“A quick hello and introduction today can be a huge breakthrough years down the road.”

Far-Fetched Farm — Sharptown, Wicomico County 

What inspired you to pursue a career in agriculture, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
I have always had a love of animals. I grew up in suburban Anne Arundel County with no family connections to agriculture. I had a breeding sheep 4-H project at Kinder Farm Park where I took every opportunity to learn more about the agriculture industry. I chose to major in Livestock Science and Management, interned at places like the MDA Animal Health Program, worked for the Maryland Farm Bureau, and purchased my own farm to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a full-time farmer. I am so passionate about the agriculture industry because I know that every single person in this industry is not in it for the money, not in it for the accolades, but truly in it for the love of serving their communities and sustaining our state and country with fresh, safe, and affordable food and fiber. 

What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a woman in farming, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge has been building a farm business as a first-generation farmer. I leaned heavily on connections that I had made in my previous job at Maryland Farm Bureau to know the proper people to contact when it came time to buy our own farm. 

Are you a first-generation farmer, or are you carrying on a family legacy?
First-generation 

What is one piece of advice you would give to the next generation of young women entering the agricultural field?
Take every opportunity to learn something new and make connections with people in the industry. A quick hello and introduction today can be a huge breakthrough years down the road when you need help with x and you can recall the name of so-and-so from that company you need to work with. 

What is the most rewarding part of your day-to-day life on the farm?
Waking up everyday knowing that my wildest dreams of becoming a farmer are my reality and that my kids get to grow up on a family farm.