#059 - Audra Mulkern: The Untold Story of America’s Female Farmers #ThisIsWomensWork

Just Forking Around

Today we toast to the invisible people in the food system: the farmers, the farm workers, the truckers, the people behind the scenes in restaurants, and the women throughout history – a passion for today’s forking awesome guest.

Audra Mulkern is an author, photographer, and farm-to-table documentarian. She is the Executive Producer and host of the in-development documentary film Women’s Work: the untold story of America’s female farmers, and Founder of The Female Farmer Project, a multi-platform documentary project that chronicles the rise of women working in agriculture around the world.

“I realized that behind every single farm table was a woman. Why had I noticed it? Why did I think women farming was different? … The more I dug, the more I came up empty: women just weren’t in the visual narrative, what I call the Agricultural Canon.” –Audra Mulkern

“You can look back through history and, over and over, it’s men at the forefront [of the Agricultural Canon], even though we know that women were the first farmers.” –Audra Mulkern

We also discuss:

• Audra’s previous careers (ranging from the airline industry to Microsoft)
• When it was really difficult to access farms & farm-to-table food
• Tracking down farm-grown food in the 90s
• Developing relationships with farmers
• Discovering that the history of female farmers was untold (less than 1% of the Agricultural Canon is about women)
• Showcasing the modern women of farming
• The desire to feed people
• Audra’s in-development documentary: Women’s Work: the untold story of America’s female farmers
• Creating farming clothes for women
• How Audra is affecting legislation
• The problem around farmers & suicide
• How women tend to listen to the land (as opposed to dominating it)
• Beng in year three of the farm crisis

Resources:

• Learn more at AudraMulkern.com
• Check out The Female Farmer Project
• Support Audra’s documentary: Women’s Work: the untold story of America’s female farmers
• Connect with Audra: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
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Audra’s Bio:

Audra Mulkern wants to change the way you look at farming and the food on your plate. As a photographer and writer she has sought to shine a spotlight on the hard-working people who are growing a food system that is sustainable and equitable for all.

Audra is the founder of The Female Farmer Project™ – a multi-platform documentary project that chronicles the rise of women working in agriculture around the world. From in-depth stories, personal essays, photographic portraits, a podcast, and in-development documentary film -- the project gives a powerful voice to the fastest growing demographic in agriculture-- The Female Farmer.

The Female Farmer Project™ has garnered international recognition and acclaim. It has exhibited around the world, most recently at the United Nations in New York, Maison Rouge Gallery in Paris and the USDA in Washington DC. The project has been featured in digital and print globally.For event speaker inquiries, contact Audra here

For video production and hosting services contact Audra here

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Just Forking Around is produced by Podcast Masters