6 Amazing Women In Agriculture
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Texas Farmers Market is one of the biggest markets in the state and it’s the one that’s most active in the community. This is implemented in many ways starting from funding charities and providing education for those in the industry that needed.
Another way in which this market is special is its role in promoting women’s rights and especially calling for more women to work in the field of agriculture. The women on our list are some of the best farmers and entrepreneurs in Texas and they are growing healthy food for the whole community.
1. Amelia Sweethardt Of Pure Luck Farm & Dairy
Amelia runs a dairy farm in Dripping Springs. It’s home for more than a 100 Nubian and Alpine goats and it’s certified that it treats and feeds these animals in an organic and sustainable way. Their main produce is goat cheese that’s handmade and artisan in how it’s presented.
The farm also offers tours and the ability to see first-hand how your food is made and it’s also active in the community by providing workshops and helping other small businesses get into the industry.
2. Amy Greer Of Winters Family Beef
Amy runs Winters/Wall Ranch, in Brady, TX and she’s the 6th generation in her family to do so. This shows how important tradition is to local farmers and to the local community as a whole. She and her husband have made their own path in the industry by starting a cattle farm.
The animals on this farm are allowed to roam free and to feed of the grazing fields as they see fit. This is the best way to use the fields without destroying them in the process which is often what happens when the fields are overused.
3. Angela Smith Of Smith & Smith Farms
Angela and her family have a specialty for pasture grazed meat that is completely hormone free and thus safe and healthy as they can be. These animals are raised on the 50 acres of land owned by the Smith family. The animals include: Dorper lambs, all different breeds of laying hens, Cornish Rock meat chickens, red wattle hogs, and their new venture, broad breasted white turkeys.
The produce made by the family could be bought in the market when it’s open or you can call in and buy the produce on the farm directly.
4. Cypress Sigman Of Engel Farm
It’s a rear case that a farmer knows about the science and the technology behind their work. Farms are often inherited and those who run them learn by doing. However, those who know about the process usually don’t actually work in agriculture.
Cypress Sigman is that rare case when she’s both educated in the field of agriculture and permaculture. She helped transition the old family farm from a traditional one to a farm that cares about increased soil fertility, healthy plants, longer shelf life and a stronger farm eco-system.
5. Donna Bernhardt Of Bernhardt’s Farm
Dona and her husband run a farm and a commercial kitchen in Elgin, TX. The farm produces organically grown, healthy and sustainable fruits and vegetables. The products they sell include: delicious veggies, fruits, hummus, kraut, kimchi (how long does kimchi last?), pickles, pesto, tea blends, dried fruit (how long does dried fruit last?), and more.
This farm is a much simpler and smaller operation than others on our list but it’s still a quality farm with great produce, both in terms of how they made and how well the will fit with your diet. This means that you can simply by the produce on the market or call for the inquiry about buying more. The farm doesn’t have a website, but it has a small FB page.
6. Eileen Niswander Of Yegua Creek Pecan Farm
Eileen and her husband grow pecan and create and sell produce made with pecan. Some of them are as simple as roasted pecan and flavored pecan but others are more complex. A commercial kitchen is a part of their farm and they use it to produce and sell many different delicious jams, jellies, breads, and sweet treats.
The farm is just across a historic church and a post office that’s one of the oldest in the state. So, scheduling a visit to buy some pecan could turn into a fun day trip.
Conclusion
Women should play a larger role in the agriculture community in Texas. The farmers market in Austin is therefore trying to promote and celebrate the work that women from the community do in agriculture and in the industry overall.
There are some great farms in the area that are run by women or in which women play a big and important role. These farms provide amazing products and are pillars of their community. You should check them out when you’re in Texas.
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