A Woman Farmer’s Journey in Leadership

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Peggy Brekveld on embracing yourself as a leader

The following is adapted from a recent address by Peggy Brekveld to OMAFA’s Program Analytics and Reporting Unit, delivered as part of events marking the United Nation’s International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.

My mom is happiest with her animals. If she was in a bad mood, we all knew how to change the conversation by asking her about her cows or goats! Her sense of awareness of how an animal is doing is one of her many gifts. My dad was the talker. My mom got stuff done while he had coffee. Both had gifts. Both were farmers. But my mom was the one who had farming in her blood. She still does.

Historically, many women were involved in farming — they just weren’t the ones with their name on the deed or in the show ring. Farms were passed on to sons, even if daughters were the true farmers.

That is changing. In this country, women own land, grow crops and feed animals. Women stand in the front of rooms explaining what we do and how we do it, advocating for farm success. Female role models with profitable operations are highlighted in farming magazines.

Change is a process, though. Different regions and sectors have different levels of acceptance of women in farming or in leadership. Women are still seen as different, though. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer!

As a farmer, I received a lot of acceptance along the way. My home community has a lot of women active on farms. There were a lot fewer women in leadership, though. What that meant was that women farm leaders stood out in a crowd, for better or worse.

Research by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council says that the image of a farmer is still a middle-aged man in a plaid shirt and a ball cap. I have hit middle age, but my shirt is rarely plaid, and my version of a hat is not a baseball cap!

I am different. In fact … I am a woman! I am also a northerner, a mother of five, I like to sing in public and in the shower — just not at the same time!

Talking in front of a crowd is a highlight. I am different. And that’s okay. Female or male or otherwise, it is okay to be you. It took me a long time to realize it takes all sorts of views and personalities and types of people to make the world work.

Being a woman in farm leadership has not always been easy, though. Leadership is hard on its own. You have one extreme where no one wants to be the leader, which can feel overwhelming and lonely. At higher levels, it can be competitive and not always kind. And, as a woman, there are people who think you don’t belong at the front.

On my journey …

• I have been ignored. I was VP at the time, but young and, well, a girl. The president, another board member, and I attended a meeting with a minister and his staff. Their eyes were on the men as we brought our issues. I was quiet for the first half of the meeting. And then I gave an educated response and asked a really thoughtful question … and the room went silent for a moment as they all checked our business cards to see who I was. They had assumed I was the notetaker.
• I have been harassed. There’s the once-over look … lingering too long on the V-neck I wore ... the brushing of a hand across your shoulder. One man left bruises on my arm when he didn’t let go as I tried to walk away. Other women have experienced worse.
• In my home community, I was asked, “Why don’t you stay home and take care of your husband and family?” (This was hurtful to both my husband and me. He and I are a partnership and are supportive of one another.)
• When I left the role of president, one person said that he didn’t realize until afterwards how much sexism I had been facing. He was shocked. I was not.

Being a woman in leadership can be tough. That’s true. It is tough to be different. There will be days when you feel like you have to be perfect, or someone will call you out on it. But there are advantages that may not be so obvious and ways to come through.

Being slightly different in a crowd gets you noticed, and that can be an advantage. If you say something wise, people will more likely remember you and your comment. (If you say something foolish, it will also be noted. Caution is advised!) Being noticed can be a gift.

And sometimes, people will more easily confide in a woman what is really going on. I learned a lot by listening. If you want to understand a person’s real drivers, ask them to share some happy news. It can reveal their values, their passions. It is amazing what people will share with you.

There are also a lot of organizations and institutions that promote products and services geared to women. I appreciate the efforts to encourage change and promote diversity. It would be great if such things were unnecessary. In fact, I once told a focus group that if all were treated equally, we would all be better off. (They went ahead with their pink-coloured products anyway!) It is okay to use the advantages in front of you.

Whether you are a woman or someone who feels like they don’t quite fit the mould, know these things ...

Just be you. Be amazing today. BF

Editor’s Note

Former Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Peggy Brekveld knows what it means to farm, lead and persist in the face of barriers. A dairy farmer at Woodstar Farm near Murillo, west of Thunder Bay, she operates the farm with her husband and now works with the Rural Ontario Institute.

The United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 highlights women’s essential — and often under-recognized — roles in agriculture and the barriers they still face, from access to land and finance to training and leadership.

Better Farming is publishing these adapted remarks from Brekveld’s February presentation to OMAFA’s Program Analytics and Reporting Unit because her experience mirrors that of many farm women in Ontario and challenges narrow ideas of who a ‘real’ farmer is. By sharing her words, we want to help advance a more inclusive, representative farm sector in this province. BF

— Paul Nolan

How the UN Positions IYWF 2026

The Year of the Woman Farmer is about turning women’s often‑unseen farm work into real power over land, credit, training and decisions.

• It’s okay to be different. Be yourself. When I became president, I spent the first three months trying to be the former president. I tried to answer as he would and do all the things that he did — until I was exhausted from trying to be something I wasn’t. One day, I realized I couldn’t be him. I had no less dedication than the previous president. The organizational positions didn’t really change. But my responses to questions had a different tone. I ran meetings with a slightly different format. I found my own way. Just. Be. You.
• There are statistics that show that women will read a job description and think that if they can’t do all the tasks listed, they won’t apply. Men, seeing that they can do 70 per cent of a role, will often feel confident in applying. My advice: Apply. Try things. Take the step. The worst that can happen is that they say no. But one day the door will open. Take the step through it.
• I look back, and I feel like I broke a lot of glass ceilings in my journey. I moved up through one and soon realized that there was another. It is OK to stay where you are for a time. Learn, train, and become amazing in what you are currently doing, and then smash the next level with the power of someone who knows what they are doing!
• Male or female, find mentors. Ask them good questions, share your challenges, and consider their advice. They will hone your skills and your abilities. Be a mentor to others, too.
• Love the ones who have your back. Thank your family and friends every chance you get. They will celebrate with you on the good days. On bad days, they will help you pick up the pieces and face the next one. Know who your support team is.
• Celebrate the good stuff. Celebrate when your favourite cow has a perfect heifer calf. Be proud of yourself the day you found the courage to apply or run for a position. Savour the moment when your kids or a friend says, “I am proud of you.” You’ve got this. When you have a bad day, remind yourself that you are still worthy, just as you are. Keep going. You can do this.
  • Goal: Spotlight women’s roles in ag and push for stronger, gender responsive policies and investment.
  • Focus: Remove barriers in access to land, credit, training, technology and decision making.
  • Reality: Women do much of the world’s farm work but often have fewer resources and opportunities.
  • Why it matters: Empowering women farmers strengthens food security, productivity and rural life. BF