I didn’t grow up on a farm. I was born and raised in northern Ontario, far from dairy barns and grain bins. Agriculture came into my life the way it does for many people — by marrying a farmer. Today, I farm with my husband on his family farm near Renfrew, about an hour northwest of Ottawa, on a dairy and grain farm. We also harvest crops for other farmers in our area.
My unorthodox path into agriculture has shaped how I see the sector — and it’s why education and empowerment are issues I care so very much about.
I’ve just been fortunate enough to be elected to the board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) as a provincial director-at-large, after about five years of being involved with the organization in various capacities. This included serving as president of the Renfrew Federation of Agriculture and spending a year working for OFA as a Member Services Representative.
I strongly believe that there are still far too many misconceptions about who farmers are and what farming looks like today. For many Ontarians, the picture of a farmer is an outdated one — an older man in overalls with a pitchfork. That image doesn’t reflect reality anymore, especially when it comes to women.
The number of women actively running farms is growing rapidly, yet we’re still not seen as the norm. In my region, I’ve worked hard to bring that reality to the forefront and to help women build confidence and skills.
Too often, women don’t receive the same informal training that boys on the farm get from fathers, uncles, or grandparents. Closing that gap matters, not just for equality, but also for farm safety, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
In 2023, I created the TractHER event concept: a hands-on program for female OFA members 18 and over who wanted to get more comfortable on and around farm equipment; tractors, sprayers, skid steers, harvesters, trucks and trailers. We focused on safety, proper use, and, just as importantly, learning how to move and operate equipment confidently. It was a huge success, and similar programs have since popped up in other parts of Ontario.
I believe that agriculture education also matters for non-farmers. I spent many years working as a dairy educator, going into schools and communities to talk about how food is produced. My primary message is simple: your food is safe. Ontario and Canada have some of the strictest food production standards in the world, and that’s something we should all be proud of.
I also serve on my local municipal council, where I’m nearing the end of my first term. This municipal experience, combined with my roles in agriculture, gives me a different lens on policy — especially when it comes to land-use planning, water management, and rural governance.
Many of the issues discussed at OFA board tables eventually land on municipal council agendas too. Seeing them from both sides allows me to better understand how provincial policies affect farmers and rural communities on the ground, and how municipalities interpret and implement those policies.
Ontario is a vast and varied province, and a one-size-fits-all approach to policy doesn’t always work. Issues like wildlife damage, for example, look very different in northern Ontario than they do in other parts of the province, where a bear can wipe out acres of corn overnight. I would like to work towards defining these differences and help direct policies that work for all areas.
As an OFA director, I also want to continue shining a light on women farmers across all commodities and regions — not as the exception, but as an essential part of Ontario agriculture.
Most of all, I’d like Ontarians to know two things; First, your food is safe. Second, protecting the Ontario and Canadian agriculture industry is integral to our sovereignty. If we rely too heavily on international partners who can change course at any time, we put ourselves at risk. A strong, local agricultural sector is about more than farming — it’s about resilience, security, and community.
I may not have started my life surrounded by agriculture, but I’m proud to be part of it now and I am excited to lend my voice to the farmers and rural communities that keep our province fed.
For more information on women’s changing role in agriculture click here.
