Grit, Grace, and Growth: New Video Celebrating Women and Nonbinary Farmers in Massachusetts

American Farmland Trust Launches New Video Series Elevating Women and Nonbinary Farmers in Massachusetts

American Farmland Trust (AFT) has launched a new video spotlighting women and nonbinary farmers across Massachusetts who are leading the way in regenerative agriculture and soil health. The video is now available to watch on AFT’s YouTube channel here.

The 15-minute film features five farmers from Eastern and Western Massachusetts with diverse farming backgrounds, sharing their experiences in their own words. Through practices such as conservation tillage and cover cropping, and through participation in peer-to-peer learning, these farmers are building more resilient operations while navigating ongoing barriers to land, equipment, and other critical resources. Together, the video profiles contribute to a more inclusive vision of agriculture in Massachusetts, highlighting the vital contributions of women and non-binary farmers who are often overlooked.

“Stories shape how we understand who belongs in agriculture,” said Alissa White, New England Deputy Director at American Farmland Trust. “By lifting up the voices of women and nonbinary farmers, we can better reflect the diversity, leadership, and care that already exist on farms across Massachusetts.”

Created in collaboration with videographer Julianne Gauron of Snow on the Road, AFT staff, and the featured farmers themselves, the profiles highlight why equitable, soil-centered conservation programs are essential to the future of agriculture and conservation. Through these farmers’ voices and lived experiences, this film also reveals the challenges they face and the leadership they bring to their land and communities.

A Public Screening that Brought Farmers Together

The film was publicly released following a premiere event and celebration held on November 14 at the historic Gould Barn in Topsfield, Mass. The event, titled “Grit, Grace, and Growth,” marked the first public screening of the film and brought together featured farmers, their families, community members, donors, and AFT staff.

The evening began with a welcome reception, followed by remarks recognizing the farmers, creative collaborators, and funders who made the project possible. Each farmer was introduced by a guest before their story appeared on screen, creating a shared moment of recognition and connection. Guests watched the film together in the barn and shared a locally sourced meal featuring ingredients from Massachusetts farms.

For many of the farmers, the event offered a rare opportunity to see their work and stories reflected back to them in a public, celebratory setting. Attendees described the atmosphere as warm and affirming, noting the significance of gathering in person to honor farmers whose contributions are often underrecognized. Several farmers met for the first time that evening and expressed interest in staying connected beyond the event.

The event marked an important milestone in the “Grit, Grace, and Growth” project, reflecting months of collaboration among farmers, artists, and AFT staff. Beyond the film’s release, the gathering strengthened relationships among participants and reinforced the value of creating space for farmers to be recognized, connected, and celebrated. AFT plans to continue sharing the video with public audiences while building this work through future storytelling, learning opportunities, and in-person gatherings that center farmer leadership.

Watch the full video series below! It will also be screened at a reception at the Greenfield Public Library in early summer 2026. Check our New England Events page for more details once they become available.

The video is part of American Farmland Trust’s Women for the Land program, which supports women and nonbinary farmers through Learning Circles that foster connection, shared knowledge, and leadership in conservation. The program helps expand not only who farms but also how we care for the land by creating spaces where farmers can learn from one another and strengthen their roles as conservation leaders. The project behind the video was organized by the New England Climate and Agriculture team, which is dedicated to combining peer learning with technical and financial assistance opportunities to help farmers thrive in the face of emerging challenges.

This project was funded by the Massachusetts Humanities Council and an anonymous donor.