Photo courtesy of Guthrie County Extension

A Guthrie County producer was honored as one of six women impacting agriculture during ISU Extension and Outreach’s Women in Ag Leadership Conference in Ames.

Rose Kastner of Yale was honored for her unique contributions to a safe and plentiful food supply while enhancing the state’s agricultural sustainability. Rose has been involved in agriculture her whole life, having grown up on a small farm, she later married her husband Steve and they started their own small farm which joined Steve’s father’s farming business. When Steve suffered a severe head injury in 1982, Rose learned to keep record books and make loan payments. She ran tractors and combines, fed cattle, and took the night watch during calving. Steve was eventually able to help with daily operations on the farm again.

Rose has also been active in the community, serving on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency committee for nine years, and she was the first female president of the Guthrie County Cattlemen. She’s been a 4-H Leader, Youth Livestock Committee member, blood drive organizer, Honorary 4-H Award recipient, and more. Kastner received the award on December 3rd, which is chosen by ISU Extension and Outreach staff.