State Women’s Leadership Committee

Left to right: Lou Nave, Cannon County; Valerie Teal, Coffee County; Brenda Baker (Chair), Obion County; Gloria Larrance (Vice Chair), Jefferson County; Crystal Norwood, Henry County; Julie Giles (OYW), Marshall County; and Dawn Groves, Sumner County.

County Women’s Leadership Committees

District I
Chairman
Crystal Norwood
Henry Co.
District II
Chairman
Dawn Groves
Sumner Co.
District III
Chairman
Valerie Teal
Coffee Co.
District IV
Chairman
Lou Nave
Cannon Co.
District V
Chairman
Gloria Larrance
Jefferson Co.
Benton Bedford Bledsoe Cannon Anderson
Carroll Cheatham Bradley Clay Blount
Chester Davidson Coffee Cumberland Campbell
Crockett Dickson Franklin Dekalb Carter
Decatur Giles Grundy Fentress Claiborne
Dyer Hickman Hamilton Jackson Cocke
Fayette Houston Loudon Macon Grainger
Gibson Humphreys Marion Morgan Greene
Hardeman Lawrence McMinn Overton Hamblen
Hardin Lewis Meigs Pickett Hancock
Haywood Lincoln Monroe Putnam Hawkins
Henderson Marshall Moore Scott Jefferson
Henry Maury Polk Smith Johnson
Lake Montgomery Rhea Trousdale Knox
Lauderdale Perry Roane Van Buren Sevier
Madison Robertson Sequatchie Warren Sullivan
McNairy Rutherford White Unicoi
Obion Stewart Union
Shelby Sumner Washington
Tipton Wayne
Weakley Williamson
Wilson

If you’re interested in getting involved in your county Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership program, contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. You can find that contact information here.

Get to Know the Committee

Brenda Baker – Chair

Farm Family: Baker Farms – Brenda’s husband, Sam, and his brother, O’Neil, and their son, Robbie
Crops & Livestock: Corn and soybeans
Farm Legacy: 8th generation
Farm Location:
Obion County
Farm Bureau Membership: 40+ years

My husband, Sam, and I live in Obion County where we’ve been married for almost 60 years. We have four children: Marcia, Jenifer, Carol and Robbie, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Baker Farms consists of more than 3,000 acres of row crops, where I do all the bookkeeping. After my family, farm and church, my loves are Farm Bureau, the Obion County Public Library and the Obion County Fair. I also serve as the election officer during elections for the Obion precinct. All in all, I love the farm, and I am so glad that we had the opportunity to raise our family here. I don’t think there is a better way of life or a better place to live than in Tennessee.

Crystal Norwood – District I

Farm Family: Norwood Farms – Crystal’s husband, Grant and his parents
Crops & Livestock: Corn, soybeans and winter wheat
Farm Legacy: Fifth generation
Farm Location:
Henry & Carroll Counties
Farm Bureau Membership: 38+ years

My husband, Grant, and I live in Mansfield with our three children: Karamaneh, Caleb and Lauren. We farm the same land Grant’s family settled on in 1894, and our operation is 100% no-till row crop operation with more than 3,000 acres of yellow corn, soybeans and winter wheat. I stay home with our children and work on the farm full-time. I have held several offices in our YF&R group, Women’s Leadership Committee and our county Farm Bureau board. I am honored to hold this position and grateful to the ladies of my district and the state. I enjoy doing Ag in the Classroom activities and promoting agriculture.

Dawn Groves – District II

Farm Family: Chuck (husband) and Shelia Groves (Chuck’s mother)
Crops & Livestock: Corn, soybeans and wheat
Farm Legacy: Fifth generation
Farm Location:
Sumner County
Farm Bureau Membership: 34+ years

Chuck and I have been married since 2010. Together we have four adult children and three beautiful granddaughters. The crop land on the family farm that we live on is now being leased since Chuck’s father suffered a stroke in 2018 and then passed away in 2021. After 31 years of teaching in elementary schools, I retired in 2014. A few months later, I started babysitting the first of our grandchildren and continue doing that now. Chuck and I are both active in our church, Portland Church of Christ, teaching and working with the youth. I have enjoyed being able to be back in the school system with the work I do through Ag in the Classroom. We enjoy our work on our county Farm Bureau promoting and advocating agriculture across the area.

Valerie Teal – District III

Farm Family: Her husband, AJ, and children
Crops & Livestock: Corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and dairy cattle
Farm Legacy: Fourth generation
Farm Location:
Morrison, Coffee County
Farm Bureau Membership: 20+ years

My husband, AJ, and I live in the Morrison area of Coffee County. We have three children: Blake, Caroline and Beau. My family farms corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and dairy cattle. I have been teaching for 18 years – first in the classroom for 11 ½ years, and the past 7 ½ years in the library at a rural PK3-5th grade school. I am also a consultant for Ag in the Classroom, where I am able to share my passion for agriculture and literacy with fellow teachers.  We are active members in Manchester First Baptist Church, where I sing in the choir and am on the Praise and Worship Team. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and attending dairy cow shows with my children.

Lou Nave – District IV

Farm Family: Heritage Hollow Farms – with daughters and son-in-law
Crops & Livestock: Market lambs, breeding sheep, beef cattle and Tennessee walking horses
Farm Legacy: Sixth generation
Farm Location:
Cannon County
Farm Bureau Membership: 30+ years

My family operates a farm that’s been in my family for more than 150 years. I serve as field representative for Tennessee Congressman John Rose. I have worked with the Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Virginia Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association, MTSU Alumni Relations Office and as a public school teacher. I serve on the Cannon County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the Cannon County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, and Cannon County Rescue Squad Board of Directors. I am a graduate of American Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Boot Camp. I am a member of the Rutherford Farmer’s Cooperative, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association and the National FFA.

Gloria Larrance – District V

Farm Family: Her husband, Nick and three sons, Beau, Nate and Drew
Crops & Livestock: Beef cattle and hay
Farm Legacy: 5th generation
Farm Location:
New Market in Jefferson County
Farm Bureau Membership: 30+ years

My husband, Nick and I live in New Market with our three sons. I was raised on a small dairy farm and currently live in the Rocky Valley community where we primarily raise beef cattle and hay. We are active members of New Market Baptist Church where Nick and I have attended our entire lives. I am a Certified Public Accountant and work for Duane Cline, CPA, LLC in Morristown. I am also the part-time City Recorder for the City of New Market. I serve on the Jefferson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, and am also the Jefferson County Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman and also serve as the Vice Chairman for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. In my spare time, I enjoy watching my boys at football and baseball games and especially love watching them show pigs. Agriculture is a very important part of my life, and I enjoy every opportunity to educate and advocate for this industry.

Julie Giles – 2023 YF&R Outstanding Young Woman

Farm Family: Doug (husband), daughters (Baylann, Hattie & Caroline)
Crops & Livestock: Beef cattle
Farm Legacy: 3rd generation
Farm Location:
Lewisburg in South Central Tennessee
Farm Bureau Membership: 15+ years

My husband Doug and I live in Marshall County with our three daughters. We raise registered Simmental cattle. I work as the director of the Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee. I serve on the Marshall County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Marshall County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, and Marshall County Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. I assist in planning and coordinating our annual farm day along with other ag in the classroom activities. Our family loves to spend time together at softball games or at pig shows. Agriculture has always been a part of my life and I am happy to be able to pass that on to my daughters.