farmher

“There are a lot more women than men in agriculture in Zambia!”

Chileshe Chansa, Lusaka, Zambia Chileshe Emmeldah Chansa (41) runs a mixed farm in Lusaka province in Zambia, Southern Africa. Without a real agricultural background, she started up her farm, Mabala farm, all on her own after seeing a friend do it. Today, she runs a farm and all the administration that comes with it on […]

Unravelling unconscious bias: It starts with us

by Melanie Epp When I was a kid, I loved riddles. I remember one that really stumped me. It went something like this: A father and son get into a serious automobile accident. The father dies on the way to the hospital. The boy requires surgery. In the operating room, the surgeon said, “I […]

Women in Ag 2023-001

The first issue of the year is out now! In this brand new Women in Ag Magazine, we gathered inspiring stories from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and even Zambia! This issue also contains an in-depth interview and a retrospective. In Zambia, women often run farms on their own. Chileshe Chansa from Mabala Farm tells us […]

“I have earned the respect of the farmers in the area”

Adeline Maillard, winemaker, Cinque Terre (Italy) Originally from the Paris region, Adeline Maillard did not grow up in the agricultural industry. Four years ago, this wine specialist and her partner decided to leave everything behind to buy a vineyard in northern Italy. Women in Ag spoke to her. For Adeline Maillard, wine is a family […]

Raising cattle in the Drowned land of Saeftinghe

Kris Van Royen, beef and pig farmer, Netherlands Right on the Belgian-Dutch border, in the Prosperpolder, we find Kris Van Royen and her husband, Geert’s cattle and pig farm: Saeftingherhof. The farm specializes in a very special meat, called “pré salé meat”. Women in Ag had a talk with Kris about what that is exactly. […]

“Women in agriculture are tough cookies!”

Els Lippens, dairy farmer, USA Els Lippens grew up in Belgium, but moved to the United States with her parents almost twenty years ago. This farmer’s granddaughter learned the ropes of her trade on the dairy farm her father built from scratch in South Dakota, never to return to her home country. Today she and […]

“I feel deep respect for each of the amazing women who manage a farm”

Doris Letina, apple farmer and Vice-President of CEJA She is young, she is ambitious, she grew up on a farm and represents the second generation of women there, and she is very involved in organisations for young farmers in Europe. Women in Ag talked to Doris Letina, Slovenian apple farmer and Vice-President of CEJA, the […]

Marieke Gouda: the female owned Dutch cheese that conquered America

Marieke Penterman (44) is a proud mother of five, a farmer’s daughter in heart and soul and a passionate entrepreneur living and working in America. She left her life in the Netherlands for good in 2003 to start a dairy farm in Wisconsin with her husband Rolf. The pride of the farm is the authentic […]

Isabelle Alfano, Director, SIMA “Women are important for the future of agriculture”

Head of the Agro-Equipment and Construction Division of Comexposium and SIMA Director since 2019, Isabelle Alfano is an expert in managing (agricultural) events for 25 years. Women in Ag asked her about SIMA, its next edition and the role of women in agriculture. Isabelle, tell us about yourself! I was born in Paris and have […]

Mieke Verniest, Belgian pig farmer: “Taking care of piglets has always been my thing.”

Mieke, introduce yourself. My name is Mieke Verniest and I turned 40 in February – oh my God! I have been living in what we call the Flemish Ardennes, a vallonated area in Flanders, with my husband Luc for about 15 years and I run a pig farm. Tell us all about your business! We […]