Feb 28, 2025

Women in Farming: Leaders Driving Change in the Vegetable Industry

Women are stepping into pivotal roles across agriculture, challenging stereotypes and reshaping the industry. From small family farms to commercial operations and academia, these leaders blend tradition with innovation to drive sustainability and community impact.

The following profiles showcase the journeys of women in farming, emphasizing how they found where they fit—and how they help others do the same.

Allison Hiller: Next-Generation Orchard Owner

Raised on her family’s farm in Penn Yan, New York, Allison Hiller grew up surrounded by apples, grapes, cherries, black raspberries, and peaches.

After earning a degree from Penn State and pursuing a career in senior living, she returned home when her parents considered retirement.

In 2020, she and her husband, Michael, purchased Apple Barrel Orchards, adding u-pick apples, grapes, and cherries, a retail store, and a cidery producing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Hiller oversees the farm store and cidery operations, staffing, marketing, and finances.

That’s not to say it was easy, at first. Finding her place took intention.

“I recall attending a grape growers’ meeting a few years ago, seven months pregnant, surrounded by men who had been farming for decades.” She felt out of place, despite the fact that her family had been farming for generations.

“I had to remember that although I was a new farmer, I have a legacy to share with others. I belonged there just as much as those men did.”

For Hiller, relationship-building was key to. “Taking the initiative to introduce myself and starting conversations in new settings has helped me overcome that initial feeling of not fitting in.”

Marketing helped, too, and Hiller believes women bring a fresh perspective. “Social media plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions,” she said, “and as a woman, I’m able to share our story in a way that resonates with a wider audience.”

Mary Sheppard: Asparagus Field Leader

Mary Sheppard didn’t grow up on a farm, but she’s always been passionate about the outdoors.

She graduated from Michigan State’s Crop and Soil Science Program, then spent some time working in crop consulting before joining Golden Stock Farms in Mears, Michigan. Sheppard oversees 350 acres of asparagus plus row crops. She also runs equipment, handles winter maintenance, scouts fields, writes fertilizer and chemical recommendations, and manages migrant workers during asparagus harvest.

Sheppard emphasizes that women bring patience and empathy to agriculture. “I think people are a little skeptical due to the long history of this being a male dominated field,” she said, “but I’ve always been given the opportunity to do whatever it is that I wanted to try.”

And when it comes to changing the status quo, communication is key. “Women in ag have done a wonderful job these past few years of promoting ag on social media and telling the farmer’s story.”

Amy Wysocki: Blueberry Farm Operator

As director of operations at S. Kamphuis Blueberries in Holland, Michigan, Amy Wysocki runs the processing shed with her father and manages u-pick, a retail store (ice cream, muffins, gourmet foods), sales paperwork, and wholesale packaging of more than a million pounds of blueberries annually.

Although she once planned to leave, she’s proud to be continuing her family’s legacy and helping others feel welcome on the farm.

“I often confide in women in the industry and find that everyone likes to help fellow farmers,” Wysocki said. “Your neighbor isn’t your competitor, and we all hope to see other farmers win.”

Inspired by female mentors and fellow growers, Wysocki now supports other women in farming. “I just tell them to be confident and pray about it,” she explained. “Even though it can be hard, the outcome is so worth it. For me, there’s nothing better than seeing people come to pick blueberries and make core memories.”

Alicea Shukin: Cherry Orchard Horticulturist

A recent Olds College horticulture graduate, Alicea Shukin serves as horticulturist at her family’s Creston, British Columbia orchard. The farm, once focused on apples, now grows 200 acres of cherries.

Shukin manages spray scheduling, receiving and shipping, and pruning, learning alongside her father while preparing to help lead the business with her siblings. “I love the outdoors and growing fruit,” Shukin said. “I get a big sense of accomplishment when the fruit is off the trees.”

As for that sense of belonging, Shukin ties it to skill-building and mentorship. “I’m learning from what my father is teaching me,” she said, “but I want to be learning from other people as well, especially women.”

The Growing Role of Women in Farming

Across orchards, asparagus fields, blueberry farms, and cherry operations, these leaders show how competence, communication, and community help women establish where they fit—and then lift each other up.

As part of a broader movement spotlighting women in farming, their stories demonstrate how mentorship and relationship-building drive a more resilient, innovative future for agriculture.

— Keith Loria, a graduate of the University of Miami, is an award-winning journalist who has been writing for almost 20 years.