Director’s Perspective :
Women in Agriculture Laura Braun
Historically, women have always worked as partners in agriculture. While their roles may have sometimes been different, they worked equally hard and with just as much heart and devotion as their male counterparts. The success of American agriculture is just as much the result of their efforts as anyone’s! During each generation, American farmers and ranchers have faced different kinds of adversity and women and their families faced each and every challenge as though their lives depended on it. Indeed their lives, as well as the life of American society, did depend on their dedication. Just as women have always provided value to their family farms, having diverse voices, including women, on the GreenStone board is a strong asset. I think I provide a little diversity not only as a woman, but also as someone with a different background, having grown up in Metropolitan Detroit. Today, one of our many challenges is that a much smaller percentage of the population is directly involved in agriculture. As society becomes further and further removed from the farm, so does the understanding of what it takes to put food on all our tables. It is important that we tell the story of all the good American farmers and ranchers do for our country. An effective way to tell that story is to have an understanding of a different perspective. As a woman in agriculture, and one from a non-agricultural background, I have the benefit of that understanding. I serve on the GreenStone board and hope to make it stronger by using this strength for the benefit of the cooperative!
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Spring 2021 — Partners
