Sara Patterson, a young farmer in Cedar City, Utah, is part of a growing movement of women redefining the face of agriculture in the United States. Named after her great-grandmothers, Sara and Geraldine, who were born and raised on farms, Patterson proudly continues their legacy while forging her path as a modern-day farmer.
Patterson's journey began at the age of 12 when she started gardening. By 14, she had launched her community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm, Red Acre Farms. (2) Today, the farm serves raw milk, dairy products, meat, and produce to a dedicated community of shareholders.
According to the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture, 56 percent of all farms in the United States had at least one female producer. These female-operated farms accounted for 38 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales and 43 percent of U.S. farmland. As a young woman running her own successful CSA farm, Sara Patterson is part of this growing trend of female leadership in agriculture. (3)
Red Acre Farms has grown from a small operation with just four CSA shares to a thriving farm that supports 50 local community members. Patterson encourages consumers to buy seasonal produce and meat from local farms, noting that if locals spent just 1% of their grocery budget on local food, it would make a significant difference to farmers (4).
However, Patterson's journey has not been without challenges. In 2015, she lost her father and business partner, Lynn, who had been instrumental in helping her develop and bring to life her dreams for the farm. Just 18 months later, Patterson and her mother, Symbria, suffered another devastating loss when a fire destroyed their home. Despite these setbacks, they never considered quitting; instead, they rebuilt their home and continued to grow the farm (Red Acre Farms Website).
Patterson's dedication to sustainable agriculture and her community earned her recognition as Cedar City's "Young Citizen of the Year" in 2016. (2) She actively advocates for small farms, working to change legislation and educate the public about the importance of supporting local agriculture and along with others at Red Acre Farm and the community is responsible for 22 pieces of legislation to date. Patterson and her mother also founded the Utah Farm & Food Conference and the Red Acre Center to further these goals (1).
As a young female farmer, Patterson is part of a growing movement of women reshaping the agriculture industry. Her story is one of resilience, passion, and a deep commitment to carrying on her family's farming legacy while inspiring a new generation of farm-HERs.
Sara and her farm are the subject of a Thriving Communities documentary film series coming out this fall. Subscribe to our website for updates.
References:
1. Red Acre Farm: https://www.redacrefarmcsa.org/our-story
2. The Spectrum (2017): https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/cedar-city/2017/01/21/meet-cedar-citys-young-citizen-year/96880202/
3. USDA (2019): https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/2017Census_Female_Producers.pdf
4. St. George News (2022): https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2022/04/05/agl-more-than-just-dirt-southern-utah-farmers-discuss-m