by Kevin Opsahl
While you might picture a farmer as a man wearing overalls and a cowboy hat, women are now playing a much more prominent role on the farm — and diving head-first into other agriculture careers.
Officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Utah State University Extension and women farmers The Herald Journal spoke to all say that women are making decisions on everything from bookkeeping to crop security — a vastly different landscape than 40 or 50 years ago, at a time when farm sustainability is a top concern. Meanwhile, Utah State University’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences seems to be following a national trend of an increasing number of female students in agricultural programs.
“I think it surprises some people that we’re seeing at least half of the production system (in farming) including women, but I don’t think people in agriculture are, because women have been involved from the start,” she said. “When I was growing up on the ranch, it wasn’t like ‘This is a man’s job’ or ‘This is a woman’s job,’ it was, ‘This is the job.’”
She added, “I don’t think women are stereotyped in agriculture by agriculturists; if you work hard, if you problem-solve, those are valuable attributes whether you’re a man or woman, so I think there’s less barriers.”
Now, women in Utah and throughout the country have a new resource to connect with each other, thanks to Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who started a Women in Agriculture Mentoring Network last month.
The hope is that women nationwide, across all areas of agriculture, will have a new support system to help them form professional partnerships with other women — sharing stories, seeking advice, or providing mentorship, she said. Those interested are encouraged to email agwomenlead@usda.gov to share their stories or use the hashtag #womeninag.
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Source: HJNews.com
