#WomenInAg Spotlight: Kristi Boswell

#WomenInAg recognizes the contributions of women involved in agriculture during Women’s History Month (March). AFBF is proud to salute Kristi Boswell, director of congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C. Her area of expertise is farm labor and food safety issues.

“A career as a lobbyist is exciting and humbling,” Boswell said. “It is incredibly important to engage elected officials – to influence policies and affect the process on issues that matter to you,” she added. Her advice to anyone considering lobbying as a career would be to engage at a young age.

“Get involved,” she said. “Meet your elected officials. Learn about the issues of the day and find out what issues matter to you.” Further, “There are opportunities in policy on nearly anything, so find your passion. Believing in the cause is how you can be the best advocate.”

Prior to joining AFBF, Boswell practiced corporate defense litigation, including labor and employment matters, at Stinson Morrison Hacker LLP in Omaha, Nebraska. She also worked as an aide to former Nebraska State Sen. Pamela Redfield in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature.

Boswell grew up on a farm in southeastern Nebraska where her family raised corn and soybeans. She received her Juris Doctor with Distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Editor’s note: On May 1, Boswell joined USDA as senior advisor to Secretary Sonny Perdue.