MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — With 2026 designated as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is shining a spotlight on three women who have dedicated their careers to protecting the financial well-being of farmers and rural communities across Virginia.
Leah Roller, from Hanover County, came to Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. without any farming background when she started as an insurance agent three decades ago. She famously traded her high heels for muck boots, literally walking through cow pastures alongside farmers to conduct coverage reviews and better understand their daily operations.
That hands-on approach helped build a career grounded in trust, earning her numerous state and national awards and making her the company’s first woman to serve as a regional sales manager.
Today, Roller oversees approximately 135 agents, agency managers, member service specialists, and associate agents across the northern portion of Virginia. She mentors teams that help Farm Bureau members protect their families, farms, and businesses.
“Farming isn’t just an occupation, it’s a way of life,” she said. “Our members are creating a legacy to pass down through generations, and we’re helping protect what they’ve built. It’s a rewarding challenge.”
Roller noted that more women are now leading discussions about insurance, risk management, and long-term planning — a shift she views as significant. Being the first woman in her position has made the path “even more meaningful.”
“I’ve seen it as an opportunity to pave the way for future women leaders,” she added.
Sharon Ambrose of Essex County works as one of the company’s regional crop agents, and her approach to the job is deeply personal. She describes her role as showing up for farmers even when they don’t need her, simply to check in and make sure they’re doing alright.
Ambrose manages relationships with farmers, helping them obtain and maintain insurance policies throughout the entire life of those policies, all while keeping up with constantly shifting federal regulations and evolving coverage needs.
“Crop insurance is an essential tool because the markets change so often these days, the prices of inputs are increasing, and it’s so hard to put all that money into a crop and not get anything back if we have another dry year like 2024,” she said. “It keeps them afloat so they can be around next year.”
For Ambrose, the greatest satisfaction comes from truly understanding each farmer’s operation and customizing coverage to fit their unique situation — whether that means a phone call or a visit to the farm.
“I would be perfectly happy doing this until I retire,” she said.
Kim Price, originally from Pulaski County, spent the bulk of her career in underwriting at Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., retiring this spring as farm and field underwriting manager. Under her watch, the company’s Farm New Business Written Premium climbed to $3.7 million in 2025.
“This is the highest we’ve seen in years,” she said in March. “It’s a joint effort among the sales force, field underwriting, and the farm underwriting team to bring these numbers in.”
Price reflected on how much the farm division has changed since she began, noting that the company once focused primarily on traditional operations like cattle and crop farms.
“But it’s very different than when we first got started years ago,” she said. “Our farm operations are becoming very diverse, and we’ve adjusted to that. We want to keep the momentum going!”
