Recently, women's auxiliaries came under scrutiny, culminating in a merger of Porkettes and Pork Producers in 1993. Inc. Women control about half of the assets in agriculture. But a 1993 Fortune magazine survey stated that women on farms lag behind corporate counterparts when it comes to holding significant industry positions. A Minnesota women's agribusiness network would like to see that change. They actively work with ag groups, urging them to tap more women.
Women are a minority in key government farm jobs in rural America, but they're gaining.
Kathy Knapp, the Wisconsin woman who chose to run the family dairy farm in the 1980s, is optimistic. There are many women at all levels. But efforts, beginning in 1991, to nominate women to farmer committees may begin to correct the problem. Today's ag women's networks and groups may be a counterpart of yesterday's quilting bee. Another healthy trend Talley sees is more farm women confident in their roles.