Mom leads by example

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A true leader leads by example — and so does a good mother.

“My mom is not a woman of many words,” said Kenzie House, a farmer in Clinton County. “She is not a talker. But she shows a lot through her actions. She has taught me a lot through her actions.”

House spoke about her relationship with her mother, Kristi Kretzmeier, at the 2021 Purdue Women in Agriculture Young Ladies in Agriculture Forum.

She said that her mom helped shape her views about gender roles on the farm.

“Growing up, my parents have always been 50/50 on the farm,” she said. “My mom is running equipment and making just as many decisions as my dad.

“Throughout that time, I used to call my mom a stay-at-home mom. That upset her because I didn’t call my dad a stay-at-home dad, although they are both self-employed at home.

“She helped me to change my perspective. She encouraged and helped me remain passionate and involved in organizations like this. She is the reason I’m here today. She’s also one of the reasons I work at Farm Credit Mid America.”

House is a Growing Forward specialist at Farm Credit.

“Growing Forward is our young, beginning and small farmer program,” she explained. “We offer relaxed underwriting standards and Tier 1 interest rates to be able to lend to young farmers that are trying to get that boost when they start out.”

House encouraged young women in agriculture to work hard and be involved in their communities.

Learn more about Growing Forward at e-farmcredit.com/community/programs/growing-forward.