Female Farmer Project

They've been a part of the farm since day one but only just now seem to be getting their moment in the sun. Audra Mulkern is a writer and photographer, who has created the Female Farmer Project.

MULKERN: I live in a farming community. Over time I noticed the face of the farmers in my own community was starting to change and more and more women were applying to become interns and when I started to notice that was one of those things where I noticed, oh hey look, a lot of the farmers in my community are female as well. There's very few men and so I went to the library and started researching and everything that I was researching was quite the opposite of what I've seen in my own community.

She began documenting the female farmers in her community but she soon expanded until she's documented women from Iceland to Whidbey Island.

MULKERN: I hear from a lot of farmers who are excited to see themselves reflected in the stories. You know, frankly, they're every woman's story really but for women who farm it's quite a lonely job at times and for them to have a place where they can connect with farmers and read their stories and see images that reflect what they do, that's been very inspirational to them.

She says when it comes to finding these stories they kind of find each other.

MULKERN: They've largely gone unsung and I aim to change that.

And that's Washington Ag Today. I'm Greg Martin, thanks for listening on the Ag Information Network of the West.