That’s not a surprise to Yvette Longenecker, a dairy farmer from Williamsburg.

Longenecker grew up farming, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business from Penn State and became a partner with her parents, Frederick and Cindy England, as well as several other family members in the Penn England LLC dairy farm operation.

On the farm, she manages the business office and employees and, along with her husband Douglas, also owns and operates a beef and cropping operation and custom combining business.

“I was born into farming. Although I’m part of my family’s second generation actively on the farm, I represent the eighth generation of Pennsylvania farmers,” Longenecker said. “While in college, I made the decision to return to the family dairy farm to continue the tradition.”

Carly (England) Morrissey handles milking machine hoses at Penn England Farms. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

She’s not alone.

In Sinking Valley, Rachel Detwiler and her husband, Brian, operate Maple Kroft Farm, a medium-sized dairy farm. Rachel Detwiler also works as a milk inspector.

“I grew up on a dairy farm, and my husband and I took over the family farm. I’ve been on a farm all of my life,” she said.

Ella Cessna also has been farming all of her life.

Today, she operates 2 Bow Farm, a beef cattle and grain operation near Clearville in Bedford County.

“I grew up on a 500-acre farm, my grandfather milked 125 head in 1970,” Cessna said. “Once farming is in your blood, it is in your blood.”

In Ebensburg, Hattie Henderson runs Bailey Hill Farms, a horse farm.

“I have been dabbling in farming my entire life,” she said. “We purchased property in 2020, so officially we’ve been in business since 2020.”

Henderson’s interest in farming also started at a young age.

“My grandfather had a farm,” she said. “I got interested in horses at age of 8 and my parents built a barn.”

Tracy Hainsey grew up on a farm near Roaring Spring and today helps run Smith Farms in Warriors Mark Township, near Tyrone, with her parents, Bernie and Cindy Smith, and brother, Erick.

“I’ve been on a farm since I could follow my dad around,” Hainsey said. “My grandparents had a farm…. I loved animals and working with the cows.”

Jennifer Heltzel came from a dairy farm background and showed cows through 4-H. In the late 1990s, she went to college to study dairy science, and today, she and her husband, Andrew, operate Piney Mar Farm off Route 866 near Martinsburg.

“I’ve been farming for 27 years,” Heltzel said, adding that she met Andrew in college and they took over his family’s dairy farm.

“It has always been a true partnership. … We are equal partners, we have our own responsibilities on the farm,” she said. “I am not just a farmer’s wife.”

Dorothy Ross’ commitment to farming can be seen in the name of her operation — Dorothy Ross Farm.

Located along Clover Creek Road near Martinsburg, Ross raises beef cattle and goats on the family farm she took over in 2002.

Farming “was something I always liked doing,” Ross said. “My mom and dad (have) owned a farm since I was born.”

After her mother passed away in 2001, Ross decided to stay on the farm “instead of doing other things.”

“I decided to devote my life to the farm so dad could live here as long as he could,” she said. After her father passed away in 2003, “I just continued, made some changes but continued on,” Ross said.

Carly (England) Morrissey is also the daughter of farmers and said she always knew she would be involved in agriculture.

A third-generation farmer at Penn England LLC, Morrissey is the daughter of Barry Jr. and Gwen England.

“My dad is part owner of Penn England and is the herdsman there,” she said. “We work together every day.”

Farming goes back generations in her family as well.

“My grandparents are Barry Sr. and Diane England. My pap is the veterinarian at our farm,” she said, noting she assists him when needed.

“He has taught me a lot,” Morrissey said of her grandfather.

“I was born into a farming family,” she said. “I remember my dad taking me to the barn with him as a young kid and I always loved it. I decided to officially become a farmer full time after I graduated from college in 2018 because I wanted to be a part of helping our family farm continue to grow and innovate.”

1.2 million women farmers

The women operating farms in this region are certainly not alone, as according to the USDA, there are 1.2 million female farmers in the U.S. Women make up 36.3% of all producers — those actively involved in decision-making for farming operations.

