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Contact:
Colleen Settle
317-692-7822 (office)
317-242-8907 (cell)
csettle@infb.org

(Indianapolis) – March 11, 2025 – The month of March marks National Women’s History Month and celebrates the contribution of women in American history, as well as their ongoing impact on society. This includes recognizing the vital role female leaders play in the agriculture industry and how they are making their own impacts in their communities.

According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Farm Census from 2022, there are 1.2 million female farmers, which makes up 36% of the country’s producers. More than half of all farms had a female producer, and farms with one or more female producers accounted for 41% of U.S. agriculture sales and 46% of U.S. farmland. 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.

A woman in ag doesn’t just mean they work on the farm. Many women work in agribusiness, ag education or use their voice to raise awareness for agriculture. There are agriculture organizations that have programs specifically tailored to women, including Indiana Farm Bureau and its 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 networking.

Janis Highley, 2^nd vice president of INFB, chairs the INFB Women’s Leadership Committee.

“The goal is to empower women to always be courageous and willing to invest in themselves on or off the farm,” said Highley. “The WLC is committed to helping women realize their potential in the ag industry and take advantage of leadership and advocating opportunities for agriculture on the local, state and even national level.”

Here is a look at female INFB members who are making an impact on Indiana agriculture.

Corina Brant, Tippecanoe County

Corina Brant is no stranger to being a leader in the ag space. Growing up helping her dad and grandfather on the family farm fueled her passion for the ag industry through raising 4-H animals and beef cattle. She spent 10 years in 4-H and earned an American FFA Degree, the highest degree achievable in the National FFA organization, which gave her the confidence to network with others in the ag industry. She has an associate’s degree in applied sciences from Ivy Tech Community College, focusing on ag business, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Purdue Global.

Brant farms alongside her husband, primarily focusing on corn and soybeans in Clinton and Tippecanoe counties. In addition, they sell GHX seed, and Brant is a substitute teacher at Clinton Central. They have two kids -- a 10-year-old and 8-year-old. She held jobs in corporate agriculture up until three years ago when her family enrolled in INFB Health Plans, a suite of affordable health care offerings provided by INFB.

“Before INFB Health Plans, I had to have an off-farm job for the health insurance,” said Brant. “INFB Health Plans allowed me to come back to the farm where I could haul grain, run the combine or semi, complete the administration and accounting work on the farm, and still do the day-to-day tasks of being a mom and participate in other organizations I love – all while having reliable health care coverage.”

Brant was president of the Tippecanoe County Farm Bureau from 2022 to 2024. She served her county Farm Bureau in many capacities, including county township chair, YF&AP chair, secretary, treasurer and vice president. At the district level, she represented District 3 on the YF&AP State Committee. Brant is also active in 4-H and the Clinton Central Education Foundation.

Now Brant serves as an INFB district director, representing District 3, which includes Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Jasper, Newton, Tippecanoe and White counties. In this role, Brant serves on the INFB board of directors.

“Being elected as a district director is an honor,” said Brant. “I’m proud to represent the young farmer voice. I’m excited to lead eight counties and develop current relationships while bringing in the next generation to lead the district into the future. I’m looking forward to growing within the position.”

Brant notes that women need to be confident in themselves and believe that they can achieve success in their roles.

“There are a ton of females on the farm, whether they are hauling grain or driving the combine, as well as in corporate ag,” Brant explained. “And many women aren’t too confident in themselves or don’t think they can take the next step to achieve success.

“It’s important to tell yourself: ‘You got where you are supposed to be. You are there for a reason - that is your role and your power.’”

Jacquelyn Jasinski, Jackson County

Jacquelyn Jasinski is part of a sixth-generation farm family in Jackson County. She and her three siblings grew up on the farm, producing corn, soybeans and cattle, and participating in 4-H. As she and her brother and sisters grew up, her dad, who previously grew watermelons, proposed the idea of getting back into produce.

“My parents told all four of us that we would need to pay for our own college, but they had an idea to help us out,” said Jasinski. “They offered to give us their little garage on the side of State Road 135 in Valonia, Indiana, and turn it into a farm market. We had to fix it up and raise the produce to make money for college.

