The music at the beginning? That is a tape recording of the Association of Women in Agriculture’s first barbershop quartet rehearsing for the winter ball competition at UW-Madison 50 years ago. They called themselves Tootsie Rose, the first female group. AWA Founding Member Phyllis Gerner Agnew says they won first place much to the dismay of the male fraternities on campus.

AWA is celebrating 50 years of developing women leaders in agriculture and beyond. No one knows this better than its 10 founding members. Two of them join us in-studio today. Patty Prust Heckart and Phyllis Gerner Agnew hail from Jefferson County.

Some of the highlights of our conversation: they are happy to see the social elements (sometimes shenanigans) are still a key pillar of the association. And they're amazed at the professional opportunities that members have today. They said it doesn't matter who started the organization or how long ago it was, but that it's still serving its purpose today. 

Phyllis is a dairy farmer in Mapleton. Patty had a long career in meat grading for USDA.