Our Alabama Farmers Federation organizes a whole slate of conferences each year, with the Women’s Leadership Conference continuing to be one of our members’ favorites.
That’s in part due to the welcoming, kind, smiley nature of our women. This year it was also due to impactful speakers like Sarah Zastrow, who visited us from way up in Michigan.
We in Alabama were so pleased to welcome y’all’s Sarah to our women’s conference, April 8-9 in Auburn. She is a superstar and was such an encouragement to our ladies about their mental and physical health!
Your Sarah brought humor and hard topics to the table. As a farmer, certified exercise physiologist and podcast host, her comments empowered our women to shift their mindsets to combat stress. An additional session emphasized exercise, debunked diet myths and encouraged social activities.
Our ladies really straightened up and listened when Sarah spoke about taking an active role in understanding family and farm finances, getting active and staying social — all ways to reduce stress.
Sarah had our 200 attendees rollin’ — and thinking about tough subjects, toeing the line well between savvy humor and hard realities. Her exuberance and straightforward tackling of tough topics brought an extra-special element to this year’s conference.
“Perfectionism is a total myth we waste a lot of time battling,” Zastrow said. “As we go through life, keeping this in perspective is a great tool.
“What I focus on comes into focus.”
Afterwards I enjoyed overhearing one-on-one conversations among our attendees as they started asking real, meaningful questions about making healthier food choices. I’m confident Sarah’s contributions will have a lasting impact on the women of Alabama.
Marlee Jackson is publications director for the Alabama Farmers Federation and editor of its Neighbors Magazine.
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