“From there, Hackman Family Farm Market was born. It really showed the importance of responsibility and working hard to accomplish something.”

Jasinski attended Purdue University, studying agriculture economics, and held jobs in corporate agriculture for a few years before deciding to come back to the farm full time as the wholesale watermelon business was growing. Jasinski ran three market locations located in Jackson and Washington counties, her sister led the wholesale watermelon business, and her brother, father and husband operated the farm.

Then in 2022, a new idea was born. Hackman Family Farm Market expanded into a vegetable home delivery subscription service – Veg2Table, which features fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and seasonings.

“What does the future look like for rural ag and food, especially when we are located in a food desert and people don’t have a lot of access to what they are looking for?” asked Jasinski. “Veg2Table answers that question. Everything that goes into our boxes is 100% locally grown by farmers that we know and trust.

“It has been quite a hit. We had 120 subscriptions in the first year. It was a great accomplishment to see that come to fruition. I’m very proud of it.”

Customers can choose between a five- or 10-week subscription, which includes produce like watermelons, cantaloupe, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn and more from Hackman Family Farm Market, as well as leafy greens, herbs, grapes, peaches, apples, carrots, garlic and onions from other local producers in southeastern Indiana. Free home delivery is available for customers in Jackson County and pick-up spots are available in Sellersburg, Vallonia and Columbus, Indiana, locations. The Veg2Table subscription is delivered every week beginning in June.

The Hackman family decided to close the three brick-and-mortar locations to concentrate on Veg2Table and wholesale watermelons, which you may find in Kroger, Costco and other groceries. They also operate their corn and soybean farm, as well as produce butcher beef for neighbors and friends.

Jasinski serves on the Jackson County Council and is a member of Jackson County Farm Bureau. She loves being able to work with her family and husband daily, as well as getting to spend time with her two young boys, who love to help out on the farm too. She appreciates how both men and women can work on the farm and be present parents.

“It used to be if you worked on the farm, you were a farm wife bringing lunch to the field and taking care of the kids,” explained Jasinski. “I do those things, but I also drive the grain cart, and there are some nights that I’m in the field setting watermelons or packing Veg2Table bags, so my husband will put the kids to bed. Roles are changing – both men and women want to work, but also be there for their kids. It’s all about supporting each other.”

Kelley Sheiss, Whitley County

Kelley Sheiss did not grow up in agriculture, but she did grow up loving animals. She grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and immediately connected to working with livestock after attending a 4-H cattle show.

“I always joke that I like animals more than people, but there is some truth to that,” said Sheiss. “I love being a good steward and caretaker to animals, and consider it a responsibility and privilege to take care of them, knowing they serve a greater purpose for the food supply.”

Sheiss attended Penn State University and studied animal science, where she also met her husband, who grew up on a first-generation farm in Pennsylvania before moving to Larwill, Indiana, to grow their farm. After college, Sheiss worked for the Pennsylvania Beef Council before working for the National Livestock and Meat Board in Chicago.

After marrying her husband, she joined her husband on the farm in Larwill where they have a farrow-to-finish hog operation and a cow-calf herd, as well as grow soybeans, corn, wheat and hay. Her son returned to the farm last year and now runs the show pig part of the operation.

Over the years, Sheiss has held a number of positions in agriculture, including program director of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation’s leadership program and an ag teacher in the Whitko Community School Corporation. Currently, she works full-time on the farm, while being heavily involved in both local and state agriculture organizations.

Sheiss served as president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association in 2024 and still sits on the board of directors as past president. She is a FFA volunteer, a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Whitley County Board of Zoning Appeals, and an International Cornish Breeders Association district director. Sheiss is also a member of Whitley County Farm Bureau where she actively engages in the policy development process.

“So many policies start at the local level,” Sheiss explained. “A number of policies are unique to a specific region and county. It’s important to share those with our local elected officials to make sure that ag has a seat at the table.”

Coming from a non-ag background, Sheiss felt like she had to break through in the industry regardless of her gender.

“If you work in farming, you can’t let gender be a barrier from you doing what you are passionate about,” said Sheiss. “If a door is not open for you, you either need to try to open it yourself or design a new door. Don’t stop making those opportunities – if there isn’t one there, create it.”

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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.