March 8th was International Women’s Day, but did you know that this year is the International Year of the Woman Farmer?
The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026) to “spotlight the essential roles women play across agrifood systems, from production to trade, while often going unrecognized. Women farmers are central to food security, nutrition and economic resilience. IYWF 2026 will raise awareness and promote actions to close the gender gaps and improve women’s livelihoods worldwide.”
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How women lead with confidence in agriculture
Women working in agriculture is not as rare as it used to be and with the help of peers and learning opportunities women are confidently stepping into leadership roles
To highlight both #IWD2026 and #YearoftheWomanFarmer, we’re sharing #womeninag content in our pages and online throughout the month of March.
You’ll find an archive of some of our “best of” articles here. Also make sure to read ‘From Token to Trusted’ by Country Guide contributor Delaney Seiferling. She noticed that women’s roles in ag organizations across the country was increasing substantially and wanted to understand what was driving the trend — and how other sectors within the ag industry can follow suit.
And in contributor Helen Lammers-Helps’ article ‘How Women Lead with Confidence in Agriculture’ you’ll learn about the challenges and barriers that still exist for women in agriculture, despite many improvements over the last few decades. (And make sure you read ‘How to Develop Leadership Presence’ to learn how to develop your leadership skills.)
What women in Canadian agriculture have inspired you? I’d love to hear more: [email protected]
Farm families work together to break new ground and nurture growth. As each member grows, our Farm & Family team wants to know how we can help YOUR farm and family grow further. Share your thoughts with Farm & Family editor [email protected]
