Christa Alexander, owner/operator of Jericho Settlers Farm (pink shirt), plantsseedwith staff, May 2013. VBM photo
Vermont Business MagazineMarch is Women’s History month, and Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets is taking advantage of the occasion to highlight the important role women play in Vermont’s Ag community. Women represent about22.3%of the principal farm operators in Vermont, according to the most recent USDA agricultural census. That number is significantly greater than the national average, which is14%.(A “principal operator” is defined as the person overseeing the daily farm operations.) Vermont ranks 9thin the nation for percentage of principal farm operators that are women.*
Vermont has over7300farms total, and more than4700 female farmers. Vermont ranks 8thin the nation for percentage of total farm operators that are women.**
“We have a strong tradition of female farmers here in Vermont,” according to Mary Peabody, Director of theWomen’s Agricultural Network at UVM. “These numbers reflect what we see in our communities every day – women are critical to the success of Vermont’s agricultural economy.”
“As we celebrate women’s history month, I want to thank all the women who play a role in making Vermont’s agricultural economy great,” said Vermont’s Ag Secretary, Anson Tebbetts. “They play critical role as business owners, vets, Ag service providers, leaders of our statewide ag organizations, and as members of farm families. We are grateful for all they do!”
Farmer Spotlight:Mari Omland (photo right) and Laura Olsen operateGreen Mountain GirlsFarm in Northfield. Both made a mid-career shift into agriculture, each bringing 15 years of experience managing small to large non-profits and the skills and talents developed along the way. They produce meat (pork, chicken, turkey and goat), eggs, vegetables, and goat milk, and offer a farm share, and farm stay experiences for tourists. To learn more about this unique farm, and the women who make it possible, visithttp://eatstayfarm.com/
To learn more about how the Women’s Agricultural Network supports Vermont’s female farmers, visithttp://www.uvm.edu/wagn/
Women play a particularly large role in agriculture in the Northeast region, as evidenced below:
*Vermont ranks 9th in the nation for percentage of principal female operators
- Arizona: 39.2%
- Alaska: 32.8%
- Massachusetts: 32.3%
- New Hampshire : 30.9%
- Maine: 29.1%
- Connecticut: 25.2%
- Rhode Island: 24.6%
- Hawaii: 22.5%
- Vermont: 22.4%
- Nevada: 21.6%
**Vermont ranks 8th in the nation for percentage of total female operators
- Arizona: 44.8%
- Alaska: 42.7%
- New Hampshire : 42.4%
- Massachusetts: 41.6%
- Maine: 41.0%
- Oregon: 39.3%
- Nevada: 39.3%
- Vermont: 39.3%
- Connecticut: 39.1%
- Rhode Island: 37.6%
For more profiles of Vermont’s fearless female farmers, visit:
Jinny Cleland of South Royalton’s Four Springs Farm
Lindsay Arbuckle of Alchemy Gardens in Shrewsbury
Beth Kennett of Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester
Christa Alexander of Jericho Settlers Farm in Jericho
Joanna Lidback of The Farm at Wheeler Mountain in Barton
Source: Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets 3.22.2017