Stay Informed

Contact:
Colleen Settle
317-692-7822
317-242-8907
csettle@infb.org

(Indianapolis) – March 5, 2024 – In honor of National Women’s History Month, which recognizes the contribution of women in American history as well as their ongoing impact on society, Indiana Farm Bureau highlights the critical role female leaders play in agriculture.

According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Farm Census from 2022, about one third of farmers in Indiana are women, touching over 28,000 farms equating to over 5.7 million acres of land in the state. According to the Purdue University College of Agriculture 2023 student demographics, female students continue to be in the majority, with 62% of undergraduate ag students being female.

A woman in ag doesn’t mean they only work on the farm. Women also work in agribusiness, teach the next generation about the importance of ag, and use their voices to educate and raise awareness for agriculture.

One of those women is Janis Highley, of Huntington County, who serves as INFB 2^nd vice president. Highley serves on the board of directors and chairs the INFB Women’s Leadership Committee, which is dedicated to educating the public through programs and events. These activities provide women with a platform for leadership, political involvement and professional development.

“The WLC is committed to helping women realize their potential in the ag industry and take advantage of leadership opportunities,” said Highley. “We want to meet women wherever they may be in their leadership and advocacy journey.”

While Highley didn’t grow up on a farm, she was raised around agriculture in Warren, Indiana. Her grandparents were dairy farmers and her mother worked for a local fertilizer company.

“My mother showed me that there was a place for women in the ag industry – it was just normal to me,” explained Highley. “So, when I was in high school and college, I knew I wanted to be involved in ag too.”

After Highley got married and graduated from Huntington University with a degree in business management, she joined her husband’s family farm where they produce corn and soybeans. They are fifth-generation farmers, along with their two sons who are the sixth-generation. Highley characterizes herself as a small farmer, as both she and her husband have always worked on and off the farm.

While Highley drove the grain cart on the farm, she also worked at the fertilizer plant in the spring and the grain elevator plant in the fall.

“I have always had an off-farm job in the agribusiness space and then been able to farm in the evenings and on weekends,” said Highley. “I’m proud to be able to balance those two things and do it successfully.”

Once her kids were grown, Highley started at Strategic Grain Hedge as a grain analyst assistant where she helps farmers and agribusinesses protect their bottom line through grain sales and hedges on the Chicago Board of Trade.

That is also when Highley became more involved in the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and INFB, where she served at the county level as a PR coordinator and then as District 4 education and outreach coordinator, representing members in Adams, Blackford, Grant, Howard, Huntington, Jay, Miami, Tipton, Wabash and Wells counties. In December 2023, she was elected INFB 2^nd vice president.

“My passion is helping farmers,” explained Highley. “And this position gives me a platform to do that through advocating and educating about important issues within the industry.”

Highley wants other women to know that you don’t have to grow up on a farm or rural community to be a part of the ag world.

“Don’t get hung up on where you live or your gender - if you have the passion for ag, you can make connections in the community and open doors to new opportunities.”

Sam Schwoeppe, INFB member from Dubois County, also is a member of the WLC, representing District 9, which includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties. Being a district education and outreach coordinator has given her the opportunity to introduce agriculture to the next generation.

“Seeing kids ask questions and learn where their food comes from is exciting,” said Schwoeppe. “You never know who you will inspire with just one interaction and where that inspiration may lead.”

Schwoeppe grew up on a dairy farm in Warrick County before marrying her husband and working on his family dairy, Schwoeppe Dairy in Huntingburg, Indiana. Schwoeppe and her husband are fourth-generation dairy farmers and her two sons, who now co-own and operate the dairy as well, are the fifth generation.

“Dairy has brought so many exciting things to my life,” explained Schwoeppe. “I love cows, and I’m appreciative for everything they give us – milk is nature’s perfect food.”

After Schwoeppe’s sons were grown, she went back to school and got her graduate degree at Western Kentucky University. Off the farm, she is the director of business partnerships at Fresh Connect Central, an agrifood distributor operated by Gleaners primarily serving the national Feeding America network. The organization’s mission is to help all food banks and similar food distribution partners access fresh produce, protein and dairy at the lowest possible prices. Prior to that, Schwoeppe worked at Feeding America as senior manager of agrifood engagement.

In addition to being an INFB district education and outreach coordinator, she serves on the INFB livestock and animal care policy advisory group. She also serves on the board of directors of Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. as the treasurer.

When it comes to misconceptions about women in ag, Schwoeppe notes that the term “farm wife” should be replaced with simply, “farmer”.

“Women may not have the loudest role on the farm, but they are often the glue that holds everything together -- they get everyone fed, pay the bills, run equipment, care for livestock, milk the cows, fill the gaps and keep everything organized.”

You don’t ever hear the term ‘farm husband.’ It’s the family that is married to the farm, especially when it comes to livestock.  As farmers, we depend on livestock and livestock depend on us. It’s a symbiotic relationship – the family depends on the farm and the farm depends on the family.”

Susan Brocksmith, an INFB member from Knox County, also was raised in a farm family near Bicknell, Indiana. She studied ag systems management at Purdue University and has worked in a variety of jobs from a sales representative for the Monsanto Chemical Company, to a research assistant for the Southwest Purdue University Research Farm and an assistant county supervisor for the Soil and Water Conservation District.

But for the last 35 plus years, Brocksmith’s passion has been teaching ag. She currently serves as dean of the Public Service Division Office at Vincennes University. Prior to that, she was the chair of the Agribusiness program where she developed the agribusiness concentration in business technology -- a four-year bachelor’s degree program -- in 2013.

“Before this program, there was only an associate degree in agribusiness available at Vincennes University,” said Brocksmith. “This program provided graduates the ability to really advance their careers and compete in the ag business job market.”

Brocksmith also is a co-owner and operator of P.E. Brocksmith and Son Farm with her husband and son-in-law. They farm corn and soybeans near Vincennes, Indiana, where they have invested in regenerative agriculture for over 30 years. The Brocksmiths focus on no-till farming, cover crops and planting green.

“We do everything we can to work with Mother Nature,” explained Brocksmith. “We want to make our farm profitable while being a good steward of the land.”

Brocksmith is actively involved in her local ag community. She is on the Knox County Farm Bureau board of directors, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council board, and partners with the local Soil and Water Conservation District and Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative for educational projects. Brocksmith also started the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter at Vincennes University and served as the first chapter advisor.

Brocksmith notes that there has been a shift in the acceptance of women in all aspects of ag and in a variety of the industry’s sectors – from working directly in the field, to agribusiness and technology or equipment sales.

“Women have always been able to do these jobs. They have the knowledge, skill level and understanding. This has always been the case. The acceptance level has increased dramatically over the last 40 years.”

About Indiana Farm Bureau: For more than 100 years, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected and enhanced the future of agriculture and our communities. As the state’s largest general farm organization, INFB works diligently to cultivate a thriving agricultural ecosystem to strengthen the viability of Indiana agriculture. Learn more at INFB.org.