How Female Farmers are Driving Agriculture Forward
In partnership with: North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Farming has traditionally been seen as a man’s profession, but in the last few decades, that view is shifting. Women have become a driving force in agriculture, both in North Dakota and across the U.S. Whether on the farm or out in their communities, women have been adapting to the challenges and excelling in their agricultural roles.
Take Mardee Reich of Zap in west-central North Dakota. Her role in agriculture began after she married her husband, Jack, who worked on his family’s angus cattle ranch.
“It’s my husband’s family’s ranch, and goes back at least 60 years,” Reich says. “We got married in 1996 and decided to partner up with Jack’s dad. Our registered operation started with 20 head and grew into what it is now. My introduction came when I married Jack. I was very hands-on with him and learned along the way.”
In 2012, Reich’s role changed dramatically after tragedy struck. Her husband and 10-year-old son, Vander, were killed in a car accident. Mardee was with them, but survived, and now runs the ranch with her other son and daughter.
“I went from being the support with Jack and doing what I could, to basically being at the forefront,” Reich says.
She says that along with simply getting back on her feet after the accident, some challenges included assuring people she had the same business principles that Jack had.
“We have a production sale every February and Jack usually dealt with all the buyers. People had to know that, going forward, it would be with me and that I had the same principles Jack had,” she says.
Reich says that one thing she’s certain of from her time in agriculture is that the agricultural community is extremely tight-knit.
“There are no better people than those in agriculture. And women have a huge amount to offer,” Reich says. “Sometimes they get looked over, but they are a huge support, even if they’re not in the forefront. They’re behind their husbands and keeping everything together at home. It’s very much a team effort.”
Misty Steeke also knows the important role of women in agriculture, as she has been a part of the industry her entire life.
“I was born and raised on a farm southwest of Rhame, where I reside currently with my husband, Trevor, and four kids,” Steeke says. “We have a cow/calf operation consisting of 450 head. We also have 200 head of ewes, 40 head of boar goats and sometimes raise butcher pigs that we sell to local consumers. We also raise forage crops, small grains, corn and sunflowers.”
Along with working on the farm, Steeke is an agricultural education teacher at Scranton Public School, teaching grades eight through 12. She says much of her love of agriculture can be attributed to her parents, who allowed her to be involved from a young age.
“I have been teaching agricultural education for 16 years and have been involved in 4-H for over 20 years as a leader. I was the oldest of three kids and my parents had to rely on me to help with operating the farm to make a living,” she says.
As a woman, Steeke says that agriculture has taught her responsibility, and the women in her life, including her mother and grandmother, have shown strength, making her a stronger agriculturalist in turn.
“Women have passion and desire to make what they have better. We have to prove ourselves every day not only to the community, but to ourselves,” Steeke says. “Being a farm or ranch mom or wife doesn’t always stop at the breakfast table, but in our daily responsibilities of relieving our families from daily tasks or chores. If we all take part in knowing and understanding the work that is sacrificed and knowledge that is gained, we can all be better agriculturalists.”
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Looking for watermelons growers close to atlanta
Hello Oscar i see your looking for watermelon growers close to atlanta, well i grow crimson sweets that avervage between 35 to 48 lbs and very sweet if your interested in truck loads contact me i am about 2 hours south of atlanta if thats to far I could deliver for u thank you for your time.
Hi my name is Russell Greene and I’m interested in loads of water melons,I always come to Cordele Ga with my uncle that sold produce,now I’m starting to sale produce myself,right
now I’m starting off with my pick- up truck can you help me with prices,7063721564 call or Text
Hi Russell,
We suggest contacting the Georgia Watermelon Association directly at http://www.georgiawatermelonassociation.org/contact-us/. They may be able to help. Thanks!
Rachel Bertone
editor, Georgia Grown
Will be traveling to Cordele Ga. August 25th will there be watermelons I can purchase for own use say 6 Crimson sweet melons to put in trunk and take north
Hello Lauren
I have a small vegetable farm just East of Cordelle in a small town called Cadwell in Georgia, I will have Crimson sweet watermelon along with a few other varieties you might want to try. Please contact me at my email address: fromyvesgarden@gmail.com or text me at 813-842-1741. My name is Yvonne. Thankyou
Need information on the price watermelon and when does the season start.Will be coming from Cleveland tn .looking to buy in quantity and looking for other produce as well.Thanks Bill walker @ 423-310-6087.
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your comment. We suggest contacting the Georgia Watermelon Association directly at http://www.georgiawatermelonassociation.org/contact-us/ or the Cordele Farmers Market at (229) 276-2335. Hope this helps!
Rachel Bertone
editor, Georgia Grown
Hello Bill,
I have a vegetable farm here in Cadwll Ga. We do sell watermelon, vegetables and herbs. We have 4 different types of watermelon. Price is determined by what you are looking for. Feel free to contact me or my husband at email fromyvesgarden@gmail.com or text us at 813-842-1741.
Address it to Yvonne or Lenton.
thankyou
Lenton I’m interested ur watermelon an i want to know wen they are goin to b coming in thanks an my number is 8649099629 my name is shannon
Hellow Shannon:
Our Watermelons will be coming in late June early July. I will leave you a text about this matter, or feel free to contact me at fromyvesgarden@gmail.com or text me at 813-842-1741. We also can discuss cantaloupes.