Women manage 407 million acres of land and contribute $222 billion in agricultural sales, according to USDA data.

That’s not a surprise to anyone involved in agriculture, as the number of men working in farming has declined since 2007.

Women have stepped up, but not because they had to. Instead, like Hainsey and others, it’s because they grew up with farming and love the work.

In Pennsylvania, more than half (56.6%) of the farms are operated by a woman, meaning at least one producer is a woman, according to USDA.

Meanwhile, 34.6% of all Pennsylvania producers are women.

The importance of their role in agriculture can’t be overstated, but it really isn’t anything new, the local farmers said.

“Women have always played a vital role in family farming. We know the business inside and out — physically, mentally and emotionally. The increase in visibility just reflects what’s always been true,” Longenecker said. “Women bring a wealth of knowledge and strength to farming, and that’s finally being recognized on a larger scale.”

Detwiler agrees and said, in the past, men have been seen as the face of the farm.

“There have always been women in the background; they have always been there in the day-to-day operations,” Detwiler said. “I am not surprised that women are stepping up and taking over as face of the farm.”

In addition, more women seem to be interested in leadership roles and trying to make agriculture more sustainable, Morrissey said.

Opportunities abound

Advances in equipment help women tackle jobs that previously seemed more geared toward men, at least in the public eye. In addition, women farmers have a whole world of opportunities available, depending on their interests, background and consumer demand.

Farming today “is more specialized,” Heltzel said, noting women can be herdsmen, plant specialty crops or have a greenhouse.

In fact, USDA data show female farmers are most concentrated in livestock operations with smaller animals, specialty crops and greenhouse production, while they are least concentrated in large-scale commodity farming like oilseeds, grains and tobacco.

That might be because specialty crops and greenhouses are easier for one person to handle.

“Sheep and goats are also easier,” Heltzel said. “If you have 15-20 acres, you can raise a lot of sheep and goats. One person can easily do (that), that is a great way to get started.”

There are also more younger women getting involved in agriculture.

“It is neat to see the next generation of farmers who are actually engaged in helping run the family farm,” Heltzel said.

Sense of satisfaction

“There is a strong sense of satisfaction in creating something tangible — producing food and sustaining communities. Women are not only stepping into these roles, but excelling in them,” Longenecker said. “We’ve always been resourceful, resilient and capable, and agriculture offers the opportunity to turn those strengths into a fulfilling career.”

For women looking for a career where they can be home, have a family and be in control of their future, farming is “a great opportunity,” Heltzel said.

Technology and the internet have opened up the possibilities, she said.

“Fifteen or twenty years ago, it was harder to sell your products. Now with the internet, the world is at your fingertips. This has enabled more women to be involved in agriculture,” Heltzel said.

Henderson said she expects more women to become involved, noting that when she graduated from Penn State’s College of Agriculture Sciences 2017, about 75% to 80% of the students were women.

Henderson also points out that 4-H is often dominated by females.

“I grew up in 4-H and horses were almost exclusively women. Showing goats and cows in 4-H, it was mostly girls. This is what the 4-H programs are like today; most of the young people coming through the program are girls,” Henderson said.

Morrissey, who has two young sons, Cruz, 2, and Christian, 1, said she is able to raise her family while working on the farm.

“Working on a farm takes hard work and requires a lot of hours, so yes, it is difficult at times. However, I have been blessed with a great family who loves my kids and is willing to help watch and take care of them throughout the day. I couldn’t do it without them. Luckily, we all live close to the farm, so I can see the kids throughout the day and they come to visit me at work,” Morrissey said.

Longenecker said women in agriculture are not just continuing the status quo — they’re helping to shape the future of the industry.

“Many are leading innovation, whether through adopting new technology, exploring sustainable practices or diversifying into areas like agritourism and value-added products. Just as importantly, women play a vital role in building relationships beyond the farm. Women are often the bridge between agriculture and the wider community — educating consumers and advocating for the industry and ensuring that farming stays connected to the people it serves,” Longenecker said.

“For those willing to invest their time, skills and heart, there’s definitely a place for them in this industry,” she added.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.