Wahl Grazing LLC

Meet Laura Wahl. She raises lamb for Niman Ranch with her parents, Tony and Connie Wahl.

What is unique to women in agriculture?

The thing that is unique to women in agriculture is the ability to have a career while simultaneously spending time with your family.

Were you ever told that you couldn’t farm/ranch because you were a girl or a woman?

I was never told that I couldn’t do my job as a rancher because I am a woman. On both sides of my family, my grandmothers raised sheep while my grandfather’s were in public education. I learned most of what I know about lambing out ewes from my mom. She would take us along with her to the field or barn and explain what she was doing and why she was doing each task. I may be different than many because I had great examples of women in the industry, but for me, it was the norm to be out working alongside my parents and siblings. I will say that it does surprise people outside of agriculture to see me driving a semi with a trailer full of sheep or covered in dirt from a long day of work, but I love it.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Take more time to learn all aspects of agriculture and marketing, not just about sheep. It all ties in and it is knowledge worth having.

What inspires you to ranch?

I think the next generation is what inspires me the most. Nothing makes ranching seem more worthwhile than when you have a niece or nephew along to teach things to and share the blessing of working outdoors and with animals.