Farmers of American Farmland Trust

Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer

As we mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer, American Farmland Trust is proud to spotlight the growing leadership of women in agriculture through our Women for the Land initiative. Women now farm or co‑farm 43 percent of U.S. farm land and bring a strong commitment to conservation, family well‑being, and community resilience. Yet gender‑related and intersecting barriers continue to limit women’s access to conservation programs and technical support. AFT works to close these gaps by empowering women landowners and farmers with the knowledge, networks, and resources they need to steward their land sustainably.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month and honor the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we recognize the essential role that women and gender-expansive individuals play in shaping our agricultural landscapes, often without the recognition they deserve. At American Farmland Trust, many of our own staff are farmers themselves. They bring lived experience, practical wisdom, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing producers today. We’re sharing a few perspectives from our team on how their identities as farmers show up in their work at AFT.

Desirée Robertson-Dubois, Senior Conservation Specialist

“My identity as a first‑generation farmer is central to my work at AFT. After 30 years of learning farming on the job, while also raising three children, I understand firsthand the complexity of the role: farmers are managers, mechanics, scientists, and community builders. Now, when I talk with farmers about conservation or soil health, I'm sharing the advice I wish I’d had during difficult years. I show up with empathy because I’ve felt the frustration, burnout, and doubt that many women farmers face, especially when their expertise is questioned. I bring lived experience and begin every conversation with: “Tell me what’s going on and let’s get you what you need.”

Stephanie Castle, Northeast Senior Women for the Land Program Manager

“Women farmers are the cornerstone of farm families. Everything depends on them: they are taking care of the land, the animals, the kids, the house. They are balancing the books and ordering seeds; they are creating a marketing plan and answering calls. But they have such a hard time owning the title of farmer. The process of starting my farm was gradual, and I had a really difficult time calling myself a farmer because my operation doesn’t look like my dad’s or my grandpa’s. But owning that title, calling myself a farmer, has been incredibly powerful for me. With our Women for the Land program, I work every day to instill that power in the women farmers I work with. It is such an incredible transformation.”

Claudia Kenny, Agricultural Land Access and Transfer Senior Specialist

“As a first‑generation farmer with 32 years in production, I bring deep gratitude for a life rooted in the land. Farming taught me patience, long‑term thinking, and the importance of holding a steady vision through setbacks like weather and loss. It also showed me that strong, trust‑based relationships are essential, shaping my commitment to collaborative, care‑centered work at AFT. Farming revealed the abundance possible when we nurture growth and renewal. I understand the dual workloads of many women farmers.”

Charline Xu, Urban Agriculture Specialist

“My love for animal care, cultural crops, and intersectional resource development shapes my work at AFT. Whether tending my backyard flock, saving seed, or adapting resources for accessibility, I’m always reminded to pivot with purpose. This attentiveness guides how I support farmers across diverse identities. Women farmers are highly capable yet often underestimated, so I look for ways to strengthen inclusivity and participation. Collaboration often centers on intentionality, shared decision‑making, and reduced hierarchy. In these spaces, I focus on fostering autonomy, confidence, and adaptability, creating room for realignment and problem‑solving when challenges arise.”

Leila Rezvani, Agriculture and Conservation Technical Specialist

“With three years running my own farm and ten years as a farmworker, my perspective is shaped most by my time working on other people’s land. There is a lot of overlap among first‑generation and small‑scale farmers, and I am proud to be a part of this new generation that is rethinking both the technical aspects of farming and the ways we relate to land, labor, and one another. I’ve felt imposter syndrome in a male‑dominated field that values acres and machinery, so I approach every farm with respect, regardless of size or tenure. I rely on farmers’ and workers’ knowledge, offer judgment‑free support, and I am proud to be part of a new generation redefining farming and relationships to land and labor.”

Charlotte Hamilton, Oregon Farm Planner

“My identity as a farmer shows up in my work at AFT through a commitment to being resourceful, collaborative, and generous. Farming taught me the power of shared knowledge—which I felt profoundly from women farmers in my community and network—and that spirit guides me as I step into the Oregon Farm Planner role. I understand the realities of running a business, juggling responsibilities, problem‑solving beyond formal systems, and balancing motherhood and family. Farmers often rely on one another for support, encouragement, and opportunity, and there is deep pride in building something resilient while caring for land, family, and community. I hope to show up by listening, connecting people to resources, and helping farmers feel more supported.”

Olivia Fuller, New York & New Jersey Senior Communications Manager

“Being a farmer in addition to my full‑time job at AFT has made me aware of how many hats we all wear, and the energy it takes to switch between them. I know this is true of farmers and non‑farmers alike, and especially for women. I’ve come to really appreciate spaces where people can bring their full selves to the table and try to foster those opportunities in my work.”

Elizabeth Bragg, Land Transfer Specialist

“Bringing my lived experience as a farmer is central to my work as a Land Transfer Specialist in the Pacific Northwest. I support landowners, ranchers, and farmers with succession and land transfer through coaching and education, while navigating a succession process of my own with my mentor. That shared grounding builds trust, empathy, and compassion. As a mixed Indigenous person—Amskapi Pikani, Aaniiih, Eastern Band Cherokee, and White—my identities shape how I understand gender and support others with layered experiences. Farming informs how I build trust, listen, and stand alongside women producers on their own paths.”

Caitlin Robinson, Mid-Atlantic Operations Specialist

“As a mother of four and a flower farmer with more than a decade of greenhouse and field experience, I relate deeply to the challenges the farmers we support are facing. That shared experience helps me build genuine relationships at AFT and offer myself as a resource to colleagues and program participants. Conversations with Women for the Land cohort members exploring cut‑flower production often feel like an exchange of knowledge and something more joyful. Growing flowers—and anything—requires patience, curiosity, and hard work. Connecting with others through that shared work consistently.”