The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, so this year, Buy Madison County is taking time to shine the spotlight on the essential roles women play in agriculture.
This time we shine a spotlight on with Kristin Smith, who owns and runs a dairy farm called the My Bar K Meadows with her husband, Myron Smith, in Munnsville, NY.
Kristin and Myron got married in June of 1977. “I was planting corn, that night at 7 o’clock we got married,” Myron said. In 1981, they moved onto the farm they have now, then it was 280 acres with one hundred and twenty-five cows. Today, My Bar K Meadows is over 2,000 acres and they milk over 500 cows. So how did they get where they are? The couple says teamwork, hard work, and a bit of luck.
Together they raised three kids on the farm, Brooke, Ashlee, and Ryan. All three kids were part of the farm, they had chores to do before and after school. “I have the work ethic I have today because I grew up on a farm,” said Brooke Smith, Myron and Kristin’s daughter. “I am insanely proud of my parents. Everything I have today is because of my parents. I have seen my parents down and out and they never have given up.”
Kristin also has worked as a teacher’s assistant in the Madison Central School District for 41 years. She even worked there when her kids were at school. As Brooke said, the family was always together, and they are all really close today because of that.
Kristin will be the first to tell you, farming is hard work. It is more than just feeding and milking the animals, it is a 24/7 job. There are bills to pay, field work, equipment to keep up, and you never know when something unexpected may happen. Being a successful farmer is expensive and takes sacrifice; there is no time for vacations. Everyone on the farm wears many hats.
Over the years the Smith’s watched other farms in the area not be able to keep going. My Bar K Meadows through the hard work of the Smith family, has been able to grow.
“I’ll be the first one to growl about farming, but look what we did,” said Myron. “I wouldn’t trade it for nothing.”
“I have stayed with him because this was his dream and I enjoy working. I love it outdoors, I love the work. I have tried to carry that through to my children and my grandchildren,” Kristin explained. “I wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe a few vacations here and there. I am very blessed with him, my children and my family.”
Thank you to My Bar K Meadows in Munnsville, NY. Through your hard work and dedication, you have milk to put in your coffee this morning!
Are you a woman farmer? Do you know a woman farmer and you want to tell her story?
Check out this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCWomenFarmers.