“Maybe to a fault I was raised to know that anything a man could do, I could do, too. My family immigrated to this country over 100 years ago and worked the land; those ancestral roots run deep. My Gram recalled stories from her Gram who was born in Hungary and as a girl during wheat harvest would have to sleep out in the field as she was too far from home to make it back. Those stories are not lost on me. I know the importance of my work in food safety in the fresh produce industry and I am proud to do what I do each day. I hope other young women can see more positive role models in the ag sector and know what important work this is, and how rewarding it can be. It may not be glamorous, but it sure is fun!“

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

I grew up in a cornfield in Northeastern Ohio. My maternal grandfather was a dairy farmer and sold dairy equipment. My paternal grandfather and my father sell lawn and garden tractors and equipment. I spent time with a custom harvest crew on The Great Plains and after teaching science for several years, I found my way into the world of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. In 2018, I accepted a job offer for an onion repacker in the Blackdirt region of New York and never looked back. I also studied and earned my commercial pesticide applicator’s license.

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

Maybe to a fault I was raised to know that anything a man could do, I could do, too. My family immigrated to this country over 100 years ago and worked the land; those ancestral roots run deep. My Gram recalled stories from her Gram who was born in Hungary and as a girl during wheat harvest would have to sleep out in the field as she was too far from home to make it back. Those stories are not lost on me. I know the importance of my work in food safety in the fresh produce industry and I am proud to do what I do each day. I hope other young women can see more positive role models in the ag sector and know what important work this is, and how rewarding it can be. It may not be glamorous, but it sure is fun!

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

When I found my way into food safety in 2016, it was still (and continues to be) a developing field. There is a great niche market of jobs and opportunities available and if you’re open to trying new things, a wonderful adventure awaits! Life is what you make of it, and I believe if you’re going to spend time doing something, you should aim to be the best at it!

Q: Have you had access to formal education or informal training programs to help you grow your operation?

Yes. I have a B.A. in Biology and I’ve never stopped wanting to learn. There are many opportunities available through the NYSFB and Cornell University.

Q: What would make it easier for women in agriculture to access the capital they need?

I had to think about this one, but something that comes to mind is the “proximity principle.” I think the term gets overused, but “networking” is so important and making meaningful connections is imperative. I’ve been so blessed to meet many great mentors along the way and I think it’s important to align yourself with like-minded people.

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?

Really, just the advance of computer technology has made our lives so much easier. I’ve joined email distribution lists for different organizations like NYS Ag & Markets, NYS Farm Bureau, Produce News, etc… and by reading those weekly emails, I’m able to discover alot of good information.

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

Being a woman in a predominately male industry is a challenge in and of itself. Especially when dealing with German- and Polish-decended men who can out-work most anyone. It takes a certain grit and determination and an attitude of “not taking ‘no’ for an answer” to make it as a woman in ag. But if you stick with it long enough, the men will begin to respect you. I’ve been lucky enough to have two great male mentors who teach me something new almost every day, but everyone has to have the right attitude about it and want to learn from each other.

Q: Has your state department of agriculture helped you advance your operation? How?

Yes, the NYS Ag & Markets, Farm Products Unit inspection service is an invaluable tool to Green Valley Onion Co., Inc. When loads of onions arrive with quality issues, the inspection service helps us get a fair assessment back to the shipper and we can make adjustments based off of those reports.