Cora L.

Women in Farming: Rooted in Tradition, Growing the Future. 

Cora L.
Strait Regional Centre for Education Heritage Fair
 Port Hawkesbury, NS

My project started with a question I had about my family’s farm. It’s called R.A. Rose and Sons, but I knew my aunt Keisha worked on the farm, which made me wonder if maybe it should be called “and Daughters, too”. My aunt Keisha drives tractors, makes big decisions, and is even the President of the PEI Federation of Agriculture. That made me wonder if women always helped on farms, even if they weren’t always given credit?

To learn more, I interviewed my Aunt Keisha and my Grampie Boyd. They told me about how farming has changed, and how women like my great-grandmother Elora and great-great-grandmother Bessie worked just as hard as the men in their times, doing everything from raising chickens and harvesting the crops to cooking turkey dinners for the harvest crew six days a week! I also learned about women farmers and leaders today, like Alicia King in Nova Scotia and Senator Mary Robinson who was the first women President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. 

In the end, I found out that women have always been farmers, they just weren’t always called that. My family’s story is just one example of how girls and women are strong, smart, and important in agriculture, and how their voices are finally being heard.

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

I interviewed my Aunt Keisha and my Grampie Boyd, who both work on our farm and know a lot about its history. I also read about other women in agriculture like Alicia King and Senator Mary Robinson, and I looked up facts from Statistics Canada, the Dalhousie Agricultural College, and the Government of Canada’s website.

My Grampie’s stories showed me how farming has changed over time and how women always helped even when they didn’t get credit. Aunt Keisha’s story helped me see what it’s like to be a woman farmer today and why leadership is important too. Other stories from outside my family helped me understand that this isn’t just our story, it’s happening all across Atlantic Canada too! 

What is the historical significance of your topic?

Farming is a huge part of Canada’s history, especially in places like PEI. For a long time, people thought of farming as “men’s work,” but women were there the whole time - planting, picking, preserving, cooking, and managing money. Now, more and more women are being recognized as farmers and leaders. That’s important because it helps young girls like me imagine themselves in those roles. It also means farms might be run differently in the future by using more teamwork, new technology, and fresh ideas. The change isn’t just about giving credit, it’s about opening up new possibilities for the next generation.

Why did you choose this topic? 

I chose this topic because I’m really proud of my family and our farm. I wanted to learn more about the women in my family and how they helped build what we have today. At first, I didn’t even realize how much they had done! Once I started asking questions, I found out that the farm I love is full of amazing women who have been working hard for generations. I think their stories deserve to be told.