“When people think of ‘farms’ they often only think of a single farmer running a tractor, but there are so many different roles that go into a working farm. My work is fun because every day is different & I get to wear a lot of different hats. I would tell any women interested in agriculture to learn, try, and do as many different roles as possible!“

Q: Tell us about your agricultural operation, your background and how you got started in agriculture. 

I am a fourth-generation grower, packer, & shipper of onions. I was born & raised into the business. After studying business in college & working in marketing in New York City- my roots were calling me back home. I couldn’t be happier to be working alongside family in agriculture, an industry that feels like it has so much purpose.

Q: What does working in agriculture, and specifically being a woman in agriculture, mean to you?

Working in agriculture feels purposeful because you are helping feed families. Being a woman in the business is challenging at times because agriculture was historically a male dominated industry. I feel the landscape is changing & it is exciting to be a part of that change.

Q: What do you wish the next generation of women in agriculture would know about your work? What advice would you give them?

When people think of ‘farms’ they often only think of a single farmer running a tractor, but there are so many different roles that go into a working farm. My work is fun because every day is different & I get to wear a lot of different hats. I would tell any women interested in agriculture to learn, try, and do as many different roles as possible!

Q: What technologies or innovations have made the biggest difference on your farm? How do you stay informed about best practices, weather, markets, or new technologies?

To my job- implementation of a software system to help manage purchase orders & paperwork has saved a lot of time. There is hesitation to implement these systems after things have been done a certain way & worked for a very long time. However, after our team was trained, they felt it made their jobs easier.

Two of the biggest under-rated sources of information are: your elders & your neighbors. In our industry, sharing learned information is so important. Too often, people want to keep their knowledge a secret. At our farm we like to say, “”strength in numbers.”” We can work together to make each other better.”

Q: Describe a specific challenge you faced and how you overcame it. 

One of the biggest challenges we face daily is managing priorities. If your plan was to harvest crop, but the tractor has a break down- you must find another job for the staff to focus on that day. With multiple tractors, machines, & trucks that need constant repair it is important that all leaders are on the same page on what needs to get done first.