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Women leading Delaware agriculture

Ed Kee

Many people might think farming is mainly a man's business, but women, especially in Delaware, have been on the leading edge of agriculture and innovation for generations. They hold critically important roles on the farm, in the broader agricultural industry, and in government and educational institutions.

Ed Kee

Nearly 18 percent of Delaware's 2,500 farms – or 445 – have a woman as their principal operator, the person primarily responsible for the on-site, day-to-day operation of the farm business. That might be either the owner or a hired manager, providing on-the-ground leadership at these farms. Delaware was only one of a handful of states in recent years to see an increase in that number. The stereotype of farmers as grizzled older men in overalls does not always apply here in Delaware.

However, those numbers do not give the full picture. Virtually all Delaware farms are family-owned and -operated, and women serve as integral parts of the family business. They drive equipment, drive trucks, hand-pick crops, hoe weeds, tend chickens, milk cows, keep the books, oversee marketing budgets and manage workers – in other words, anything and everything.

To those of us in farming and agriculture, this is not news. Most of the agricultural classes I took at the University of Delaware in the early 1970s had just as many women enrolled as men. I recall professors, many of whom had been teaching since the 1950s, observing what a remarkable and encouraging change we were witnessing even back then.

Women have made huge contributions to our state's agricultural industry – not only on our farms, but also in a wide range of roles in the private-sector businesses and public-sector agencies that support and serve Delaware agriculture. They've served in sales, as scientists, program managers, business managers and corporate executives. We have all benefited from their expertise and dedication as crop consultants, cooperative extension educators at our universities, vocational agriculture teachers and on staff in important roles at our federal and state programs.

The state's largest farm organization, the Delaware Farm Bureau, is led by President Kitty Holtz and Executive Director Pam Bakerian. Three women have received the Department of Agriculture's award for Distinguished Service to Delaware Agriculture. Last year, two Sussex County farmers, Laura Hill and Barbara Sapp, were presented with the award. This year, Robin Talley, district director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency in Delaware, was one of the recipients, recognizing her 30 years of service to the agency and the farmers it serves.

Talley is also a recent recipient of the University of Delaware's George M. Worrilow Award for outstanding contributions to agriculture by an alumnus of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Joanne Whalen, the University's Extension Integrated Pest Management specialist, is also a recent recipient of that award.

These are just six examples out of thousands of Delaware women who are dedicated to excellence – making their businesses and our industry strong. The Department of Agriculture is supporting this trend as a sponsor of the annual Mid-Atlantic Women in Agriculture annual conference, Feb. 12 and 13 in Dover. This conference, in its second year being held in Delaware, is designed to engage and support women as they explore their roles in the industry. More information can be found at extension.umd.edu/womeninag/2015-conference.

I personally appreciate the incredible contributions that Delaware women have made to this profession. I hope that people outside of agriculture can understand the magnitude and impact of their strong leadership and dedicated service as we continue moving forward and expanding opportunity for all.

Ed Kee is Delaware Secretary of Agriculture.