As the first woman to win the Mississippi Forestry Association Tree Farmer of the Year award, Patrice O’Brien is a testament to the impact women make on the agricultural industry. O’Brien jumped feet-first into the agriculture business when her father passed away in 1982, leaving the family farm, Twin Oaks Farm in Oakland, for her and her siblings to manage.
“I was 30 years old at the time and had a full-time job and a 2-year-old son,” O’Brien said. “And here we had this farm. I felt ill-prepared to manage the farm. We eventually decided we should plant the pasture land with pine trees, and that started our first real experience working with trees.” The farm has since expanded to include hardwood trees.
Although her father was a farmer, O’Brien said she had little experience with farming before her father’s death. While many women have faced challenges succeeding in the male-dominated industry, O’Brien said the biggest obstacle was building her own confidence.
“The people in the industry that I’ve known through the various agricultural organizations I’m in have been supportive and encouraging,” O’Brien said. “The biggest problem I’ve had to overcome has been my own internal feelings of inadequacy. What I’ve done to help that is taking Mississippi State University Extension Service courses on forestry for the past 15 years. That has helped increase my knowledge and confidence.”
O’Brien said she has worked closely with experienced foresters throughout the years to help maximize the farm’s potential.
From Mississippi State University: https://msucares.com/news/print/fwnews/fw14/20140619.html