Ag Issues Mini-Series: #ILookLikeAFarmer

Writer’s note:  As a finalist in the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Excellence in Agriculture competition, I had the opportunity to share my background and contributions to agriculture, but also pressing issues I see impacting agriculture today.  I’ll be covering these issues in my blog.

Over the last five years I’ve worn multiple “hats” as I’ve started farming. I love the hashtag, #ILookLikeAFarmer,” because farmers aren’t just grey-haired old men (nothing personal to my more-seasoned counterparts).   

While working in my off-farm career in education and communications, I’ve been able to gradually get my own farm started – raising goats for meat.  As my farm has grown I made the tough decision to transition out of my off-farm career to focus solely on the farm. What’s been the most interesting part of making this transition as a female farmer is seeing the perception of women in agriculture – something I never saw before when I worked in ag communications and education.

As a family we decided to keep my son in daycare part time, I was really surprised by some of the comments and impressions even my friends in agriculture had. One of my closer friends even asked me how I convinced my husband to keep our son in daycare while I was at home.  If Scott was the one farming no one would have even thought twice about this decision.  This is just one example. Friends and colleagues who farm or have jobs that serve farmers (who happen to be women) have shared their own similar stories with me as well.

Women in Agriculture

31% farmers in WI (USDA)
70% collegiate Farm Bureau members
60% UW-River Falls, 50% UW-Platteville

While the agricultural industry has come a long way in becoming an open environment for women, there’s still an underlying, often unintentional perception of the role a women plays in production agriculture, and even the jobs that support this field.  More and more women are becoming sole farm owners, or are sharing the decision making with their husbands or families, and also working in careers that directly work with farmers. More young women are planning to work in agriculture. Are we really doing our best to make this an open, welcoming environment?

You might be thinking: Why should I care? Isn’t this a women’s issue?  We should work to shift mindsets for a few reasons. On a personal level we all have connections to women:  daughters, grandchildren, wives, girlfriends, sisters and friends.  From an industry perspective there will be a huge shift in the workforce in the near future. Baby boomers will be retiring in business and farming. There will be a greater number of women stepping into roles. We need to help build a welcoming environment for this next generation, especially if we want to keep women in agriculture, especially as farmers and in careers that directly serve farmers.  Finally, whether it’s a niece, neighbor, co-worker or colleague I encourage others to keep an open mind about the roles and abilities of women in agriculture

More action: Stepping up
The perceptions of women can continue to change by our own actions we take in the agricultural community and related organizations. Here’s what I’ve been doing as a farmer, who happens to be female:

• Lead by example of what I’m doing as a farmer, not as a female farmer.  I’ve hosted farm tours for other women in ag, use social media, including Facebook, Instagram, as well as written and video blogs  featuring my face and I’m doing on the farm. Fluff not included.
• Serve in ag leadership positions that aren’t just for women.  A few years ago I had the opportunity to join county Farm Bureau board and now am serving as Vice President.
• Community ag involvement: I continue to represent myself and the work I do as a volunteer with organizations such as the FFA Alumni, as well as past service with the UW-River Falls Alumni Advisory Board Executive Committee and the UW-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Alumni President.
• Cognizant of how I interact with other women in agriculture by supporting everyone in this business and recognize I’m a role model whether I like it or not.
• Talk to everyone I know about what I farm and what I do.  I admit, growing up in a rural area where we are encouraged to be humble and not talk about ourselves, this has been work in progress for me.