Women in agriculture have many and varied roles on and off the farm, and each woman’s approach to her role is as unique as she is. Today, women can “bring” consumers to their farms via video, advocate at the state and national level, launch entrepreneurial farm enterprises and raise up the next generation of farmers — managing mud and all.
These women are real-world influencers. While they may not be dancing on social media, they’ve positively influenced their families, communities and agriculture. They’ve worked on the farm, served in their communities and made the ag industry better through their efforts.
So, here’s a peek inside the lives of some remarkable traditional farm women — women who have spent a lifetime running for parts, driving tractors, raising families and still giving back time and talent to the community.
They share what they’ve learned from a lifetime of farming and raising families on the farm.
‘Show that you really care’
When Linnea Kooistra was 14, her family moved from the farm into town. She had no idea she’d become a role model, educator and mentor in agriculture. But she met a boy named Joel and fell in love. In 1972, they began farming together.
Today, Kooistra is retired, but at its peak, the couple’s Woodstock, Ill., farm included 280 head of Holstein cattle and 1,500 acres of corn and soybeans.
Kooistra recalls that when they were first married, Joel told her they would be equal partners. And so, they were. Their income was split on tax returns, and she helped drive the semitruck, care for calves, run the combine and raise their two children.
“I learned growing up that it’s important to give back,” Kooistra says.
Giving back has meant hosting 700 people for breakfast on the farm during Harvard Milk Days, hosting annual kindergarten field trips, welcoming teachers to the farm, speaking up for the dairy industry, presiding over the education foundation in Harvard, Ill., and much more.
“A healthy community is good for everybody,” Kooistra says.
Kooistra strives to give a voice to what matters to her and aligns with her values, and she’s poured her energy into making the farm successful.
Nobody ever knows everything from the start, and Kooistra has long believed in jumping in and learning.
During the 1988 drought, Kooistra decided she needed to better manage risk. So, she learned to trade commodities, starting with a single contract of forward corn through the former Chicago Board of Trade (now the CME Group). When milk trading began in the ’90s, Kooistra’s broker invited her to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange pit. She was standing on the floor when legendary farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson rang the bell to start trading milk.
After that, Kooistra became a milk marketing guru, writing and speaking to teach dairy farmers how to market their milk. She was a pioneer, offering the chance for many to learn a new management tactic.
Her leadership took her to Capitol Hill, where she testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, arguing for immigration reform in agriculture. She and Joel had firsthand experience, employing three immigrants full time at that point.
Being involved as a farmer, a wife, a mother and an active member of the community has taught Kooistra a thing or two.
“It’s important to be a good role model. It’s important to be a good neighbor. And if you want to be listened to and your message to be out there, you have to show that you really care and that you’re really informed,” she says. “It’s so important to be curious and learn a lot so that you are a good resource.”
‘Be worth listening to’
Susan Wall has lived in Bond County, Ill., her whole life, moving from the southern part of the county to the northern part when she married in 1973. Wall grew up on a small dairy farm and spent her adult life near Sorento, Ill., where she and her husband, Don, have raised corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, cattle, hogs and three children.
Over the years, Wall has raked hay; driven tractors, grain wagons and trucks; farrowed pigs and, of course, raised farm kids. Her attentive nature made her an ideal fit for farrowing the 200 sows on the farm. Wall also keeps track of farm records and assists with office management.
Throughout her life, Wall has been involved in Illinois Agri-Women and American Agri-Women, serving as vice president and president of Illinois Agri-Women for four years. The group presented her with its Outstanding Woman Farmer award in 2018 and its Hall of Fame award in 2024.
Since 2005, Wall has been an active part of Annie’s Project, a University of Illinois Extension program that teaches women everything they need to know about production agriculture, including finance, marketing, production, risk management and more.
You’ll also find her volunteering with 4-H and playing the piano at church nearly every Sunday — and sometimes even filling in for the pastor.
ROOTS: Susan Wall, Sorento, Ill., values the importance of remembering where you came from. Even through her large involvement away from the farm, remembering the importance of roots keeps her connected. (Courtesy of Susan Wall)
Being knowledgeable about agriculture has made Wall a woman to look up to and listen to.
“To be heard, you must be worth listening to,” she says.
While Wall has been a mentor and had a meaningful impact on her community and agriculture, largely with youth and women in agriculture advocacy, she didn’t dedicate that time until after her kids graduated from college, and she had more time on her hands.
“I have learned not to let my work overpower my life and time with family,” Wall says.
So, if you’re busy chasing little kids around the house and now isn’t the season to be involved in things you’d like to be involved in some day, Wall says you can wait for the right time.
At the end of the day, she knows she’s a farm girl from Bond County who’s made a difference.
“Don’t forget who you are or where you came from. No matter where life takes you, don’t forget,” Wall says.
Real wisdom from real influencers
In your head right now, you likely can hear that thing your mom or your grandma used to say all the time — chock full of hard-earned wisdom, gathered over her years on the farm. Here are a few reader favorites from their favorite wise women:
“Be careful what you ‘learn’ to do and make sure you like it, because once you learn it, it’s your job!” — Carol Glover, Albion, Ill., via daughter Shelby Schweierjohn
“You’ll never regret the moments you drop what you’re doing and help your husband on the farm. They start with you thinking of all the things you think you should be doing instead at home, and turn into exactly what you needed to do for your relationship and the farm.” — Sally Bowman, Oneida, Ill., via daughter Elizabeth Hulsizer
“You don’t need to do it all. Just focus on what’s most important to you at the time. And that can change throughout your life.” — Linnea Kooistra, Woodstock, Ill.
“You can have it all, just not all at the same time.” — Sharon Spangler, Marietta, Ill.
“When the farmer is gone, the farm wife does no wrong. And we can’t bring meals to the field when we’ve been running the tractor all day.” — Marilyn Rosenboom, Clifton, Ill.
“Take care of the land for as long as you are on it, and it will take care of you and generations to come. No matter whose name is on the deed, it belongs to God.” — Debbie Glover, Bone Gap, Ill.
“You don’t have to fatten them, you just have to feed them.” — Pearl McClugage on feeding hay crews, via granddaughter Barb Baylor Anderson
“Never talk when sorting cows. Use your instincts to read and anticipate the cows and farmer, and the outcome will be better.” — Rachel Frost, Tallula, Ill.
“You don’t have to run a piece of equipment to be part of the farm. Bookwork, field meals, an off-farm job or just keeping the home running — every single thing is a part of the farm operation. Never discount what you do just because you aren’t out turning a steering wheel or a wrench.” — Elizabeth Hulsizer, Oneida, Ill.
“As long as death happens in the barn, we will be OK.” — Marcia Craig, Clay City, Ill., via daughter Tami Schilling
“Farming can be hard and lonely, especially for newly married farm wives. Build a network of other farm women. You don’t have to do it alone.” — Angie Gerlach, Waggoner, Ill.
“Stop saying you’re ‘just’ a stay-at-home mom. You work. It may be inside of your home instead of outside of it, but don’t for one minute think you ‘just’ stay home.” — Christine Wendte, Altamont, Ill., via daughter Lydia Holste
“You have to balance your life out, no matter what you are doing.” — Susan Wall, Sorento, Ill.
Have more? We’d love to hear them and share in a future story! Email them to ava.splear@farmprogress.com.