The Power of Women Farmers Flocking Together

I love to learn and develop new skills. On my farm, however, not knowing how to get from idea to product to profit can be incredibly frustrating at times. It can feel very lonely. And, disheartening.

On days when I am most discouraged, I often get a nudge from another woman farmer who lets me know it’s going to be okay; everyone has to start somewhere. I have made many wonderful women farmer friends, both local and online, who have been essential in giving me wisdom, insight and encouragement at the exact times that I’ve needed it.

Two years ago, I encountered setback after setback. From a perfectly healthy lamb who somehow managed to break his neck to parasite problems to fencing malfunctions, I felt like I was failing myself and my animals. I began calling it my “Year of Questions” (Zora Neale Hurston), asking “Should I be doing this?” and imagining the universe was answering “No.” But it became a year of yeses, the biggest being a microgrant from The Livestock Conservancy that would enable me to increase my conservation flock of endangered Jacob and Romeldale sheep.

So far, all of the yarn farmers I have met are women who have been incredible mentors open to sharing their experience. During my first lambing season, I had one mentor named Heather on the phone all night, until she finally told me I needed to “glove up” to check for a lamb’s position in a laboring ewe. As I walked back to my barn pulling on those long latex gloves, I just kept muttering to myself, “new skills. You're learning new skills.”

These women have rejoiced with me and cried with me over the heartbreak of losing a flock member. I have to rely heavily on their experience because most readily available information pertains to large commercial production or to raising meat sheep breeds, both of which involve different strategies than a small wool flock. Plus, there are variations in the management of primitive, endangered breeds who have more natural mothering abilities and parasite resistance, for example. In those situations, veteran shepherds are an invaluable resource.

Social media may have its downsides, but it does allow me to have online mentors from all over the world who also raise endangered breeds of sheep. Instagram has connected me with fellow shepherds, plus hand spinners and wool enthusiasts who share information about fleece quality and shearing. On Facebook, the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association has a community devoted to the breed, where breeders who understand characteristic challenges can help each other navigate them.

In Western New York, the Cornell Cooperative Extension office houses a group called Western New York Beginning Farmers led by Katelyn Walley-Stoll. Not only do they offer an online support group through Facebook, but they also host workshops on various facets of agriculture, and one-on-one assistance regarding procedures and tax laws involved in becoming a farm business.

According to the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture, more than one million women are working America’s agricultural lands. That is 56 percent of our nation’s farms, though women are the primary producers on only 38 percent of the farms. Together, these women are generating $12.9 billion annually in agricultural sales.

On a more global scale, the UN has designated October 15 as International Day of Rural Women, to recognize the important role that women play in our world's agricultural production. It is also a day to honor the gifts these women share with each other even as they face pushback from a traditionally male-dominated industry. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres states, "The empowerment of rural women and girls is essential to building a prosperous, equitable and peaceful future for all on a healthy planet."  

We always hear about the rewards of following our dreams and sometimes I think we forget that the journey can be a hard slog at times. I remind myself that I needn’t go it alone, or “reinvent the wheel.” I just need to humbly approach my lack of information by leaning on those who have been doing this longer. And now I’m even finding myself in the extremely rewarding position of being able to mentor others.