Women in Agriculture

[Braveheart]

The thing is, when we talk like we are it’s like somehow it’s a special thing to see women in ag. I like to think of them as people. Some are skilled. Some ambitious. Like men. Some not. I’m not sure if I’m making sense or just sounding like a Liberal sheep.

My mom milked 14 cows (13 Holsteins and a brown Swiss) every night if Dad was in the field. No pipeline milker. Just a big stainless pot that when full weighed more than she did. Separated the cream. Washed everything. Made supper. Even washed her Father in law’a clothes. Hauled grain in the fall. Picked up fertilizer in spring. She wasn’t special in the neighbourhood. She was just an essential part of the business. Most of the neighbor farm women were the same. They handled everything from chores to fieldwork.

None them schilled for interviews or were sought out by the the media. Agvovates? Well Ag wouldn’t have existed without them.

I’m not female and have had trouble understanding them my whole life. This tirade isn’t meant to insult anyone but to point out that women in Ag aren’t a “unique” thing. Since the prairies was broke women have been getting it done. Sometimes that even included pulling the plow.

[Blaithin]

The thing is, when we talk like we are it’s like somehow it’s a special thing to see women in ag. I like to think of them as people. Some are skilled. Some ambitious. Like men. Some not. I’m not sure if I’m making sense or just sounding like a Liberal sheep.

My mom milked 14 cows (13 Holsteins and a brown Swiss) every night if Dad was in the field. No pipeline milker. Just a big stainless pot that when full weighed more than she did. Separated the cream. Washed everything. Made supper. Even washed her Father in law’a clothes. Hauled grain in the fall. Picked up fertilizer in spring. She wasn’t special in the neighbourhood. She was just an essential part of the business. Most of the neighbor farm women were the same. They handled everything from chores to fieldwork.

None them schilled for interviews or were sought out by the the media. Agvovates? Well Ag wouldn’t have existed without them.

I’m not female and have had trouble understanding them my whole life. This tirade isn’t meant to insult anyone but to point out that women in Ag aren’t a “unique” thing. Since the prairies was broke women have been getting it done. Sometimes that even included pulling the plow.

All that’s true. Which is why women in ag aren’t hard to find. Usually it just requires focus to shift a bit. If you’re used to seeing the trees in the yard, you don’t always recognize how many trees there are. For a flora kind of analogy hah

But perhaps this ease of, overlooking is the wrong word but the only one I can think of right now, women is why they should be interviewed more. Call them Agvocates? Sure, if that’s what they do, but many don’t. Most of us just farm and work, we don’t go out and constantly look for ways to promote ag.

Being a woman in the ag industry is a funny thing. The farmers I talk to regularly support and endorse their wives and their daughters (and yes, their mothers as well) for how skilled and competent they are on the farm. Yet... they seem surprised when they run into other women with similar skill sets. That surprise is enhanced if the woman isn’t working with a man. And in most cases I do just consider it surprise. Women just aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when they think of employees or employers in the industry - and that doesn’t just apply to men either, female farmers are just as likely to react similarly. It takes them a few seconds for it to sink in and then the women just become part of the everyday and are no longer considered “women in ag”, we’re just another farmer or worker. Which is great, but also why sometimes people struggle to think of women in ag, because we’re just ordinary daily occurrences.

I don’t know what sort of project this photographer is working on but it would be interesting if they just chose a location and worked out in a circle. Stopping at every farm yard and enquiring if a woman lives and/or works on the farm, either family or employee. They may be shocked with the results they get - however I’m sure none of us on here would be.

[Braveheart]

BTW, I just didn’t have space to write about my wife’s contribution to our farm business. It would fill a book.

[Braveheart]

Sumdum, I sent you a PM with another excellent choice.

[Misterjade9]

You have some good options there but if you end up still looking there is a woman up here running a crop scouting business with her husband.

They also are farming a fair bit.

I can say she ain't no Poser but as cattle guy don't need no scouting so don't know her real well.

You might know her family as she comes from down you way.

http://www.aggrowconsulting.com/meet_the_team.html http://www.aggrowconsulting.com/meet_the_team.html

Seem to hire good people who stay with them.

I'm guessing CaseIH or Seldom know her better than me.

They are my agrologists and they have many young women on their team, two of them I work with on a regular basis.They are probably the best independent agrologists you can find.

[GDR]

I dont run Deere Equipment but I think these ladies must be Ag mechanics?

[Braveheart]

I dont run Deere Equipment but I think these ladies must be Ag mechanics?

Please use better language. They’re called “techs”. Lol

[farmaholic]

Please use better language. They’re called “techs”. Lol

But are they good with hand tools?

[TSIPP]

My daughter is an ag tech, she’d have to have red clothing.

[sumdumguy]

Geez, what deviants!

[wmoebis]

All that’s true. Which is why women in ag aren’t hard to find. Usually it just requires focus to shift a bit. If you’re used to seeing the trees in the yard, you don’t always recognize how many trees there are. For a flora kind of analogy hah

But perhaps this ease of, overlooking is the wrong word but the only one I can think of right now, women is why they should be interviewed more. Call them Agvocates? Sure, if that’s what they do, but many don’t. Most of us just farm and work, we don’t go out and constantly look for ways to promote ag.

Being a woman in the ag industry is a funny thing. The farmers I talk to regularly support and endorse their wives and their daughters (and yes, their mothers as well) for how skilled and competent they are on the farm. Yet... they seem surprised when they run into other women with similar skill sets. That surprise is enhanced if the woman isn’t working with a man. And in most cases I do just consider it surprise. Women just aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when they think of employees or employers in the industry - and that doesn’t just apply to men either, female farmers are just as likely to react similarly. It takes them a few seconds for it to sink in and then the women just become part of the everyday and are no longer considered “women in ag”, we’re just another farmer or worker. Which is great, but also why sometimes people struggle to think of women in ag, because we’re just ordinary daily occurrences.

I don’t know what sort of project this photographer is working on but it would be interesting if they just chose a location and worked out in a circle. Stopping at every farm yard and enquiring if a woman lives and/or works on the farm, either family or employee. They may be shocked with the results they get - however I’m sure none of us on here would be.

You are one of the most well rounded and knowledgeable people never mind woman in AG I've met. You are living the true farm life and AG industry. I vote for you. But most of all just keep being you!