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Female Farmers

Huntington, Vermont - September 24, 2007

Farming in Vermont is a time honored tradition and livelihood for thousands of Vermonters.  Farming remains a mostly male dominated job, but that's changing.

The number of female run farms has reached one thousand in Vermont. That's up 13 percent in the last five years and is the fastest growing sector in Vermont agriculture.

"There are a lot of beginning farmers that are women," said Nicole Dehne, of NOFA, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont.

A handful of women attended a farm equipment workshop held by NOFA.

"I want to know what I am doing before I go down that road," said Kate Canney, a new farmer.

The women learned how equipment, like farm tractors, work.

"Every guy farmer I know says he knows how to use a tractor. I haven't found that to be the case," laughed Canney.

"I'm not thinking I'll pull an engine apart.  But I want to gas it up and add oil and the safety part is huge for me," said future farmer, Millie Barry of Westminster.

The Vermont Agriculture Department says women are at higher risk of accidents on farms for two reasons: They typically have less farming experience and because of the difficult physical demands.

"There's a lot to learn and a lot to be wary of on a tractor," said new farmer, Melissa Carlson of Burlington.  "I want to have a better understanding of how they work."

Agriculture experts say that's key to staying safe.

"It's women who feel more intimidated by tractors, how it works and the implements. That's a bigger obstacle for women farmers," said Dehne.

These women are overcoming those obstacles.

"As I get closer to retirement, I know I want to be outside and don't want to be inside," said Barry.  "I just want to add it to my life."

They are Vermont's future farmers.

Darren Perron - WCAX News