Soil Sisters weekend supports women farmers

GREEN COUNTY, Wis. (WMTV) -- Green County farmers are gearing up for a big weekend ahead, celebrating the work of Wisconsin farms, rural life and one thing that makes this group unique.

"A lot of cucumbers. I grow a lot of picking cucumbers because I'm a big pickler,” said Lisa Kivirist.

She's mom, a business owner, a writer and a farmer.

"We raise a variety of vegetables and we're really into the green energy side, too, so we run the farm completely on wind and solar power,” said Kivirist.

She's part of a small but growing group in Green County of women farmers.

"Currently in Wisconsin, 11 percent of Wisconsin farms are primary women operators,” said Kivirist.

This weekend, she's hoping to continue to see those stats grow.

"Soil Sisters is an annual event here in Green County that showcases and celebrates women farmers. We have over 20 women-owned farms involved so there's on-farm workshops and culinary events. Our big tour of farms is this Sunday, August 6th where you can come and visit and experience what farm life is all about here in Wisconsin in August,” said Kivirist.

In its sixth year, the event helps women learn how to start a farm and provides perspective for those already in the field.

"It's funny talking about women and this fast growing group of new farmers because we've been growing food for forever, right? This isn't new. But it is new in the sense of more women running farm businesses,” said Kivirist.

Kivirist said Soil Sisters is now the largest women farmer-led event of its kind in the country.

For more information, click here: http://soilsisters.wixsite.com/soilsisters.