Farmers seek support in balancing motherhood and farming

MIDDLEBURG, VA (VR) — Farming with children can look like “running a 100-meter sprint,” said first-generation farmer Pam Jones.

She often races to finish the day’s bare essentials on her family’s Loudoun County farm before her 8-month-old baby beckons her inside.

Like Jones, third-generation farmer Mo Moutoux discovered the give-and-take of motherhood and farming when her firstborn arrived.

“A lot of women think they’re going to strap their baby on their back and go about their day, but that just does not become a reality,” said Moutoux, who also farms in Loudoun County.

While she and Jones benefit from supportive partners and grandparents who share childcare responsibilities, an extra set of hands isn’t always available.

They face the same hurdles as countless mothers today. Living in Loudoun County, finding childcare that’s accessible, affordable and fit for flexible farming hours, “feels like walking a fine tight rope,” Jones remarked.

The extra stress that farm women face can lead to mental health issues. A recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that women had 12 times higher odds of depressive symptoms and eight times higher odds of anxiety symptoms than the men in the sample.

“Farm women are a hardy breed, and sometimes we don’t want to reach out for help or admit that some days are really hard. But it’s okay to need help,” Moutoux said.

She works to create a needed online space for fellow farming mothers to bond, share resources and offer mentorship.

The Moutouxes and other nearby farm families also started an outdoor playgroup to mitigate stress. Parents rotate childcare so everyone can focus on their farm tasks.

“It changed the game for a lot of us,” Moutoux said.

When Jones and her business partner, Sarah Obuchowicz, struggled to grow their produce operation while raising their newborns, they added a part-time nanny to the team. Moutoux also added a part-time nanny to her payroll.

“Know what your support network looks like before you need it, because you don’t want to burn out,” Jones advised.

When feeling overwhelmed, she focuses on shifting her mindset—abandoning a to-do list mentality to slow down, cherish the present, and remember that nurturing the next generation is “the ultimate productivity.”

Jones, Moutoux and fellow farm moms also have access to the AgriStress Helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has interpretation services for 160 languages. Farm moms can call or text 833-897-2474 to receive direct emotional support, advice and resources from a trained professional.

Visit the AgriSafe website at agrisafe.org to learn more.

Read more in November’s issue of Virginia Farm Bureau News magazine at bit.ly/40KhCGi.