LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A West Texas woman started an organization in Lubbock to bring women in agriculture together. In just a few years, her foundation has expanded across 10 states and reached the White House.<\/p>\n
Venessa Wood is the founder of Ag Women Connect<\/a> and the Ag Women Connect Foundation.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I just knew that there was something more that I was supposed to be doing. That I had a higher calling and a purpose out there. And I literally heard God say that you\u2019re going to create an organization for women in agriculture. To come to where they can share their thoughts and ideas,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Wood said women in agriculture are often too hard on themselves, so she wanted a space to invest in their well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the foundation of Ag Women Connect<\/a> was just to bring these women together to hear what they\u2019re doing. Because a lot of times they are on the front lines of agriculture. We know that. And they don\u2019t get the recognition for it. So, that\u2019s where it all started,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Zoom calls led to weekly podcast<\/p>\n Wood started Zoom meetings to connect with other women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those meetings turned into a weekly podcast called \u201cAg Talk: Your Story Matters<\/a>.\u201d The podcast covers topics ranging from faith to public policy.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it has been absolutely incredible to not only just showcase the different roles in agriculture that women carry, but we also talk a lot about our faith, too. And now we\u2019re talking more on the business side. We\u2019re talking a little bit more about the policy and current issues,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Invitation leads to campaign event in Dallas<\/p>\n Wood was invited by grassroots organization Bienvenido to attend a campaign event in Dallas. She said she wanted the chance to get President Trump\u2019s attention, and she did, because of a cowgirl hat.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd luckily, the day before, we learned that President Trump wanted all of us to dress accordingly to our industry. And I was like, let\u2019s go, girls. Like you could hear the Shania Twain music coming in like it\u2019s our time. We are walking in with our cowgirl hats. And I just had a feeling that day that just everything was going to align that we were going to not only be behind President Trump, but I just had a feeling we were going to be on that first line when they saw the cowgirl hats,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Wood said there were strict instructions not to ask questions or touch the president, but he reached out to her.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he…came out, Lee Greenwood sang, God bless America. People were crying…we were all tearing up. And he stuck out his hand to shake Sarah Phelan from Wyoming. She\u2019s an agriculture lawyer, very good friend of mine. And then he, he shook my hand. And so, I was ready for it, girl,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Wood addresses online criticism<\/p>\n Wood said she\u2019s no stranger to the opinions of those online. Her response is to keep moving forward and stay positive, a message she wants to send to young cowgirls.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a way, I was thankful for that, too, because it just shows that no matter what you do, there\u2019s always going to be people out there who are going to misunderstand or not support you. And that\u2019s okay. Like, don\u2019t focus on that part. Focus on the people who are in your circle, who are in your corner. And we have gotten so much support from that. And that\u2019s what we\u2019ve continued to do is just focus on the positive, keep moving forward,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Foundation scholarships and gala<\/p>\n Wood is using her foundation to give away scholarships at its \u201cFreedom 250 Gala<\/a>\u201d in November. Those interested can nominate a woman in agriculture or join the group online at agwomenconnect.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 KCBD. 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