New Jersey Farm Women Gather to Share Success Stories at Agricultural Expo

About 400 farmers and agricultural professionals attended the Women in Agriculture luncheon at the Northeast Ag Expo in Atlantic City. The event featured speakers discussing mentorship, marketing strategies, and the challenges facing women in farming as 2026 marks the UN's International Year of the Woman Farmer.

ATLANTIC CITY — The New Jersey Farm Bureau Women’s Committee brought together approximately 400 farmers and agricultural professionals for their annual Women in Agriculture luncheon during this year’s Northeast Ag Expo, timing the event to coincide with the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Darcy Perehinys, who helped organize the gathering, explained the unique challenges facing agricultural leaders today. “Leadership in agriculture doesn’t look like a corner office, it looks like boots by the door and a to-do list that never ends,” Perehinys said. “And sometimes plans completely fall apart before they’ve even been put into action. Let’s be honest, agriculture is hard. Some days it’s amazing and some days you question every decision that you ever made.”

According to Perehinys, the luncheon was designed as an opportunity for agricultural professionals to connect over a meal and share insights about their farming operations.

Dakota Meys, who serves as New Jersey Dairy Princess and is Perehinys’ daughter, addressed the crowd about the importance of guiding newcomers into agricultural careers.

“From dairy farms to produce fields, from equine operations to specialty crops, agriculture has shaped our state for generations now, and as we look to the future one thing is clear: the success of New Jersey agriculture depends on mentorship, generational learning and a willingness to open our hearts and our farms,” she said.

Meys emphasized that guidance in farming extends beyond technical skills. “Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools we have in agriculture, the lessons passed down from generation to generation go far beyond how to plant a crop or how to care for livestock, it teaches responsibility, perseverance and respect for the land.”

She added that honoring past agricultural practices while embracing innovation remains crucial. “Learning from the generations before us allows us to honor the sacrifices they made to keep agriculture alive in a small-but-mighty agricultural state like New Jersey. While technology continues to evolve, the values that define agriculture remain the same, by combining traditional knowledge with new ideas and innovation, we can continue our agricultural heritage while building a stronger future.”

The featured speaker, Dr. Carrie Edsall, teaches animal science at State University of New York, Cobleskill, and operates Black Willow Pond Farm near the campus where she raises chickens, pigs and sheep.

Edsall focused her presentation on straightforward approaches to farm marketing and sales, emphasizing the importance of establishing clear financial objectives.

She challenged attendees to consider their marketing strategies, asking, “we all know we can grow great things, but what happens if you can’t market them?” Edsall described her own efforts to secure farmers’ market spots and build relationships with restaurants, particularly targeting New York City’s market of 8 million consumers.

The professor shared how she incorporated her young sons into evening business meetings and prioritized building relationships with neighboring farmers and potential customers. Her farm hosts annual community events like hog roasts as part of her community outreach strategy.

“Technology and resources are out there and I urge you to grab them where you can, and when and where you can,” she said, noting her decision to invest time in networking with local businesses and farmers, including joining the New York State Certified Organic Association.

Throughout her presentation, Edsall returned to her central message about maintaining straightforward business goals. She acknowledged the demanding nature of farming, particularly dairy and livestock operations that require constant attention to animals.

“Keep your farm goals simple. What are your [monetary] targets for each new thing you’re introducing? When I started, it was, ‘I want to make $10,000 from those broiler chickens’ or ‘Can I make $10,000 off of these rabbits?’ It was simple and for some reason $10,000 was what I wanted each entity to be able to raise so that I would gross $50,000 and that number was a salary to me. I just set simple targets for that.”