Several years ago Beth Osmund had an idea, took the plunge, and hasn’t looked back since.
A professional skills trainer with a wealth of experience in public speaking, Beth also farmed in Ottawa, Illinois for four years with her husband, Jody. Together, they sold their fruits and vegetables as part of a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) program. Then, in 2002, she quit her corporate job to take on farming full-time. The business kept on growing, and in 2007, the couple began selling sustainably raised and ethically slaughtered beef, chicken, and pork along with their regular round of crops. Meat is now the sole product sold by Cedar Valley Sustainable Farms, and the family-owned farm’s contribution to the sustainable food movement had been garnering attention from local press and loyal locavores alike.
Though she’d been a leader in her church community for years, Beth is new to The White House Project as of October’s Go Run training in Chicago,
“It was just one of those things that came from a lot of different directions,” she said of the push to explore more possible leadership roles. “The news of the Go Run struck me at just the right time.”
Unfamiliar with The White House Project and Go Run trainings, Beth was unsure of what to expect, and concerned that the conference would focus solely on political campaigns. She is interested in politics, but Beth’s family, business, and rural location make it difficult to consider a run for office in the near future.
“I wasn’t sure about the program before I went, but was really happy to find that although it gave a nice intro to campaigns, it wasn’t exclusively about political leadership. [The trainers] did a nice job of presenting us with other options for leadership, like charitable boards and committees.”
At the training, Beth was eager to meet more women with similar leadership goals and aspirations.
“The weekend was terrific and the program is excellent. I would recommend it to anyone. But for me, the networking and opportunity to make personal connections are always the most exciting part of any conference. The Go Run was great because I had the chance to share stories and experiences with like-minded people, which I find very powerful.”
Beth agrees with the research that many women, although actively interested in politics, won’t necessarily seek out a more active role and take the initiative without being given a little push. For Beth, the necessary nudge comes in the form of her husband, business partner, and strongest supporter.
“I’m really lucky to have someone in my life who is constantly saying ‘Hey, you should try this’ or ‘Here’s something you should think about pursuing’—someone who can see that next step and encourage me to get there.”
Chicago’s Go Run has helped Beth consider multiple short-term goals, including several campaigns for positions on boards and committees, which she now plans to actively pursue. But her biggest takeaway revolves around the one thing she works towards every single day through Cedar Valley Sustainable Farms: helping others.
“I’m definitely most interested in being aware of other people’s goals, of looking for people who might be interested in leadership roles, seeing that next step for them, and encouraging them to get there.”
