Circle of Growth: Women in Agriculture Creating a Space For Opportunity and Caring

The term "custody world" sounds a little… authoritarian, doesn’t it? Like someone’s about to hand down a ruling and tell us who gets visitation rights to innovation. It implies control, rigidity, and maybe even a little bit of bureaucracy. But what if, instead of thinking about custody—as in ownership and restrictions—we focused on stewardship and collaboration?

This shift in mindset is exactly what’s happening in agriculture, especially for women in farming. We aren’t here to fight over resources like a high-stakes divorce battle—we’re here to build, share, and grow together.

Why Collaboration, Not Competition?

For way too long, the business world (and farming, let’s be real) has been stuck in an outdated winner-takes-all mindset. But here’s the truth: thriving doesn’t have to be a solo act. Imagine if we treated our farms, our food systems, and our communities like a shared responsibility—where collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and genuine support were the norm, not the exception.

And let’s be clear—this isn’t about some fake, forced equality where power still lurks behind the scenes, driven by greed. Authentic collaboration isn’t about everyone getting an equal share; it’s about respect, understanding, and bringing skills to the table while leaving ego at the door. You can spot the difference instantly. The collaborative type? They guide instead of dictate. They listen instead of talk over others. They don’t get their panties in a knot over inconsequential things, like whether someone calls them "girls."

I was on a Global Chamber event where I first heard the term custody world, and the moderator, Dr. Pauline Crawford, shared a story about how she once opened a speech with "Hello, girls!" and got what sounded like a public stoning—well, more like a verbal lashing—for her choice of words. But here’s the thing: women are girls, too. We were girls, we still are female, and we need to stop nitpicking over every little thing that doesn’t align with our personal preference. People come from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. A little grace goes a long way.

I grew up in a time when the metric system was introduced, but to this day, I still think in imperial measurements. No one throws a fit when I talk in miles instead of kilometers, because guess what? It doesn’t matter. Some battles just aren’t worth fighting when we have bigger things to do—like transforming the future of agriculture and feeding the world.

Building a Circle of Growth

Women in agriculture get this. We don’t have time for ego battles when there’s work to be done. We know that a rising tide lifts all boats—or, in our case, a well-nourished soil lifts all crops. And that’s exactly why I’m building Circle of Growth (working title)—a thriving network of women in ag who are here to support, uplift, and propel each other forward. At Growing to Give, we’re ready to support this initiative in any way we can.

Collaboration Over Isolation

A women-led global agriculture network isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a game-changer. Because when women work together, things actually get done with joy and laughter, which are non-negotiable, right after coffee and carrot cake time.

We have the opportunity to make sure women in agriculture have the resources, support, and connections they need to thrive. Let’s do this thing.

The Future is Collaborative (And That’s a Good Thing)

Imagine a food system where we don’t just compete for profit, but collaborate for resilience. A world where innovation is shared, not hoarded. Where women in agriculture aren’t fighting to be heard but are leading the charge in shaping the future of food.

This isn’t a pipe dream—it’s already happening. A collaborative world is the future, and we’re here to make sure it grows.

So, if you’re ready to trade cutthroat competition for conscious collaboration, come join us. Because when we grow together, we all win.

If you're interested in being part of the founding circle, reach out to me directly. Let’s connect, brainstorm, and bring this vision to life—together.