NFU President, Jenn Pfenning

The National Farmers Union (NFU), founded in 1969, created a Women’s Caucus with a dedicated presidential role for women in recognition of both the importance of women in farming as well as the need to have women in leadership roles. Women being in that designated leadership role has resulted in women leading within the organisation in many roles outside of the Women’s Caucus. All four Presidents – NFU President, Women’s President, Youth President, and BIPOC President are women.

NFU BIPOC President, Cheyenne Sundance

We have come a long way, but the need for a Women’s Caucus today is as real as ever. While some women are in a supporting role on the farm, many having off-farm jobs that contribute economically while not taking as much of an active role in farming, others are facing barriers to recognition of their status as the farmer. Increasingly, a woman is the sole or primary operator of the farm. She is the farmer. According to Statistics Canada, “In 2021, 30.4% of Canada’s farm operators were female, up from 28.7% in 2016.”

Many of the new entrants to farming are women who have no farming background in their family. They are drawn to the land for many reasons. Some because they see the need to grow food that nourishes their family or community, others because they are seeking a way to act in the face of the looming climate crisis.

Not only are more women leading in farming, many are doing it as organic farmers. “In 2021, there were 2,560 female farm operators working on farms that reported organic products, up by 30.4% from 2016.” (StatsCan 2021)

There are many women leaders in the Canadian organic sector alongside the women farming. The national organic associations showcase many examples of excellent female leadership at Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), Canadian Organic Growers (COG), and the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC).  All but one Canadian provincial organic association is led by women.

NFU Youth President, Jessie MacInnis

There’s a visible affinity between feminism and organics. True feminism has never been about the triumph of one gender over another. It has always been about equality. Rights for all. Equity and inclusion. These principles mesh naturally with the foundational principles of organics. Working in collaboration with nature instead of attempting to dominate it. Seeking to understand the natural balance and rhythms of the earth to work in harmony with them.

There are many women who have led in this space over the years. I see the next generation of leaders rising and the young women in their ranks will stand on our shoulders and reach higher than we can dream today. They will link arms not only with other women, but with men, and all the gender diverse people beside them and stand stronger, go further. That’s why the future of farming and organics is a place of hope and opportunity for a world that is more just, more fair, more inclusive, and resplendent in its diversity.

NFU Women’s President, Bess Vanzandwyk