Spotlight on Female Farmers

Agriculture isn’t a man’s world. From Alabama to New Mexico, meet some of the women who not only grow your food with grit and grace, but simultaneously work toward growth and support of other women in agriculture.

Allison Gurley of Biscoe, Arkansas

Raised on a farm, Allison Gurley is one of nearly 20,000 women in Arkansas agriculture. In 2007 and again in 2011, Allison Gurley took part in Annie’s Project, an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in modern farm enterprises. The program was launched in 2003 by University of Illinois Extension and is now offered in more than 25 states. It fosters problem solving, record keeping and decision-making skills in farm women.

Lisa Hinton of Trilby, Florida

Fifth-generation Florida farmer Lisa Hinton broke new ground time and again throughout her life to improve agricultural opportunities for the next generation, paving the way with her pioneering efforts. In 2015, she earned the title of Florida’s Woman of the Year in Agriculture.

Cassie Young and Allie Corcoran of Eufaula, Alabama

In 2010, Allie Corcoran opened Backyard Orchards in Eufaula with her sister, Cassie Young, and the duo has been going strong since. The pair grew up on their family’s row crop farm, and after graduating from Auburn University, they decided to start their own U-pick operation growing strawberries, blueberries and peaches. The sisters “wanted to allow people to experience agriculture firsthand by doing U-pick.”

Shacey Sullivan of Peralta, New Mexico

Stacy Sullivan supports New Mexico agriculture by informing producers about options they have to enhance their operations through lending. Sullivan also created a program with the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau designed to help young farmers and ranchers become more efficient producers, and co-chairs the Women in Agriculture Leadership Conference.

Renea Jones-Rogers of Unicoi, Tennessee

Jones & Church Farms covers 600 acres, and it produces fresh-market tomatoes including round tomatoes and Roma tomatoes. Renea Jones-Rogers continues her father’s legacy, who helped open the farm in 1975. Her main role involves post-harvest grading, quality control, packing and shipping to customers, and ensuring the produce meets the latest food safety requirements. Jones-Rogers is one of several Tennessee women in agriculture featured by Farm Flavor.