DENVER, COLORADO, US — Recipients of the 2024 Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence were named and will be recognized for their contributions to the ag/food sector at the 13th annual WIA Summit next month in Denver, Colorado, US.

Recipients include Sharon Beals of the Women’s Meat Industry Network (WMIN), Elzandi Oosthuizen of Bayer Crop Science and Ebony Webber of The National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS).

The Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence, now in its 12th year, is dedicated to acknowledging the outstanding achievements of women in their respective fields and their exceptional contributions to the agribusiness industry. Recipients must have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in food and/or ag, be an inspiring role model for other women in the sector, exhibit notable professional achievements and more. The complete guidelines are online, as is a list of all past recipients.

Beals is the executive director for the Women’s Meat Industry Network, food safety and regulatory executive for beaconpoint labs and founder of SKKB-LLC.

Sharon Beals

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She is known for her expertise in food quality and safety and is steadfast in assisting others in finding their place in ag, according to the nominations she received for the award.

Beals, who is now based in Corinth, Texas, US, had leadership roles with companies like US Foods, Maple Leaf Foods, Smithfield Packing, Tyson Foods/IBP and more. Her service to the industry is reflected in her engagement with the American Meat Science Association (2024 president elect, 2024 Industry & Organizational Achievement Award winner, 2021 Signal Service Award winner, past board of director member, RMC chair and past Development Council member); the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo) (board member and past chair); Women in Agribusiness (advisory board member); The Alliance for Advanced Sanitation (Advisory Board); and, the Food Safety Summit Educational Advisory Board, as well as being named a Finalist for the Most Impactful WMIN of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Beals also is a sought-after speaker and guest teacher at California State University, Fresno.

“There is simply not enough time, space or words to describe what Sharon has done for women in the agriculture industry, especially in the meats sector,” said one of her nominators, Amanda Gipe McKeith, a professor at California State University, Fresno. “She is helping mold the future industry leaders.”

Oosthuizen, based in St. Louis, Missouri, US, was nominated as a “champion of women in agriculture, serving as an inspiring role model through her professionalism, achievements and leadership,” where her “collaborative and engaging interactions in ag make her a standout in the field.”

Elzandi Oosthuizen

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This is evidenced by her dedication to education — she has earned five college degrees in 17 years — and her advocacy for employees’ professional development. Oosthuizen is recognized for her passion in improving diversity and inclusion, and at Bayer has spearheaded multiple DEI initiatives and programs that are shaping the culture now and in the future.

As a self-proclaimed “Agriculture Evolution Enthusiast” — instilled during her time while growing up in South Africa and realizing the agricultural challenges — Oosthuizen has proven her ability to influence positive change through her positions in crop protection sales in South Africa, regional business director in the United States, VP of market development in Asia Pacific and most recently working on technologies to improve corn, soy and cotton farming practices worldwide.

According to her nominator Bob Reiter, who heads research and development for Bayer’s Crop Science division, she is “a female leader who speaks confidently and incorporates candid, transparent statements that often challenge the status quo, inspiring all female employees.”

“Elzandi is a leader who consistently helps women achieve their goals with clear and targeted coaching,” Reiter said. “She’s never too busy to have a conversation. Additionally, she sponsors the Bayer Resource Group, Growing Opportunities for Women (GROW), and participates in events that coach women on smart career and personal choices. With a commitment to mentorship, leadership development and volunteerism, she’s always willing to provide support and advice to anyone and ensures diverse voices are being heard.”

As CEO of MANRRS, a nonprofit national leadership organization, Webber, based in Atlanta, Georgia, US, is focused on developing future leaders in the agricultural sector with a focus on individuals from traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups.

Ebony Webber

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During her 21 years as chief operating officer of MANRRS, she helped realize a tenfold increase in revenue, a 700% growth in staff, a 300% increase in active membership, a threefold growth of national partners and a doubling of the attendance at MANRRS annual conference. The organization now has a reach of over 8,000 students and professionals across 40 US states, with over 100 MANRRS chapters across the continental US, Puerto Rico, Ghana and the Virgin Islands.

Those who know Webber cannot miss her passion and dedication for driving organizational excellence and meaningful change with a focus on operational efficiency, strategic planning and team empowerment.

“Over the years Ebony has facilitated education, leadership development, mentorships, job opportunities and provided role models — including herself — in agriculture,” said Belinda Harter, formerly of WIA, who nominated Webber. “Ebony and the MANRRS organization have worked tirelessly to develop the future leaders in agriculture and have fed the pipeline of very talented and passionate people. Ebony has always lifted as she climbed. It’s no wonder they (MANRRS) made her their first CEO earlier this year.”