Key facts
- Women in Agribusiness (WIA) named four recipients for the 2026 Demeter Award of Excellence.
- The honorees are Krysta Harden (U.S. Dairy Export Council), Dr. Magan Lewis (Bayer Crop Science), Emily Metz (American Egg Board), and Terri Hawbaker (Grazeway Dairy Farms).
- Terri Hawbaker received the inaugural "Female Farmer of the Year" award, coinciding with the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
- The awards recognize exceptional performance and contributions to agribusiness.
- Recipients will be honored at the 15th annual WIA Summit in New Orleans, September 22-24.
Women in Agribusiness (WIA) has announced the recipients of its 2026 Demeter Award of Excellence, the organization's highest honor recognizing women for their exceptional performance and contributions to agribusiness. The four honorees are Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council; Dr. Magan Lewis, senior director of Innovation & Enterprise Operations at Bayer Crop Science; Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board; and Terri Hawbaker, owner of Grazeway Dairy Farms.
This year, a new "Female Farmer of the Year" category was introduced in celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Terri Hawbaker is the inaugural recipient of this award. Harden, the first woman to lead the U.S. Dairy Export Council, has directed global strategies that contributed to U.S. dairy exports reaching approximately $9.6 billion in 2025. Lewis holds a Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics and has over 15 years of experience in the agricultural science sector. Metz, one of the youngest CEOs in U.S. agricultural commodities, has led the American Egg Board since 2020 and spearheaded responses to industry crises.
The Demeter Award, named after the Greek goddess of the harvest, is in its 14th year and has recognized over 40 women. This year's selection process involved more than 60 nominations, with some individuals receiving multiple nominations. The recipients will be honored on stage at the 15th annual WIA Summit, scheduled to take place in New Orleans from September 22-24.