Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/769560
34 JANUARY 15, 2017 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com International Fruit Tree Association launches women's group to provide education, mentorship. by Shannon Dininny W hen Lisa Jenereaux joined her family's Nova Scotia farm 16 years ago, she didn't know how to drive a tractor and had no formal experience in agri- culture. Needless to say, it was a huge learning curve. She relied on groups like the International Fruit Tree Association to push her out of her comfort zone and teach her the ins and outs of growing fruit, adopting new technologies and running a business. Now 41, Jenereaux is an IFTA board member and, along with others in the group, aims to give something back to other women just joining the industry. The inau- gural IFTA Women's Network gathering, to be held as part of the association's annual conference in February, is not just for women. Rather, it's an opportunity to cele- brate the contributions of women to the industry and to hear about the challenges and successes of some of the most recognized leaders in the industry. Women in IFTA include nursery, extension and research professionals, farmers and representatives of industry-allied services. They represent all of the diversity in the tree fruit industry, said Karen Lewis, an IFTA board member who also leads Washington State University's Tree Fruit Extension team. And when you bring women together, they usually talk about two things, she said: leadership and balance. Often, women complain that they get invited into the Blazing a trail for female growers Karen Lewis Lisa Jenereaux www.orchard-rite.com Orchard-Rite ® W I N D M A C H I N E S A L E S : C h a d H y m e l - S a l e s 5 5 9 - 9 0 9 - 0 0 0 8 E r i k N e l s o n - S a l e s 5 5 9 - 7 3 1 - 9 7 0 8 J e f f T h o r n i n g - S a l e s 5 5 9 - 9 7 2 - 9 9 3 7 R a n d y Q u e n z e r - S a l e s 5 5 9 - 8 0 5 - 8 2 5 4 W I N D M A C H I N E S E R V I C E : Justin Landers - 559-564-3114 Frost Protection Wind Machines P ur e. Po werful. Perf or ma n c e. Are you ready for winter heating? Call today to schedule your Wind Machine Service.