The Women in Maine’s Dairy Industry

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th and is a perfect time to highlight some of the amazing female dairy farmers around Maine.

Betsy Bullard is an owner of Brigeen Farms in Turner. They milk 600 registered Holsteins. I asked Betsy to comment on ways she liked to be involved in the community.

“Maine’s dairy community is small enough that there is a tremendous sense of interconnectedness. Building on that connectedness in serving in various organizations from Dairy Promotion to Registered Holstein associations to our local School Board offers opportunities to reach out to other folks and encourage their involvement.

 

 

Patrcia Henderson is the Farm Superintent at the JF Witter Research and Teaching Cneter in Old Town, Maine. This farm is a part of the University of Maine campus. They currently milk 35 registered Holsteins. Patricia talked about what makes her farm unique.

“We focus on teaching and research for our animal and vet science students. It’s a hands-on program intended to prepare and teach the next generation for vet school and careers in the dairy or ag industry.”

Here is what Patricia loves about being a female in Maine’s dairy industry.

“I love that I get to be a role model to my students and dairy community. I work hard to stay involved and make sure that other young women see that we can make a difference in our dairy and ag community. I am a member of the Maine Dairy Promotion Board as well as a YC rep for our Agri-Mark Co-op and I enjoy participating in collaborative studies with our dairy partners.”

Teresa Hardy comes from Hardy Farm located in Farmington. She is a third-generation dairy farmer. The farm raises Ayrshires with a few Holsteins mixed in. The milking herd is about 55. Teresa’s passion for dairy farming is undeniable and here is some of the things she loves most.

“I love the fact that I was able to raise my own children right here on the farm. I was able to work alongside my children and watch them grow into hard-working, responsible adults. I continue to work alongside my husband. I am able to educate the youth about agriculture, and participate in school/community activities to promote ag and where your food comes from. I enjoy being able to promote agriculture every chance I get.”

Devon Ouellette works on her family farm – Faber FARMS LLC in Hermon. The farm milks 210 Holsteins and a few Jerseys. She is a third-generation farmer where she farms alongside her family. Devon is a proud female ag-vocate and enjoys having her family by her side.

“I also bring my 2 1/2-year-old son Durham along with me every day. It’s so fun watching him grow up and explore on the farm. My husband Byron is a fireman and is my biggest supporter! I get a lot of ‘I don’t know how you do it every day’. But dairy farming isn’t just a job. It’s a Lifestyle. Heritage. Being a FarmHer in the great USA.”

Annie Watson is a co-owner of Sheepscot Valley Farm. She is a first-generation dairy farmer and has been farming in Whitefield since 2013. Their farm milks 70 Holsteins and is certified organic. Annie farms alongside her husband Mike and their three children. Annie is very involved in the community and loves being a part of Maine’s dairy industry.

“Balancing life as a farmer and mother, the two often at the same time, has been a challenge and at the same time, a tremendous joy. I value the life we have built as a family and the upbringing our children are lucky to have and as such work to support Maine’s dairy farming community as President of the Maine Dairy Industry Association, and as a board member of MOFGA and the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership. While life is often busy, I feel it is well worth it to try and tell the stories of our dairy farm families in order to promote our industry and educate about the important role our farms play in the greater agricultural community.”

Kate Folgler comes from Stonyvale farm in Exeter where they milk Holsteins. Kate is a 5th generation farmer who is a part of DFA, DMI, and the National Dairy Board. Kate knows how special the Maine dairy community is and loves to be a part of it.

“I love the opportunities I have to participate/serve our local community and the farming community by being a female farmer.  It is even better when the community and our farm family get to work together.”

 

Katie Gualtieri is a first-generation dairy farmer at Mayday Farm in Leeds. At Mayday, they milk a mixed herd of mostly Holsteins, a few Jerseys, and a lone Ayrshire. Katie loves her time spent on the farm with her dairy ladies.

“I love animals, and I especially love working with a few dozen of my favorite ladies every day. Maine is one of the few remaining places where small dairies can still operate and contribute substantially to their local economies. I feel lucky to be able to be a part of that community. International Women’s Day was born out of labor movements and a struggle for women’s equal pay, equal representation, and better working conditions – all issues still relevant today as we work to build a stronger agricultural landscape for the future.”

 

Jenni Tilton-Flood is a first-generation dairy farmer and part of Flood Brothers, LLC – a multi generation dairy farm that is farming land that has been in the family for over 200 years in Clinton. Their cow family is mostly Holsteins, but some Jerseys call their farm home too. They put 18,000 gallons of milk on Maine tables every day. Jenni takes pride in being a woman in Maine’s dairy industry and is very involved in her community.

“Being a woman in dairy in my lifetime has meant I have had the opportunity to have these super amazing role models who would never think of themselves as feminists or as trailblazers- they all just thought of themselves as dairy farmers. And I have also been able to raise my children, my daughter especially, in a time where I can point to barriers, show her broken ceilings, hold doors open, make room at the table and bring the extra chairs when needed and MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL COUNTED. It is not easy being a dairy farmer, but if it was easy everyone would be one…but the fact that Maine is home to so many female farmers is proof that we women are made for doing the hard things. Serving as a Commissioner on Volunteer Maine, a member of the PFML Authority, the PFAS Fund Committee, representing Maine dairy farmers as Chair of Maine Dairy & Nutrition Council and on the DMI Board, in my community as a member of the Public Safety Building Committee, and chairing committees in my Co-Op has all provided opportunity to make sure my voice as a farmer, my voice as a woman and my voice as a Mainer is heard and most importantly, that I use my voice to ensure that ALL are acknowledged and that no one, regardless of their identity is excluded. Because as a woman there is no equality, there is no achievement, and there is no mountain top if we do not ring everyone along with us.”

I wanted to make sure to show representation of the female voices in Maine’s dairy industry that may not be farmers themselves. Julie-Marie Bickford is the current Executive Director of the Maine Milk Commission, a quasi-governmental agency charged with monitoring and regulating the pricing of milk at various sales levels. She has held this position since December 2021 and her previous experience includes serving for 20 years as the Executive Director of the Maine Dairy Industry Association (MDIA) – a state dairy farmer trade guild, 2-terms as an elected member of Maine’s House of Representatives, and a long record of public relations & government affairs consulting work.

“Advocating for Maine agriculture comes naturally to me, having been hard-wired into my DNA through my Aroostook County roots. I grew up understanding how interconnected agriculture is with the success of many other types of small businesses, right down to individuals and families. Anyone who is not a farmer can work another type of job because farmers work hard to provide enough food to feed us and our families. Additionally, they employ people, buy goods and services from others, and drive the economic engine that makes our communities function. Women have been actively involved in agriculture for centuries, primarily behind the scenes. Throughout my career I have seen a steady increase in the number of women working as advocates for agriculture, consistent with the erosion of societal limitations for gender roles.  As we embrace the concept that effort + education + opportunity = limitless individual possibilities, it makes sense that agricultural jobs should be no different.  I am so proud to work beside so many talented women and men working to raise awareness about the needs of agriculture and remind our neighbors to appreciate the hard work of thousands of Maine farmers who feed us daily.”

Maine’s dairy industry would not be what is without the women in the industry. International Women’s Day is a great reminder to make sure you thank your female dairy farmers and agriculture advocates.