American Agri-Women

December 20, 2011, ALMA, Kan.– The LEAVEN award is the highest honor bestowed on a member of American Agri-Women. Nominated by her peers, these women exemplify the meaning of the words that make up ‘LEAVEN’: Loyalty, Enthusiastic, Anticipatory, Valiant, Effectiveness and Nurturing. The first Awards Committee (1977) came up with the word “Leaven” as a means of evaluating the candidates. “Leaven” (yeast) is a small element that can interact and influence everything around it. It permeates and raises the elements it’s mixed with. Leaven multiplies its effectiveness for good. AAW presents the LEAVEN AWARD to those persons who, to an outstanding degree, have acted as “leaven”, a truly feminine concept since “lady” means giver of bread.

2011 recipient, Carol Chandler of California, was nominated by California Women for Agriculture (CWA). Carol is a partner at Chandler Farms, LP with her husband Bill. She handles the business administration for the operation. They grow grapes for raisins and wine, as well as almonds, peaches, plums and nectarines. Carol was raised as a ‘city girl’ in the San Fransico Bay area and has grown into a dedicated advocate for agriculture. Daily, Carol can be found actively advocating for ag labor, endangered species, education and water supply reform, as well as underscoring the need for a domestic food supply and a healthy agricultural economy as a matter of national security.

Carol is currently serving on the California State University Board of Trustees, appointed by the governor. She also serves on California Grape and Tree Fruit League Board of Directors, as well as their Labor committee; the California Women for Agriculture Board of Directors as the Federal Tax Force Director; and the American Agri-Women Board of Directors as the Ag Business & Economics Chair. In 2006, Common Threads bestowed upon Carol the first Tapestry Award to recognize her commitment to education and to improving the health of the agricultural industry in California. Carol has served on many boards, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets, the California Post-secondary Education Commission and served on the Iniversity of California Board of Regents. She served as State President of California Women for Agriculture and was honored as one of the California State Legislature’s Women of the Year in 1992 and 2002.

When she is not busy with the organizations mentioned, Carol enjoys playing golf, reading and traveling. She and Bill have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and a new grandson.

Congratulations to Carol Chandler, a 2011 recipient of the prestigious American Agri-Women LEAVEN Award.

Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers; advocate for agriculture; and provide networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW web site for more information and to join, www.americanagriwomen.org. Find AAW on social media at: Facebook.com/AgriWomen/ and Twitter.com/Women4Ag/ (@Women4Ag.)
 

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Contact: Abby Amick, Vice President of Communications, communications@americanagriwomen.org, 620-271-2953