said. In 1996 Clark was appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture and prior to that time (since 1995) she served as an assistant commissioner. Clark and her husband operate a corn and soybean farm near Madison and she has partnered with him for 35 years. "Women have learned that there is a role for them in agriculture," said Clark, "It depends on what you want to do in your partnership and what you want your strengths to be in that partnership. I was eager to learn ... and you have to be a good listener." Clark said there are more women involved in agriculture than there has been in the past. She has noticed that there are more women owning land now than previously in the past and more daughters are now coming back to farm the family land after their father retires. "A woman plays various roles and has responsibilities in partnership with her husband ... marketing, bookkeeping, field and livestock work," said Clark, "With agriculture changing so much, it's difficult for a farmer to keep up on everything, just with the legislation alone ... and a lot of women are interested in watching those issues for their partner." During 1987-1993, Clark served on the board of directors for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and from 1989-1990 she was elected to serve as president of the association. Clark currently serves as vice-chair of the Duluth Seaport Authority. Her special interests are in promotion of Minnesota Food products and the development of new and more profitable markets for the farmers of Minnesota. The Women's History Luncheon is $11 per person. Please make reservations before March 22 to the Brown County Historical Society 507-233-2616.
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