Impact of Women in Agribusiness

Breaking Ground: The Rise of Women in Agribusiness

When you think about agribusiness, you might picture a man on a tractor, working in a hog barn or selling seed. It’s time to think again. Today’s agricultural landscape is diverse and dynamic, offering women more opportunities than ever to make their mark.

Women have always been vital to agriculture, working on farms and supporting rural communities. But their contributions were often behind the scenes. Today, women are choosing careers in agriculture and stepping into roles where they can lead, innovate and bring fresh perspectives both on and off the farm.

The numbers tell a compelling story.

According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, women represent about 50% of Minnesota’s workforce. This is one of the highest participation rates in the nation. Women workers make up about 30% of the ag sector and 30% of manufacturing. They have even higher shares in service-oriented industries like educational services, finance and insurance, and professional and technical services that often have ag and food connections.

In southern Minnesota’s GreenSeam region, the number of women working in ag has grown exponentially. From 1995 to 2022 females who identified employment in Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting went from 884 to 2,572. This equates to a 191% increase with animal production being the leading segment.

Indicators that this trend will likely continue include USDA stats showing women have outnumbered men in enrollment in agricultural programs at Land Grant Universities and girls have outpaced boys in participation in 4-H programs across the country since 2009¹.

Dr. Annie Lerner and Bridget Norland are just two women working in the GreenSeam region who bring these numbers to life.

Lerner grew up in suburban Kansas City but has fond memories of summer vacations to her grandparents’ dairy farm in Murdock, Minnesota. Her love for animals and science led her to pursue an Animal Science degree at Kansas State University.

“That decision changed my life,” said Lerner, who switched from pursuing a path in veterinary medicine to swine nutrition after gaining experiences in undergraduate research working with the swine faculty at K-State. One mentor, Dr. Cassie Jones, was especially influential. Jones provided Lerner an example of a working woman in agriculture, raising a family while having a highly productive and fulfilling career.

Upon completing her Ph.D. in 2020, Lerner made another life-changing decision and accepted the role of Director of Nutrition and Research at Schwartz Farms, Inc. in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, located in the heart of the GreenSeam. Today, she manages the company’s feeding and nutrition program for 70,000 sows and two million pigs across five states.

“It’s great to work as a swine nutritionist in a region with excellent corn and soybean production where we can easily access the feed ingredients needed to produce pork in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Lerner said. She’s also active with the Brown County Pork Producers and GreenSeam Business Retention and Expansion committee where she gets to share her passion for agriculture.

Bridget Norland’s path to agriculture was different. She grew up on a dairy farm in Dovre, Minnesota, baling hay, milking cows, and harvesting crops alongside her dad. These experiences taught her work ethic, problem-solving, and resilience – skills that have served her well in careers spanning food manufacturing and professional services. All of which kept her rooted in ag.

In her recent role as Business Development and Marketing Manager at Gislason & Hunter Law Firm, Norland used her creativity and data storytelling skills to help farmers and agribusinesses access important legal services in the GreenSeam.

“Ag isn’t always about the mud on your boots and dirt under your fingernails,” Norland said. “Technology gives us all an opportunity to be in ag. Working in ag gives me purpose. It’s not just about earning a paycheck.”

Both Norland and Lerner are excited to see more women leaning into agribusiness. Through their work, they’re sharing their stories and inviting the next generation to be part of an industry that needs their ideas, talents and perspectives.

Whether you’re passionate about growing food, science, technology, community relations or communications, the message is clear: Women belong in agriculture and the GreenSeam is a great place to make your mark.

RESOURCES (if needed)

1. Schmidt, C., Goetz, S. J., & Tian, Z. (2021). Female farmers in the United States: Research needs and policy questions. Food Policy, 101, 102039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102039
2. Other stats provided by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. 

IMAGES CAPTIONS (if needed)

Annie Lerner is the Director of Nutrition and Research at Schwartz Farms Inc. in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Working in ag allows her to combine her love for science and animals.

Bridget Norland is the Business Development and Marketing Manager at Gislason & Hunter Law Firm. She’s held several positions in professional services and manufacturing that have kept her rooted in ag.

Author: Naomi Mortensen is a freelance writer and content strategist who has spent her career on working in communications and marketing for agribusinesses in the GreenSeam region and beyond.