This week’s featured Female Farmer is special in that she is one of the inspirations behind Female Farmer Friday! I discovered Katelyn through her podcast The Rural Woman Podcast. I love listening to her accent – she’s Canadian! – and I love the questions she asks her guest in order for us to hear their amazing stories. She even has awesome “I am your farmer” shirts in her shop! So, with no further ado, I introduce Katelyn Duban.
• Sara Beth

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Please briefly introduce yourself.

My name is Katelyn Duban. I am a first generation female farmer from Southern Alberta, Canada married to a multi-generational farmer named Justin.

What type of farm do you have?

We operate our families certified organic grain and oil seed operation growing many different crops depending on the year, growing conditions and crop rotation. Some of the cash crops we grows include hemp, oats, flax, wheat, beans, peas and sunflowers. We strive to grow nutrient rich food in an environmentally and economically sustainable fashion.⠀I personally have a herd of goats and a beef calf that we use to graze on pasture around out farm. Since we are a certified organic operation we do not use and synthetic fertilizers or pesticides so the goats help with weed control and lawn maintenance.

How long have you been farming?

I am very new to farming and agriculture. Justin and I have been together for seven years, married for two. When we got married I had no intention of working on the farm. I had a career in post-secondary education and was happy to receive a salary and health benefits! But, that only last a short while before I began to fall in love with the lifestyle of farming and nine months after we were married, I quit my job to become a full time farmer.

Do you have an off-farm job?

My off-farm job actually takes place ON the farm. I am the creator and host of The Rural Woman Podcast as well as blog over at WildRoseFarmer.com.

Please share with us one of the biggest struggles you have with farming.

One of my biggest struggles with farming is the isolation factor. Though our farm is not from the town I grew up in and lived my whole life, sometimes it can feel like its thousands of miles away. When I married my husband and moved to the farm, friends and family were so excited for me and promised to visit often. Well, for some that was truly the case and they make the time and effort to come out to the farm and I am forever grateful to those people. Other than seeing my husband and our crew, there is not much face to face interaction that goes on around here. That is part of the reason I started my online presence was to connect with other people in agriculture who could feel the same struggles and celebrate the victories and understand what the heck that even meant.

What is something about your farm life that you think would surprise most people?

Coming from the city and not having any experience in agriculture, I think the biggest thing that has surprised people is my hands on approach to farming. I think a lot of people assume my roll of the farm is parts driver and cook, which I totally am those things, but I also drive tractors, run equipment, move irrigation pipe, etc. Being a woman on a farm doesn’t mean you only do the stereotypical ‘girl jobs’. My husband and I, along with our crew, do all the jobs that need to get done because we are a team.

Can you share one of your long-term goals for your farm?

My personal long term goal for our farm is to be able to learn to run every piece of farm equipment we use. My resume is getting pretty long and it’s always exciting to me to add another one to the list.

If you had the chance to tell one thing to someone without any first hand knowledge of the farming industry, what would it be?

I would tell them that farming is not a job, it’s a lifestyle. As farmers, we have one shot to make a living each year. We dedicate our lives to the land and providing food to feed the world. I’d say it’s the most humbling experience I have ever had the privileged of experiencing.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about agriculture?

I think one of the biggest problems we face in the world of agriculture is consumers being misinformed about where their food comes from and how it is produced. It’s become part of our jobs as producers is to debunk the myths that are out there about the crops we grow, the animals we raise, etc. It can be an overwhelming and frustrating task, but I think it’s important for consumers to know about the care and respect we have for our land and animals.

What is something you are deeply passionate about?

I am passionate about the story behind agriculture. I admire the multi generational families who have continued their legacy on the land and in their herds. This was the reason behind me starting The Rural Woman Podcast was because I was so inspired by every type of women in agriculture and how nobody was doing it the same. I wanted their stories to be heard by a wider audience.

What is one book you think everyone should check out?

Billi J Miller’s books Farmwives in Profile and Farmwives 2. I read these books soon after Justin and I got married and they were so helpful to me and my transition on to the farm. Billi interviews women on the farm that have a multitude of roles. They are heartwarming and fabulous!

If people want to follow your farm journey, where can they find you?

I am @WildRoseFarmer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. My website is WildRoseFarmer.com and my podcast is titled The Rural Woman Podcast

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Thank you so much, Katelyn, for sharing your story with us, and for sharing so many stories through your podcast! Readers, I highly encourage you to check out Katelyn’s podcast – it really is one of my favorites. She’s also super fun to follow on Instagram.