This week, in a luxuriously decorated upstairs room of the New York Economic Club, we heard an overview of some of the most important issues facing the United States.
For Land O, Lakes the Chief Executive Officer, and Beth Ford, this is just an ordinary day. The issues she thinks about every day range from the lack of hospitals in rural areas of the United States to the competition between American farmers and Brazilian farmers.
Last autumn, in an award-winning Fortune article, I reported on Ford, focusing on her work as the chair of the Immigration Committee at the Business Roundtable, as well as the immigration policies and enforcement measures of the Trump administration and their impact on American agriculture. I would like to hear about the latest developments. Not surprisingly, a year later, we are still facing many of the same challenges.
Due to the war in Iran, the price of diesel has become a more serious issue than it was a year ago. Ford says to us, "It's hard to bear a doubling of diesel costs," whether for truck drivers, farmers, or "any economic sector that uses equipment."
Another issue on her mind is the intergenerational transition of farms in the United States. There are more farmers over the age of 75 than those under 35. “This is a mathematical problem, and it’s very difficult,” she explained. She mentioned that in a recent farm auction in Iowa, out of 400 bidders, only two were local farmers; the rest were financial buyers. “Should we be worried?” asked Ford. “Of course, the structure of the community will change.”
Speaking of this community, I later joined the event organized by Land O and Lakes that same evening, and attended their gathering Modern Rural Collective. This project aims to improve the portrayal of American rural areas and its residents in films, television, and on the internet. The event was hosted by the Chief Marketing Officer, Heather Malenshek, and it is not open to the public, so I cannot reveal too much more information (however, if you're interested in learning about this truly interesting work, you can read my article from a few months ago!).
Looking at the company as a whole, you can also see manifestations of this mindset. As Ford said to the audience: "It is an honor to be able to do this job."
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe @ fortune.com
Most Powerful Women Daily communication is the Fortune daily newsletter, focusing on and serving women who lead the business world.
The news headlines also include
Annie Carson has just won the Nobel Prize in Literature... The Canadian poet was awarded for her "bold and creative body of work," with the jury stating that her works engage in an interesting dialogue with classical traditions and have created new forms for contemporary literature.
The battle for the Lakers continues. Jenny巴斯（Bass）的 siblings have just officially raised objections to her claim that they have no right to sell their family's shares in the Lakers. Before the team was sold to Mark Walter, and then further to Josh Kushner and Bob Egger, Bass served as the team owner and manager for many years.
Michelle Obama talks about Jacqueline Kennedy. As part of the Substack new series, this former first lady wrote an article about another former first lady. She wrote: “For me, Mrs. Kennedy’s parenting approach of ‘caring about something without possessing it’ is more enduring than any design choices she made inside the White House walls.”
What exactly happened to Kimberly Guilfoyle? The former fiancée of Donald Trump, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, Jr, has been accused of asking a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 American Express bill on her behalf before a confirmation hearing.
News I Follow
- The software developer who guided the Apollo mission has passed away NYT
- Anne Hathaway wraps up her "rejuvenation" year with her third box-office champion film NYT
- What would fathers say to their sons about Cornell University? The Cut
Farewell Words
"It feels a bit like my wedding."
Olivia Rodrigo talks about her appearance as a featured guest at the all-female music festival Daisy Chain Fields after a year and a half of preparation.
