Brenda Rogers: A distinguished history of women in Manatee County agriculture

This year's Farm City Week theme is a focus on Women in Agriculture. If you really think about it, women have been in agriculture as long as men have! Historically, they served in a supporting role to their husband, father or brother who is the farmer or rancher.

My dad was a dairy farmer and so was his father. Growing up, I watched and learned to help my mother as she performed whatever chore needed to be done, and yet she would have never considered herself as an agriculturalist.

So, this year's Farm City Week is dedicated to all the women like my mom and grandmothers, who fed the livestock, cleaned the barn, picked the fruit, and managed the "office." The theme is also about those women who successfully pursued careers in the male dominated industry.

Currently there are five women who have been inducted into the Manatee County Agricultural Hall of Fame and another four who have been named Agriculturalist of the Year. Some have intentionally sought careers in agriculture, such as Amegda Overman (1990), who served as a research scientist, and Dr. Phyllis Gilreath (2002), the first female Agriculture Extension agent to serve in Manatee County.

Fay Blackstone won numerous awards in rodeo competitions as a trick rider; Linda Parks (2014) still serves the industry as a local retailer of farm supplies, and Katherine Kermode (2001) was named the first female commercial vegetable grower in Manatee County and author who shared her stories in print.

Others of us were fortunate to choose careers that were associated with local agriculture. Norma Gill (1984) was a local journalist who used her talent to share agriculture stories, challenges, and successes in print media. Eleanor Hill McKay (1982) served as the secretary to a number of county extension directors for over 30 years and simultaneously served as secretary to the Manatee County Fair.

Betty Glassburn (2007) -- there are simply not words to describe Miss Betty's contributions as a 4-H leader, extension employee, and now in retirement she continues to promote agriculture as a volunteer through many venues, including serving on the Farm City Week committee, arranging ag tours, event publicity, and in general anything asked of her.

And then there is me (Brenda Rogers, 2009), who was fortunate enough to be engaged with the industry in a number of ways -- born into a farm family, childhood involvement with 4-H, through my employment and as a volunteer. The detail of each story is found in the Agriculture Hall of Fame at the Manatee County Agricultural Museum.

Today, women successfully work in every aspect of the industry. All of the agriculture extension agents and most of the vocational ag teachers and FFA advisors are women. Local women trade livestock internationally, conduct research, own plant nurseries and run sophisticated packing houses.

In fact, records show that there are 374 women farmers in Manatee County right now! Each contributes to the $2.29 billion impact the ag industry brings to our local economy. Manatee County ranks seventh in the state in overall agriculture sales. Tomato production remains "king" with over 18,000 acres grown in Manatee County.

During the 2015 Farm City Week, think about the women you know who have served agriculture. Be inspired by their work ethic, the love of the land, commitment and the passion for a way of life found only on a farm.

Brenda Gay Rogers, is currently the Community Services Department director for Manatee County government and chairman of the Bradenton Kiwanis Agriculture Committee. She previously served as an extension agent and as county extension director with the UF IFAS Extension Program in Manatee County and was named Agriculturalist of the Year in 2009.

This story was originally published November 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Brenda Rogers: A distinguished history of women in Manatee County agriculture ."