RICHMOND — A dynamic panel of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation women shared candid insights on balancing farm life, family responsibilities and community leadership in a discussion called “Harvest of Hustle: Women Leading Farms, Families & Futures.”
The conversation followed a morning of advocacy activities at the Virginia State Capitol, where Women’s Leadership Program leaders visited lawmakers to promote Agricultural Literacy Week and other priorities as part of Farm Woman Lobby Day on Feb. 26.
Speakers represented operations across Virginia’s farm regions. Panelists included lifelong agricultural advocate Maxine Arey of Augusta County; Kimberly Foley, president of Foley Seed & Service of Hanover County; fifth-generation farmer and agribusiness owner Kayla Lawrence of Frederick County; and Sarah Barlow Rudolph, a Wythe County advocate balancing farm responsibilities and a full-time career.
Foley watched her dad struggle in the cattle business in the early 2000s. To keep the farm, he took a job as a local agriculture teacher.
“Up until that point, I was absolutely determined that I was not going to be involved in agriculture or subject my family to the tough stuff that they dealt with,” she recalled.
But his sacrifices motivated Foley to pursue her own path in the industry. She learned personal resilience is frequently revealed in hindsight.
“A setback can signify progress,” Foley said. “It’s putting you in the right position at the right time to be creative about new decisions you get to make.”
Lawrence also saw her dad navigate challenges and changes in farming. She now assists him full time at Richard’s Fruit Market, operated by the family for 73 years.
“We’ve had freezes, we’ve had droughts,” Lawrence said. “We’ve had to sell cattle because we couldn’t feed them. But I’ve learned you have to fix that problem right then and there, and worry about tomorrow’s problems tomorrow. Farm Bureau has pushed us through these times. Those connections helped us figure out how to solve these problems.”
Rudolph said sustaining Virginia’s farm traditions requires investment into tomorrow’s agriculturalists. Generations of gifted rural students were told “you’re too smart to come back to the farm,” she lamented.
“We won’t do that to this next generation, because there’s so many wonderful ways that they can play into agriculture, regardless of whether they decide on a four-year university or not,” she said. “We can use their passion to continue to grow our industry.”
Arey said today’s farm operators are responsible for ensuring the next generation can make an impact.
“One of the best gifts you can give is a good farm succession plan,” she said.
Farm women also heard a presentation on confidence from Carrie Walker, American Farm Bureau Federation director of membership engagement.
-Virginia Farm Bureau