“Always ask questions, stay curious, find a mentor, or try a new approach. Willingness to grow and adapt is needed in this field.”
North Acres Farm — Parkton, Baltimore County
What inspired you to pursue a career in agriculture, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
I wanted to support my growing family in a meaningful way. I began selling whole and half hogs when my first son was born to help support our family. I quickly expanded to selling retail cuts of pork and beef. When my second was born, I left my full time off farm job to pursue NAF full time. I began raising and selling lamb and chicken cuts and thanksgiving turkeys. What keeps me passionate today is knowing exactly where our food comes from, raising my animals with care, and providing high quality local meats to my surrounding community. All while building a life to be present with my family and being able to watch my farm and kids grow side by side.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in farming, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge as a woman farmer is being taken seriously in a male-dominated industry. I had to work really hard to prove myself to my customers at my farmers markets that even though my husband does help around the farm (he is primarily a grain, hay and straw farmer) that I do the daily chores, processing scheduling, birthing, sales, etc. I overcame this with social media and documenting my days. I created a picture board for my markets so that people can physically see my operation and ask questions for me to answer. Social media allows me to document myself and the kids working on the farm to show our animals, caring for them, our products, etc. to build trust with my community.
Are you a first-generation farmer, or are you carrying on a family legacy?
I am a first generation farmer- I grew up with horses, so making the switch to pigs, cows, sheep, and poultry was a change
What is one piece of advice you would give to the next generation of young women entering the agricultural field?
To never give up or stop learning. Farming is constantly evolving and no matter how much experience you have, there is always something new to learn or improve. Always ask questions, stay curious, find a mentor, or try a new approach. Willingness to grow and adapt is needed in this field.
What is the most rewarding part of your day-to-day life on the farm?
The most rewarding part is having my kids by my side every step of the way. They help with every job and are able to work together while they learn responsibility, work ethic, and create a first hand connection with the outdoors and land.
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