Winner, winner rice bowl dinner!

ARLINGTON, VA-- Today the USA Rice Federation announced that Cheryl Snavely of Hagerstown, Maryland was the recipient of the grand prize in the "Reach for Rice" consumer recipe contest. Her dish was the delicious and healthy Wild and Brown Roasted Grape Bowl. The contest, which was promoted through social media platforms, instructed participants to submit an original rice bowl recipe during the month of September in honor of National Rice Month.  

Second prize was awarded for Beer, Brats, and Rice Bowl, while third place went to the Mediterranean Breakfast Kale Rice Bowl. 

One day all of this will be hers

The event, organized by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, and the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Munoz, included both female farmers and company and trade association leaders who shared their experiences managing farms and ranches, leading agricultural policy, and working at the helm of agribusinesses.

"The session was valuable in advancing the conversation about women in agriculture, especially when you consider that women are the most rapidly growing segment of the ag landscape," said Ward.

She pointed to USDA statistics that the number of farms and ranches owned and operated by women has been steadily increasing, from 5.2 percent of all farms in 1978, to 9 percent in 1997, and up to 14 percent today - which outpaces the growth in the number of farmers overall.

Ward shared with the participants, including Secretary Vilsack, her belief that finding effective mentors is essential. She highlighted the role of the Rice Leadership Program and the National Rice Month Scholarship, among other programs, that the U.S. rice industry utilizes to identify and mentor the next generation of women leaders in the industry.