Part Three of my Celebrating Women in Agriculture series is here!
I started this series several weeks ago in order to simply celebrate other women in Agriculture. Some of them share many of the same successes and struggles as I do in my personal story, but some are extremely different. Some of us walk two very different life paths and that is perfectly okay! What isn’t okay is to let our differences somehow divide us.
My goal throughout this series is to bridge that divide. And to give these women a space where they feel confident to share their voices without fear of being criticized or judged, but instead respected and encouraged. Although we may very well walk different paths, we are all to be celebrated for the hard work we do for an industry we all love so much.
Let’s meet some more women shall we?
Meet Ashley…
I was born into agriculture. My grandparents bought the farm that my husband and I currently live on. My parents and I farm full time together currently. I honestly did not always want agriculture to be a part of my future. I have distinct memories of having to leave family gatherings to go milk the cows in my toddler years. Instead of going, I would usually throw an epic temper tantrum and scream about how I hated the cows.For years I wanted to move as far away from rural Michigan as I could, which equaled out to London, England (don’t ask me why I picked that place). Ironic because when I got into my teenage years I discovered my love of farm animals and farm boys. Fast forward, I gave up fighting my love of agriculture, met my husband and now we reside on the farmstead that I grew up on.
When I was in agricultural sales (before I came home to the farm), I encountered a lot of men that wouldn’t buy from me because I was a woman and they didn’t trust me. Now that I am on the farm I have less of a problem because if someone doesn’t like taking orders from a woman they don’t stop.
One of the reasons I love being a woman in Agriculture? Women love to talk! I love being able to go to meetings and talk about anything. The reality is most men don’t want to talk about cooking or house things. It is so much fun to be able to talk about cooking, cleaning, kids, cows, farm finances all in the same few hour time period.
My advice to fellow women in Agriculture, just go for it. Own who you are and ignore anyone that wants to tell you otherwise. Go through life like you have something to prove, it is amazing what you will accomplish.
You can find more from Ashley on her blog Messy Kennedy, her Facebook page, or Pinterest!
Meet Kelly…
My husband and I purchased his great grandparent’s land together. We currently farm with his dad and grandmother. We proudly grow conventional corn and soybeans.
Agriculture directs our life. I was going to use the word “control,” but “control” sounds negative as if we were in a situation we didn’t want to be in. We have dedicated our lives to agriculture and keeping our family farm’s legacy going. My husband works for a New Holland dealership selling ag equipment full time so agriculture controls his job off the farm as well. I recently started working at our local chamber of commerce’s office and considering we live in an agriculture rich community, I will get to see first hand how agriculture affects our community as a whole which will be neat.
Agriculture has also directed the way we choose to spend our free time as well. We enjoy learning about agriculture and other industries outside of our own. I enjoy serving on our local Farm Bureau Board where I get to connect with others that share the same passions that I do. I find myself choosing Ag Mags over home-keeping and general women’s magazines. I love soaking up all the information on new ideas and technology that are being brought to the agriculture table. We find ourselves friending and connecting with our farmers in the area. Agriculture is definitely our “home” in life.
The Struggles…. Wow. Yes, the phrase “woman in agriculture” and struggle go hand in hand. One of the biggest struggle I have is balancing my role on the farm and the role in the house. More than anything, I want to be in the tractor or out helping my husband with maintenance but someone has to do the laundry, clean, cook and take care of the property.
Another struggle I have encountered is our limited availability when it comes to extra circulars and weekends. We really have to pick and choose our battles when it comes to commitments. I think as the years go on we are getting better at turning down invites when there is farming, housekeeping or yard work to-do. Farming is like having a second job and your free time becomes extremely valuable.
A struggle I had when I first gained interest in agriculture was convincing the men that I was serious. My dad always took me serious and never asked questions if I wanted to help. In fact, he has always asked me to help. Just because I was a female, he didn’t treat me any differently than my brother. However, when I mentioned to my buddies and my now husband in the past, “Hey, if you guys ever need help farming, don’t hesitate to call,” they didn’t take me seriously at first. Now, my husband knows that I am here 24/7 and helping him comes before anything in my life.
However, I love being a woman minority in a male dominant industry. I enjoy hearing from my husband that I did a great job in the tractor or that he’s proud of me for my involvement with our local Farm Bureau and sharing our farm life on my blog, Old Blue Silo. I think it’s shocked him some in the beginning but now he’s not surprised when I want to get more involved with something ag-related. It’s rewarding to teach a male in my life something about agriculture that they didn’t know. Women are natural researchers. We are starving for information and I think the agriculture industry needs that.
I also love that I can influence other women who are hesitant about participating in agriculture on and off the farm. We females tend to be creatures that want a sense of belonging in a place.
Don’t be scared to share your interest especially if you come from a non-ag background. It doesn’t matter what shape or form, we need you. I am going to say it again, we need you. There are many ways you can get involved in agriculture even if you do not come from a farm family or you didn’t marry a farmer. There are many careers you can have in agriculture. You can become an advocate and share the stories of others who just don’t have the time or means.
You just have to dive in.
Women have such powerful voices. We can’t be afraid to use them!
No woman in Agriculture is the same. Never compare yourself to your neighbor. One woman in Ag may be knee deep in manure while another is educating children at an Ag in the Classroom function. Comparing ourselves can be a struggle but it doesn’t have to be.
You can find more from Kelly at her blog Old Blue Silo, her Facebook page, on Twitter, or on Instagram!
Two of my favorite gals!! Fantastic agvocates and friendly to boot!