Farm life is part of Laney Brentano’s blood. As a sixth-generation farmer in St. Paul, Oregon, Laney has always known that she wanted to work in agriculture, but it wasn’t until she moved to Montana for graphic design school that she realized the family farm was calling her name.
“I always wanted to work in the ag industry,” Laney recalls. “Raised on a farm in a small town where the majority of the community also farmed, it naturally felt like a way of life I’d do.”
The Brentano family has called the Willamette Valley home since the early 1860s, and they still tend some of their original land today. Ed Brentano, Laney’s grandpa, started their current operation in 1956, and while the farm has raised a variety of crops over the years, they currently grow grass seed, hazelnuts, garlic for seed, green beans, squash for edible seed and nursery stock and raise cattle for beef.
Being part of a multi-generational farming operation is special to Laney.
“I love the history. One of the most vital parts of agriculture is the generational factor. This way of life is embedded within our marrow,” says Laney. “Looking at our family, you’ll see that the core values we each carry with us have been those of past generations — and I can’t fathom a better way to honor our ancestors than by continuing to be genuine, hard-working women and men in agriculture."
Carrying on her family’s tradition and telling their stories is important to Laney. She recounts her first farm memory of riding with her Grandpa Ed in his 1997 Ford F250 pickup crammed on the bench seat with her two younger sisters. They were eating peas and tossing the pods out the window. Soon after, her dad and uncles took over farm management when her grandfather became ill. Her most fond memories are those working with her father — a privilege she calls the greatest honor of her life.
And while she honors her ancestors and the history of the land, she’s excited about ag innovations and how they can be implemented on the farm. While the seeds of agriculture were planted centuries ago, technology is helping strengthen the roots to help growers achieve more. And technology isn’t the only thing changing the industry. As a woman in agriculture, Laney brings a unique perspective to the industry.
When asked about the barriers women face in agriculture, she says, “The biggest barrier to females entering the ag industry is ourselves. Whether we’re playing too big, or playing too small, we often times fear showing up as exactly ourselves. There’s a place for us. There is a need for us. And we are made the way we are for a reason.”
Her advice? Show up and knock on the door of opportunity. Women have always been part of agriculture. Many women like Laney who grow up on a farm are very involved in agriculture from a young age. In addition to being a 4-H member and having her own farm chores, Laney watched her grandma and mom work on the farm while she was growing up. And even though her grandma retired in 2018 at age 80, she’s still at the farm daily ensuring everyone gets their jobs done.
“Someone reminded me a few years ago that women in ag isn’t new,” Laney reflects. “We have a public platform now and the ability to have our voices heard. That reminder helps me find sure-footing when I clock in for the day or walk into a meeting. A woman — like my grandmother — has already walked this path and did a dang good job at it.”
In addition to forging a path in agriculture, Laney is a photographer and writer who is driven by telling stories. And because she’s passionate about both of her careers, they often overlap when she’s capturing ag stories about farming, ranching, rodeo or something ag related. Her storytelling skills are also put to use through promoting the farm, where she hopes to share real, authentic content to educate consumers.
“Social media encourages a level of self-promotion that no other generation has seen. We are connected 24/7 to strangers across the world,” she says.
And while social media is helpful for education and promotion, running the farm and building a successful operation wouldn’t be possible without working together.
“Agriculture is a team sport, which is why a lifestyle like this requires working together and has withstood generations,” Laney reflects. “We all want to protect the earth, feed the world and live a kind life.”
When reflecting about how she manages farm and creative life, Laney says, “I have yet to find the right work-life balance! I have a tough time juggling them both. You have to really set time boundaries with one or both jobs, and how can you do that when crops need your attention? I hope I’m able to find a way to manage that better this year!”
Best of luck to Laney to find the perfect balance between her two careers. To view Laney’s photography, visit her website or find her on Facebook at Laney Alicia and Instagram @laneyaliciab. You can also find her in featured in Successful Farming’s “21 Young and Beginning Farmers Ready for 2021.”