Thankyou Lenton
I’m looking for cantaloupe farmers looking to buy by truck loads plz, call 8649099629 my name is shannon thanks
When does catalopes start coming in , in Cordele GA,
If you know a farmer that as labor shortage and needs quality help from Guatemala please feel free to contact us at info@h2alabor.com.
Thank you
looking for water melons to buy melons by pick-up truck load and help with prices 423-404 1158 thank you.
I am looking for watermelons by pick-up truck load and help with prices.
Need ga melons in nyc area. Where can I buy one?
Hi
I am interested in truck loads of water melon if you could help me out with prices
Best regards
Can anyone tell me anywhere near Oxford, MS or Memphis TN area I can get sm yellow meated watermelons??? Asap
Looking for a watermelon farm that grows orange or yellow flesh watermelon
need to get more info on water mellon 3212151530
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I have seen your product very interesting, I also have the product like yours, can you assist to get the market where to sell my products?
CaN I get watermelones in winter?
I have a small home watermelon patch in Opelika, Alabama and interested in the advice from premier watermelon growers of Crisp County.
1. Do seedless melon compare in flavor to those with seeds. Which ones are good?
2. Do you leave it up to the bees to pollinate the flower with/melon? If not, how is it done.
3. Are dryed tendriels the best indicator that the melon is ripe? The yellow ground spot being the second best?
4. Is the days to harvest on packets from Planting the seed OR from day the fruit is formed on the vine?
5. If I have a 2×2 measured top of mound, how many plants should I have growing out of it.
Thanks…always ask the experts.
Alan Hinds, Opelika, Ala
Looking for watermelon growers looking to but a trailer load this spring or summer if u can give me price an date I can come down thanks
I’m a wholesaler I would like to buy quantity what rate can I get if I buy bulk
Hello my name i am with the company J & K Express Services, I have 7 semi trucks trying to find some Information on how I can pull some of your Watetrmelon loads.
PH# 229-444-3959
Hey everyone i am looking for watermelon growers north of Atlanta. We have a truck and small trailer, we would like to fill for resale. If you could help us out this year and a reasonable price call 606-375-2138
HI all,
Looking for anybody interested in selling picnic varieties (Crimson Sweet, Jubilee, Allsweet) available end of May in or around Cordele, Ga. Looking to buy truck load monthly through the summer. !! Bonus if willing to deliver to Brooklyn, NY!!
Thank you for your time
Hello my name is Jerry I am with the company J&K Express Services trying to see how I can get set up with your company to pull some of your watermelon can you please email me to let me know. Thanks
Looking to purchase a load of watermelons off the farm around May 30th, purchase about 500 to 800 melons, who do I need to contact.
Thanks for your time.
J
WHy to get a truck load of watermelon
Intrested in buyin like 10 load of 36 count and med.
Large sangria (seeded) watermelion will pay for
cod for ever load we pick up each load will average
46000 lbs. On a open top trailer loaded bulk
Please contact at 8638779231 mike rick asap
If available or rickc19692atgmail.com
Would like to buy a pick up truckload to sell in Panama City. What kind of price am I looking at?
Hi I’m from nyc and looking for seedless water melon seeds I wanna take it to my country I have big farm I wanna try it can someone advice me where I can buy it thank you
I am looking for water melons to buy. I have a road side stand and I need to buy quantity. Please contact me in you have any produce. Please email me at Samsproducestand@gmail.com with information.
Thank you
Hi Sam, we recommend reaching out to the Georgia Department of Agriculture directly to talk about watermelon sales. Hope this helps!
Wasting good Georgia watermelon soil in order to grow that tasteless “Seedless?” garbage is CRIMINAL! It is meant to grow the sweetest watermelon on the planet, with seeds. What a waste of prime grocery store areas. Georgia watermelon is sweet, crisp, cold (ice cold after refrigerating, OMG!!!! Why can’t I find the regular watermelons anywhere in any supermarket in the Metro Atlanta area anymore? It may make you wealthy but it makes me want to scream, cry and pitch a childish fit, which I am in the process of this very sentence. I complain to the store and the people look at me like I’m covered in dinosaur crap. Freckles and mosquito bites, yes. Dinosaur poop, not at the moment although I did forget to let the Sabertooth Tiger outside the cave last night. My Viking, Creek-Cherokee, Irish ancestors are turning in their grave because I am being denied the best substance on the planet, Georgia Watermelon “with seeds galore”. God save me from the withdrawal pain being caused by the cruelty of Georgia short-sighted Grocery Stores. Please!!, where can I get the real, true, sweet watermelon I deserve (Vietnam survivor Marine and US Navy disabled veteran) and crave in Metro Atlanta? Aside from the Farmer’s Market! I live in Smyrna, GA. (If you can call dying from Cancer, Heart disease and Watermelon withdrawal living), (Agent Orange has been so lovingly giving to so many vets I am acquainted with. They are the only family I have left. No family, friends or enemies. My last family member was stolen along with my rental car. Oh, she was a Himalayan Female Feline. Seal point, 8.5 years old and the only being left in the world who gave a damn about me. Sorry. got off track there for a minute. Must be the PTSD from WATERMELON WITHDRAWAL.
Hi. My name is Jim Giles or Mr Jim’s Produce on Facebook. Looking for watermelons and tomatoes prices. U can call or text me at 9312061390