The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, shining a light on the women who play a vital role in agriculture. Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing the stories of women in ag throughout the Northeast.
Established in 1920, Fairholm Farm in Woodstock, Connecticut has remained in Erica Hermonot’s family for over a century. What began as a 100-acre farm purchased by her great-great-grandparents has evolved steadily over time, shaped by each generation that followed.
“In 1920, it was a little bit of everything,” Erica explains, “Cottage cheese was a big part of the farm back then. They would peddle it through surrounding towns, and that’s what helped them get through the Great Depression.”
Over the decades, the farm continued to focus on dairy, growing from around 100 cows in the 1970s to about 400 milking cows today.
As 2026 marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Erica’s story reflects both tradition and progress.
For her, being a woman in agriculture was never something unusual, it was simply what she grew up with.
“All of the women in my family had significant leadership roles on the farm,” she says. “To me, it was no different. I took it for granted for most of my life until I realized not everyone may have that experience.”
Now, as she raises her own daughter, that perspective carries new meaning.
“I realize how important it is that we foster an environment that is inclusive. It has more to do with what you bring to the table than anything else.”
Her experience highlights a powerful truth. Women have long played critical roles in agriculture. Today, that legacy is gaining the recognition it deserves.
Erica oversees herd health, working closely with the farm’s veterinarian and making key decisions about the future of the herd.
At the heart of her work is a deep respect for the animals and the process itself.
“My why for farming, and why I love working with cows and agriculture in general every day is the honesty in it,” Erica shares.
“You can’t cheat this industry in any way, whether it’s an animal or feed. If you cut corners or do things that aren’t beneficial, then you don’t get the results that you would if you were putting everything in. So that’s what I like about it.”
Like many farm families, Erica works alongside her parents, Todd and Diane Morin, her husband Jon, and a dedicated team of employees. It’s a dynamic that brings both challenges and rewards.
“It’s all I’ve ever known,” she says. “You spend a lot of time together. It can be difficult at times, but how many people get to work with their family and see their kids every day?”
Advancements in technology have also helped create more balance. With robotic milking and remote monitoring tools.
“It’s been a game changer,” she says. “Now with robots, I have the ability to get up in the morning and have my cup of coffee. I can do stuff from my office in my house while looking at the cameras or activity systems and check on all my cows and then turn around and be right there for my kids getting them ready for school.”
Erica and Jon’s three children, Mackenzie, Alexander, and Benjamin, are now beginning to take on roles of their own at the farm, helping with calves, assisting in the farm store, and participating in 4-H projects. Watching them discover their own interests within agriculture is something she values deeply.
In recent years, Erica has helped lead efforts to diversify the farm’s income and connect with the community in new ways.
One of her proudest contributions is the farm’s summer camp program that launched in 2021.
“We wanted to connect people with agriculture, especially kids,” she explains. “If a kid is interested, the adults usually are too. You can reach two generations at once.”
What began with just a handful of participants has grown into multiple sold-out sessions, with returning campers now stepping into leadership roles to mentor younger campers.
In addition to education, the farm has expanded into compost sales and a retail store offering beef, pork, and poultry. These efforts help amid the volatility of the dairy market.
Resilience and diversification continues to guide Fairholm Farm as it looks toward the future, building on generations of hard work while creating new opportunities for the next.
“It’s about raising our kids with the same values and giving them the chance to be part of it,” Erica says. “Whatever they choose to do, the farm will be here for them.”
