“Agriculture provides me with a constant challenge to pursue something rewarding and perhaps to even make a profit. Agriculture allows me to be creative in many ways to formulate a path for success. It’s boots on the ground, caring for the animals, making sure they have feed and water daily, cleaning the eggs, packing the eggs and marketing the eggs to local sellers. I am always thinking how can I expand this organization. It’s a dirty business but I am not afraid to get my hands dirty as a woman. I just roll up my sleeves and get it done.”

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

Poultry operation. We sell duck eggs at this time. I also planted an apple orchard. I am trying to grow the business. I got started in agriculture from my parents, and 4-H. My parents used to have an egg route, and butchered chickens to sell.

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

Agriculture provides me with a constant challenge to pursue something rewarding and perhaps to even make a profit. Agriculture allows me to be creative in many ways to formulate a path for success. It’s boots on the ground, caring for the animals, making sure they have feed and water daily, cleaning the eggs, packing the eggs and marketing the eggs to local sellers. I am always thinking how can I expand this organization. It’s a dirty business but I am not afraid to get my hands dirty as a woman. I just roll up my sleeves and get it done.

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

It’s hard work but enjoyable working with the animals. It is unusual work that most people don’t understand given the fact that there are few active family farms still in operation in Connecticut.

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

I have a college degree in business and a graduate degree in law. I also pursue classes on an individual basis to acquire added skill or knowledge either from agriculture organizations or from whatever I come across.

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

Having extra cash resources from their day job or other sources to bridge the financial gap when building a farm.

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?

In 2024, USDA granted me funds to install an irrigation system. Having water hydrants allowed me to increase my flock. Past winters, I would carry water in gallon jugs to the barn. Now I can just open the hydrant faucet to have water. The hydrants save me a lot of time and energy. I access different organizations for tips, like the Maine Organic Farmers Association. I also read as much as I can.

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

Getting water was a big challenge. Last winter my barn yard was full of pipes and deep trenches, kind of treacherous. But I kept working at my day job to make money to pay the contractor and little by little got it done. I also had to pay for a new well water pump and had that installed. The USDA reimburses after the job is done to their specifications. Now I am waiting for the electrical contractor to electrify the barns. I had conduit put in for the electric as well.