DUETTE, Fla. — More than 1.2 million agricultural producers in the U.S. are women, according to the latest Census of Agriculture. For one local farmer, the journey into farming started from scratch, and now, she’s part of a growing community of women making their mark in the industry.

What You Need To Know

Queen’s Ranch opened two years ago with the purpose of establishing an animal rescue. It’s now also transformed into a farm
The latest Agricultural Census reports that 1.2 million female farm producers are accounted for in the U.S.
Queen’s Ranch is growing a variety of plants, fruits and vegetables in Duette

Unlike some farmers, Pia Ceccarelli Rosenberg likes to give her plants a pep talk. Watching her crops thrive is something she treasures, especially because farming was never part of her plan.

“I never had a green thumb, never. Everything would die on me,” she said

Rosenberg now owns five acres, known as Queen’s Ranch in Duette. 

She bought the property two years ago with the goal of starting an animal rescue, but first, she needed a way to generate income.

That’s how she found farming and she says it’s been a learning experience ever since.

“What’s going to go where, what can grow here, what kind of plants can I afford to understand,” Rosenberg said.

Today, her farm is home to more than 3,000 fruits and vegetables and she runs it largely on her own.

The latest Census of Agriculture shows more than half of all U.S. farms have at least one female producer.

Bridget Stice with the Polk County UF/IFAS Extension Office says while they’re not seeing a large increase in female farmers locally, women have always played a role in the industry, and their leadership is becoming more visible.

“We’re seeing more of women coming to the forefront, not that it changes whether they were working hard before,” says Stice.

And like many farmers, Rosenberg has already had to learn how to adapt to challenges like Florida’s unpredictable weather.

Cold weather recently damaged part of her crops, but it hasn’t stopped her from moving forward. Rosenberg hopes her story will encourage other women to consider farming as well.

“I had no idea that this could be a part of my daily life. It’s a matter of just exposing them and giving them a chance to come and see and understand that this is something that can be done,” she said.

What started as a plan for an animal rescue has grown into a farm as well, and a new purpose.

Rosenberg also plans to host a sunflower harvest event this summer, hoping to give more people a chance to experience farm life firsthand.