“In agriculture, I can make decisions, pivot when necessary, and see the direct results of my efforts. I also appreciate the self-sufficiency this life provides. Producing my own food and knowing exactly where it comes from. It gives me a sense of purpose and connection that I never found in a traditional workplace.”

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

I am a maple syrup and honey producer. I worked 27 years in the corporate world with experience in IT, Continuous Improvement, project management and I’m a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. I’ve always done agriculture (vegetable and fruit, maple, bees) on the side as a hobby and food source for our family. They eliminated my position in the corporate world which allowed me to have more time to devote to agriculture. I used my business experience to start a business trying to make money doing agriculture and forest management and leveraged my business experience to improve my processes and business results.

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

Being a woman represents the freedom to build a livelihood on my own terms and to contribute to an industry where women continue to expand their presence and leadership. I value the independence that comes with working in agriculture. There are many aspects of this work that are truly within my control, which is a sharp contrast to the corporate world where your position and title often dictate what you could or could not do. In agriculture, I can make decisions, pivot when necessary, and see the direct results of my efforts. I also appreciate the self-sufficiency this life provides. Producing my own food and knowing exactly where it comes from. It gives me a sense of purpose and connection that I never found in a traditional workplace.

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

What I wish the next generation of women in agriculture knew is that it’s okay to ask for help. You don’t need to have all the knowledge or do everything yourself. Your time is valuable, and there are tasks that may make more sense for others to assist with. It’s easy to get very task-oriented, trying to get things done every day all season long, unlike the corporate world with a regular schedule and time off. It’s important to schedule downtime and hours where you don’t work. And remember, it’s okay if you don’t get everything done at the start—building your operation is a gradual process, and trying to do it all too quickly can take the fun out of it

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

Attended UCONN Extension training. CT Small Business Center: Mentoring program

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

Tax discounts for income and property

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?

More efficient equipment and automated processing where you can. Follow CT Department of Agriculture communication and Uconn Extension.

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

One challenge we overcame in our maple business was the uncertainty of how and where we could sell our syrup when we first started. We spent time piloting different markets and distribution channels—farmers’ markets, local retailers, direct customer sales, and outreach to schools to pilot and see what the best fit would be. Through this process, we identified the channels where our product resonated most and was the most efficient use of our time. Today, we sell to schools and a growing customer base, and we now sell out regularly. Demand has increased to the point that we cannot produce enough, which has led us to expand our operation to better meet the needs of our community

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

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has been instrumental in supporting our growth through grants that allowed us to purchase large, food-safe stainless-steel equipment. The maple syrup business is already labor-intensive and requires expensive equipment to maintain food safety, which reduces profit margins and often may not fully compensate for the time invested. These grants helped us scale in a way that would have been impossible otherwise.