One of six children and one of five daughters, growing up on my family dairy farm in central Oregon, I was told “You can” more than “You can’t!”
I thank God that my late parents didn’t see a barrier between genders on what their daughters could do versus what their son could do.
This is exactly what I tell my own 17-year-old daughter, Cassie. I guarantee if someone says she can’t do something simply because she is a girl, she will prove them wrong. She isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and work harder than everyone else in the room – or on the farm.
Cassie takes that farm girl toughness and carries it everywhere she goes.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I think of the many strong dairy women we have working on farms all across this great nation. Many of them are like Cassie and not afraid to roll up their sleeves and not afraid to step up to opportunities.
For all of you farm girls out there, continue to shine bright. The world needs strong leaders now more than ever before. Check out some of my favorite dairy women stories follow.
Check Out These Amazing Farm Women Stories:
- How Feeding Calves Helped This 33 Year Old Farm Mom Recover From a Devastating Brain Tumor
- The Secret to Balancing Kids and Farm: Change Your Perspective
- Legacy for Our Future Leaders
- The Power of Pulling Together
- It’s Okay Not to Be Super Mom All the Time
- The Night from Hell: How a Michigan Dairy Overcame a Devastating Barn Fire
- How Combining Fitness and a Passion for Dairy Helped Launch ‘Dairy Girl Fitness’
- The Power of Love and Faith: How a Journey to Help Foster Kids Heal On the Farm Led One to Their Forever Home
- Turning a Secret Garden into a Garden to Share
- A Single Mom’s Inspiring Journey Raising Four Kids and 1,500 Cows
