Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards Honor 13 Female Ag Leaders
The Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards have named their first-ever class of winners, and 13 women across the food and agriculture sector now share the honor. Women in Agribusiness, known as WIA, announced the recognitions from New Orleans on Aug. 24, 2026. The new program spotlights the industry’s most influential women for their specific, recent contributions. As a result, growers, agribusiness leaders and ag tech enthusiasts have a fresh benchmark for excellence.
This launch matters because it fills a gap in how agriculture celebrates its people. Many awards look back on entire careers. However, these new honors focus on the work happening right now. Therefore, the recognitions capture leadership as it unfolds across farms, boardrooms and research labs.
What Sets the Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards Apart
According to WIA, the Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards are the only independently judged, discipline-specific recognitions in agriculture. The program honors executives, investors, technologists and advisors who are shaping the industry’s future. Additionally, it joins WIA’s broader awards platform.
That platform also includes the long-standing Demeter Award of Excellence, WIA’s highest honor since 2013. The Demeter Award celebrates career-defining contributions built over decades. Meanwhile, the Leadership Awards reward the most consequential work in specific disciplines today. Together, the two programs paint a complete picture of women’s impact on agriculture.
An independent judging panel guided the selection process. The panel evaluated nominations against defined criteria for each of the six categories. Judges weighed quantifiable outcomes, recent achievements and impact beyond each nominee’s own organization. Consequently, the winners represent measurable results rather than reputation alone.
Leaders Behind the WIA Recognitions
WIA leadership framed the program as a signal of where the sector is headed. “We are proud to announce the inaugural class of WIA Leadership Award honorees as they represent the strategic and operational excellence that is driving the agribusiness sector forward,” said Svitlana Synkovska, WIA portfolio director.
She added that the honorees do more than succeed in their fields. “These leaders are not just excelling in their fields; they are defining what is possible in agricultural technology, finance, talent development, and executive strategy,” Synkovska said. “Their achievements provide a clear benchmark for leadership across the industry.”
Meet the 2026 Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards Winners
The winners span executive strategy, innovation, investment, workforce development and emerging talent. In the Executive Leadership category, WIA honored Sarah Beth Aubrey, founder and CEO of The Envoy Group. The category also recognized Marji Guyler-Alaniz, CEO of AgriSompo North America, and Meryl Kennedy, CEO of Kennedy Rice Mill, LLC. Christy Seyfert, CEO of the Farm Credit Council, and Sara Wyant, founder and president of Agri-Pulse Communications, rounded out the group.
For Innovation and AI Leadership, WIA selected Sarah Hinkley, co-founder and CEO of Barn Owl Precision Agriculture. In Investment and Capital Leadership, the award went to Susan Payne, co-founder and CEO of Holistic Agricultural Investments Group Ltd (HAIG).
The Talent and Workforce Leadership honor recognized Kathy Eichlin, head of corporate and crop protection communications at Syngenta North America. Furthermore, the Advisory and Consulting Leadership category honored Jacqueline Langlois, founder and CEO of Gen D Consulting, and Krista Swanson, chief economist at the National Corn Growers Association.
Finally, the Rising Leadership category celebrated newer voices. WIA honored Samantha Shapess, general manager at Mercer Milling, and Natalie Shaw Wagner, communications lead at CHS Inc. Baylie Williams, owner and CEO of Eden Bay Advising, completed the class of 13.
Why the Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards Matter for the Sector
For farmers and agribusiness professionals, these recognitions offer more than a headline. They highlight the people steering decisions on technology, finance and talent. Because the winners come from across the value chain, their work touches producers directly.
WIA will formally recognize the winners at an awards presentation on Sept. 24. The ceremony takes place during the 2026 Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans. There, honorees will join professionals from across the agriculture value chain to network and learn.
In short, the inaugural Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards mark a new chapter for the industry. The program honors 13 women driving progress in farming, ag tech and beyond. Readers should watch the September summit, where these leaders will accept their honors and, likely, shape conversations about agriculture’s next steps. WIA, an Arc company, announced the news through its media team.
To learn more about the WIA Leadership Awards and the 2026 Women in Agribusiness Summit, visit www.womeninag.com.