‘Just show up’: Britni Ross honored for her work in agriculture

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MITCHELL, S.D. — Britni Ross has spent her life learning that agriculture is about more than raising livestock or managing land. It is also about family, community and finding ways to make sure the next generation has a place in the industry.

That commitment earned Ross the 2026 Dakotafest Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year award Thursday at Dakotafest.

Ross, of Philip, was one of five finalists for the annual award, which recognizes South Dakota women who contribute to agriculture while often balancing family, community involvement and careers outside the farm or ranch.

The award, now in its seventh year, has recognized 30 women as nominees since its inception.

Ross grew up on a ranch in southern Jackson County and earned a bachelor’s degree in financial and managerial accounting from National American University in 2002. Since 2008, she has served as business manager for the Haakon School District in Philip.

Outside of her school position, Ross helps operate her family’s CV Ranch alongside her parents, husband, two grown sons and siblings. In 2024, she and her siblings also took ownership of Ghost Road Ranch.

Her accounting background has become an important part of keeping the family’s agricultural operations financially sustainable and preserving the family’s connection to the land and ranching way of life for future generations.

For Ross, preserving that connection is about making sure young people who want to enter agriculture have an opportunity to do so.

“You know, if we let agriculture and everything that it entails slip away, we’ve lost the backbone of America,” Ross said. “And so it’s important to me that these young kids that want into agriculture can find their way in — and it’s hard right now.”

Ross said agriculture’s future depends on helping the next generation find a way into an industry where the cost of entry can be challenging.

Her work in agriculture is just one part of the responsibilities she has taken on in her community.

Ross serves on the advisory council for the Philip Area Community Foundation, volunteers through her church and has helped provide financial education and scholarship opportunities for young people. She also helps manage the Haakon County Cancer Care Fund, an effort inspired by her mother that provides financial assistance to local families dealing with cancer.

Ross also is part of the 13th class of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership program, an 18-month program focused on developing rural and agricultural leaders. She began the program in December 2025.

For Ross, community involvement comes down to a simple philosophy.

“That’s my mantra — you just have to show up,” she said. “Show up for the opportunity. Show up for the people that you love.”

She said the leadership skills learned through growing up on a ranch have helped her know when to step forward.

“That’s what makes the communities go around,” Ross said. “And so we have to just use our leadership skills, which you learn easy and early on a ranch, to step up when you need it and to make the wheels turn.”

Ross was joined by finalists Whitney Mitchell of Tulare, Ashley Schwader of Howard, Karen Mutschler of Eureka and Aubriauna Weiss of Herreid.

During the ceremony, the finalists were also reminded that agriculture increasingly requires producers to tell their own stories.

The ceremony also featured keynote speaker Brandi Buzzard, a southeast Kansas rancher who operates High Bar Cattle Company with her husband and daughters.

Buzzard, who has written her “Buzzards Beat” blog for 17 years, spoke about the importance of agricultural producers telling their own stories and building trust with consumers. She said her own advocacy changed after she and her husband began operating their ranch because she could speak from personal experience about how they care for their livestock and land.

“I was able to speak more from a personal standpoint saying, ‘We do these things on our ranch. This is what we feed our cattle. This is how we care for them,’” Buzzard said.

Buzzard encouraged farmers and ranchers to move outside the agricultural community and have conversations with consumers, even if doing so feels uncomfortable.

“You cannot reach people outside of agriculture and outside of our little vacuum if you are not willing to get outside your comfort zone,” she said.

Her message complemented the award’s focus on women who balance numerous roles while contributing to agriculture and their communities.

The recognition also comes during the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer, which celebrates the contributions of women in agriculture.

Ross, however, was quick to shift the focus away from herself.

“I am not one for the spotlight at all,” she said. “And so I’m very, very humbled, very, very honored to have received this.”

Ross said she does not feel more deserving of the award than the many other women working quietly in agriculture every day.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of women that quietly do the things that we’re all doing every day,” she said.

She credited her parents for introducing her to agriculture and 4-H, recalling the work that went into growing crops, preparing show calves and keeping a top-notch record book. Those early experiences gave her a firsthand understanding of the work and responsibility that come with agriculture while teaching her the importance of following through on commitments.

Her mother recently described the pace of Ross’ life in a way that resonated with her.

“My mom just said the other day, ‘Sometimes you run some pretty fast times in your arena,’” Ross said. “And so I do, and I’m just grateful that they all let me do that.”

Ultimately, Ross said she hopes the award can shine a light beyond her own accomplishments and onto the women who keep South Dakota agriculture moving forward.

“If I can just represent them just a little bit and shine some light on women in agriculture in general, then I’m happy,” Ross said.

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