Lesbian and Queer Farmer Networks in the Midwest

Although government agencies and extension services support all farmers, they have catered to men in conventional agriculture. Excluded sustainable, women, and racial and ethnic farmers have turned to one another, creating... [ view full abstract ]

Although government agencies and extension services support all farmers, they have catered to men in conventional agriculture. Excluded sustainable, women, and racial and ethnic farmers have turned to one another, creating vibrant formal and informal networks to access resources. Do sexual minority farmers similarly draw on each other for support? If so, what is the nature and implications of these connections? I investigated these questions using four years of ethnographic fieldnotes and interviews with 42 lesbian and queer sustainable farmers across the Midwest. I argue that lesbian and queer farmer networks contributed valuable resources to farmers as they entered and built farming careers. Although participants accessed traditional supports, neighborhood farmers, and sustainable agriculture groups, these outlets did not necessarily affirm crucial aspects of their identities as queer women in sustainable agriculture. Lesbian farmers indeed created connections with one another formally, informally, and through labor markets. Although participants convened formally with queer farmers at conferences, they largely connected informally, gleaning knowledge and income to build and sustain farm businesses. Lesbian farm owners sought to train lesbians on their farm, yet lesbian workers came to work on lesbian-run farms by happenstance. On these farms, lesbian employees found life role models and places to proudly be themselves, havens from homophobia and restrictive gender norms. These supportive environments contributed to young lesbians’ desire to remain within sustainable farming. This research extends findings on minority farmer networks to sexual minorities and suggests that queer farmer networks can help farmers overcome entry barriers and find long term success in sustainable agriculture, essential for shifting the overall food system.

Please consider the abstract for the special session on rural queerness, or other suitable general sessions.