Local women breaking barriers in agriculture

WARREN COUNTY, Ky.- Traditionally, agriculture is seen as a male-dominated field, but farming is slowly evolving with more women stepping into leadership roles.

While many may picture a male farmer and his wife when thinking of agriculture, the role of the farm wife is often overlooked, despite her significant contributions. Dore Hunt, manager at Chaney’s Hurd, explains that the term “farm wife” can sometimes minimize the active role these women play in daily farm operations.

“A farm wife is not just sowing seeds in the field—she’s also sowing seeds into the heart of the farm,” Hunt said.

At Chaney’s Dairy Barn, women go above and beyond to ensure the farm thrives.

Magdalene Brackett, the calf care manager, emphasizes how agriculture has become increasingly women-dominated.

“When I was in college, there were a lot of women in my ag degree program. Times are changing, and we’ve got a set of hands that we can use just as well as a man can,” Brackett said.

With more women entering the field, the landscape of farming is transforming.

“There are very few farms without at least one female involved in some capacity,” said Brackett.

Currently, about 30% of farmers are women, and 9% of farms are owned and operated by women.

Despite this growth, challenges remain. Hunt believes that opportunity plays a crucial role in opening doors for women in agriculture.

“If the interest is there, and the opportunity is also there, it opens a lot of doors,” she said.

However, limited opportunities can still hinder progress.