Meet three women who have
embarked on careers in the
agriculture industry. This
program profiles Deanna
Johnson, a marketing
representative who assists and
makes purchases from grain
producers; and Julie Couillard, a
production coordinator who
manages soil preparation,
seeding, watering, and
fertilization for an organic vegetable farm. Remarks from
co-workers and supervisors provide additional layers to the descriptions of each
job. View a preview video clip and read below for descriptions of each segment,
or scroll to the bottom to order!
Order Online Now!
Sometimes one’s career choice is ingrained
from an early age. For farm marketing
representative Deanna Johnson, it was a
natural. She came from a community with
only two major industries, oil and farming.
After high school Deanna worked in the
agriculture industry for seven years.
Eventually, it became clear that in order to
get a good, stable job, she would need to enhance her education with a college
diploma.
While Deanna didn’t have a strong farming background, she really liked people
in the agriculture industry and that was enough for her. Now Deanna enjoys a
challenging and rewarding position with Cargill AgHorizons, buying grain from
farmers.
A farm marketing representative can make a great living, depending on experience and where you work. Deanna works a regular 40 hour work week, but the busy harvest season often requires more hours.
She finds going out on site and interacting with
the growers themselves is one of the most
satisfying parts of her job. Good interpersonal
skills are also key to success in her position.
“Other women would like this job because it’s a
challenging position. There’s satisfaction at the
end of the day and every day is different.”
Order Online Now!
Julie Couillard is a production coordinator
for an organic vegetable farm. Julie does
everything from preparing the soil and
sowing the seeds to watering and
fertilization. She also packages and ships
the final product to the customer.
The farm is operated on the basis of
Community Sustainable Agriculture (CSA). People help fund the farm activities
and in return, are provided with organic vegetables on a weekly basis.
Julie likes her job because it allows her to spend
her days outdoors. She currently makes minimum
wage and says the only way to make more is to
stay with the same employer for a long time. Her
skills can be used in other areas of the industry
such as in greenhouses, nurseries and other
farms. Julie, however, likes her job and wants to
remain in organic agriculture. “I like what I do
now because I’m a strong believer in ecological
agriculture.”
Growing organically can be a challenge without the usual pesticides to protect
the crops. Julie monitors her vegetables closely to make sure they are getting
everything they need to grow and prosper.
Julie’s days are between eight to ten hours, depending on the season. When
she takes time out from her farming day, Julie still likes to be close to nature.
Order Online Now!
In spite of all the technological advances the industry has seen, farming is still deeply rooted in nature. This aspect is what drew Valérie Houle towards a career in agriculture. She was looking for work where she could connect with nature and experience the seasons. Her job as a dairy farmer met all her expectations.
Valérie is responsible for all aspects of her cows. But it's the genetics part of
her work that especially fascinates her. She is in charge of artificial
insemination. She firmly believes that the secret to increased milk production
lies in improved genetics. “The big challenge in my work is to achieve good
results with animals. Animals don't talk so they can't tell you if they have
problems. I have to figure it out.”
Valérie is aware of the lingering notions by some in
the industry that women don't have the physical
strength to do the job. It's simply not the case,
especially with the modern equipment. But you still
have to be in shape and in good health. Valérie
spends the best part of the day on her feet, going
from one task to another – no coffee breaks!
Valérie knows that women have always been involved in agriculture but it's only
now that women are taking their place as fully-paid workers, partners and even
owners of agricultural enterprises. This is certainly a break with tradition and
one that Valérie hopes will encourage more and more women to take their
place in this field.
Click the image to the left
for a preview video clip!
Click to Return to Full DVD List
Developed in 2006 in Canada, the Career Options for Women series is an
outstanding resource for schools wanting to attract women and girls to Science,
Technology and Trades!
Please Note: These videos are an excellent depiction of women in these jobs
and are interspersed with Canadian salary and labor statistics, which are
similar to the numbers in the United States. As there is a no-return policy on
these publications, please make sure to look at the preview video clip for the
DVD(s) you are ordering.
Pricing - Career Options for Women: Emerging Technologies DVDs
