Virginia Cattle Rancher is National "Farm Mom of the Year"

ST. LOUIS, May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The online votes have been tallied, and Betty Rosson, a Virginia grain and cattle farmer, is Monsanto's 2013 America's Farmers Mom of the Year.

Betty's nomination, submitted by son Charles, was chosen by judges of American Agri-Women as regional winner for the Southeast. Online voting was conducted in early May, during which time anyone could visit AmericasFarmers.com, read regional winners' nominations and cast a vote for one to receive the national title. Betty received the most online votes, and she was notified of her national win on Mother's Day.

"Whether she is driving a tractor, feeding cows or caring for her family, Elizabeth (Betty) is 100 percent all-in for the job," wrote Charles in the winning nomination. "Mom certainly doesn't let grass grow under her feet, as she is always on the move for her family, her church, her farm and the community."

Charles' nomination mentioned Betty's involvement in the FFA, 4-H and Ag in the Classroom, in addition to the Louisa County Farm Bureau and livestock judging and showmanship clinics hosted at the farm. She manages all the record-keeping and taxes for Quaker Hill Farm, in addition to planning two annual cattle production sales. She is a founding member of her church and is a board member of her local volunteer rescue squad. She does all this while caring for her 92-year-old mother. The recognition is not new to Betty, as she recently represented Louisa County and the Central District and was a runner up in the Virginia Farm Bureau Woman of the Year contest 

"This is a wonderful Mother's Day surprise!" Betty Rosson said upon learning she had won. "Raising a family on the farm and being involved with agriculture is a blessing. I share this recognition with farm moms everywhere!"

Quaker Hill Farm is a fifth-generation family farming operation that is a partnership of Betty, husband, Charles, and two of their five sons, Charles and Lee. The Rossons farm hay, pasture and grain crops and grow corn, soybeans, wheat and barley to feed to the cattle as a cash crop. They also have 750 brood cows consisting of primarily Angus and Simmental. The Rossons have more than 20 sires enrolled in artificial insemination bull stud operations, and have exported cattle around the world, as far away as Turkey and Russia. Quaker Hill Farm is also home to show pigs and Boer goats for 4-H and FFA students to show.

All five regional "Farm Mom of the Year" winners will receive a $5,000 cash prize from Monsanto. As national winner, Betty will receive an additional $5,000. A check presentation ceremony is being planned in her honor for early summer.

"From the large pool of nominations from almost every state, Betty's immediately stood out," said Kris Zilliox of American Agri-Women. "Like so many farm moms, she is passionate about supporting her family, bettering her community and increasing awareness of American agriculture. She's a fantastic representation of what being a modern farm mom is all about!"

Visit AmericasFarmers.com to read more about Betty and the other 2013 regional winners. To request a list of winners by mail, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America's Farmers Mom of the Year, Attn: Nancy Hallahan, 914 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63102.

America's Farmers Mom of the Year is an element of Monsanto's America's Farmers program, an advocacy effort promoting, recognizing and supporting U.S. farmers through communications, awards and special programs that highlight the importance of agriculture.

About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com.  Follow our business on Twitter^® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

About American Agri-Women
American Agri-Women (AAW) is a national coalition of more than 40,000 farm, ranch and agribusiness women, representing 60 state and commodity affiliates. To learn more about AAW, please visit: www.americanagriwomen.org. Follow American Agri-Women on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/Women4Ag and like AAW on Facebook® at www.facebook.com/AgriWomen.

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CONTACT:
Nancy Hallahan, Osborn Barr, 314-591-2876
Gayla Daugherty, Monsanto, 314-694-6229

SOURCE Monsanto Company