(HARTFORD, CT) - Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is excited to celebrate 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. In May 2025, the United Nations voted to declare 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026). This spotlights the essential roles women play across food systems – from production to trade – and the challenges they face.
“Connecticut is ahead of the curve nationally when it comes to women in farming roles and we want to celebrate that,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “I encourage women farmers across the state to share their journeys with us so we can honor their vital contributions to the resilience and growth of our state’s agricultural landscape.”
According to the 2022 USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, women make up 41% of all agricultural producers in Connecticut, more than 3,800 female farmers. Nationally, women account for 36.3% of all producers.
For submissions, please fill out the nomination form.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental, and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage, and its contribution to the state's economy. For more information, visit www.CTGrown.gov.
