Female Farm Friday: Jenna Martin
I’m so excited to introduce our first Female Farmer Friday from my home state of Arkansas: Miss Jenna Martin! I’ve known Jenna personally for years, as we met back when she was a very active 4-H’er in a neighboring county. Jenna is one of those people who has the intelligence and determination to succeed at absolutely anything, so those of us in the agriculture industry are lucky to have her! I’ve been impressed with Jenna from day one, and I love how involved she’s always been on her farm. Her story is a personal favorite of mine, check her out!
•Sara Beth
Please briefly introduce yourself.
My name is Jenna Martin, I’m 22 years old and live in Hickory Ridge, Arkansas with my parents and our three dogs and five cats.
What type of farm do you have?
My family and I farm 1,900 acres of rice, soybeans, and corn in Cross, Woodruff, and Jackson County. From kindergarten through twelfth grade I was homeschooled which allowed me to help my dad on the farm and get caught up on my homework on the road or later that evening. Since the age of five I was active in our county 4-H and later got involved in state and national 4-H activities. To this day, I credit a lot of who I’ve become to my parents and programs like 4-H that surrounded me with good people.
How long have you been farming?
I have been helping on our farm since I was a kid and steadily got more involved as I got older.
Do you have an off-farm job?
Any job I may have been interested in at different times growing up were still in the Ag industry. After graduating from East Arkansas Community College with my associates degree, I transferred to A-State where I majored in Agricultural Business and minored in Strategic Communications. During my time at A-State I interned with Farm Credit Midsouth and currently am an intern for Pioneer Seed. Each experience has given me greater knowledge of important aspects of farming and I’m glad to have been given so many opportunities.
Please share with us one of the biggest struggles you have with farming.
There are times when I compare myself to others who have been in the game for decades, and I get intimidated knowing how much my dad knows and how much I still have to learn.
What is something about your farm life that you think would surprise most people?
Most people who have never been to a farm would be surprised to know just how much manual labor is still involved, such as in rice farming. People who are able to see how a farm works and what is involved throughout the season would have a different view on farming, agriculture, and would be more informed about where their food comes from. Some are also surprised to know that farmers actually take care of the land (because it’s their livelihood) and use sustainable practices to ensure the protection of water, wildlife, and land for future generations.
Can you share one of your long-term goals for your farm?
A long-term and forever changing goal and challenge will be to stay tapped into the ever-changing technology that is driving agriculture and farming today.
If you had the chance to tell one thing to someone without any first hand knowledge of the farming industry, what would it be?
Farmers value the same things that others value. If you want to see how a farm operates, we’re transparent about what we do because we trust what and how we do it.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about agriculture?
I believe some of the biggest misconceptions that consumers have relates back to labeling and how farmers tell their story. There are many who think of farms as large corporate farms when the reality is that 97 percent of the farms are family-owned.
What is something you are deeply passionate about?
In my spare time, I enjoy anything outdoors including jogging, hunting, and meeting new people and learning from them.
Who is one agvocate you think everyone should check out?
The Farm Babe was a speaker at our Farm Bureau Women’s Conference. She originally had a negative view of agriculture but since then has become an agvocate and enjoys sharing her story and Ag facts with others.
If people want to follow your farm journey, where can they find you?
Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram
If you want to learn more about Jenna and her family’s farm, check out this video from Riceland Foods. I’m so thankful to Jenna for taking the time to share her story with us!