Editor’s Note: As we celebrate National Agriculture Week, we continue our series on Women in Agriculture. This week, the Journal spoke with Patty Ogren, a busy Marshall County farmer.
Patty Ogren is getting ready for the upcoming calving season, with a small helper by her side. Her three-year-old granddaughter, Sparrow, watches closely as Ogren makes ear tags for the calves that will soon be born on the family farm near Langford.
Sparrow has even made her own colorful ear tag for any bottle calves that might need extra care.
The moment reflects more than preparations for spring. It’s a glimpse into the next generation of a family farm and the role women have long played in keeping operations like it running.
Ogren is a key part of the work on her family’s farm. And if there is one thing she hopes people understand about women in agriculture today, it’s simple: don’t sell them short.
“It’s fun to see the women in ag,” Ogren said. “Don’t underestimate them. Trust them. A lot of the men are realizing they’re good partners.”
A Way Of Life
Agriculture has always been part of Ogren’s life.
Born Patty Jensen, she grew up on a farm on the east side of Sisseton Township. As a child, she spent much of her time outdoors helping with chores alongside her brother.
“I was 11 months younger than my brother, so I was his shadow,” she added. “We were outside all the time.”
Her early responsibilities included feeding bottle lambs, trapping gophers and caring for horses. The experiences helped build her comfort with farm work at an early age.
Ogren graduated from Langford High School in 1982 and later attended Dakota Wesleyan University, earning a degree in education. Teaching jobs were difficult to find at the time, so she returned home and took a job at the local sale barn, where she worked for 16 years.
A Family Legacy
Around the same time, she and her husband Keith, began building their life together in agriculture.
Keith had taken over the home place from his parents. When his father and uncle retired, the couple began operating the farm themselves.
“When we first got married, we had a hired man,” Ogren explained. “But once we had kids and he moved on, we realized we needed more than one guy to do the work. It made more sense for me to help.”
Today the operation includes about 1,000 acres of cropland and around 200 cows, with pasture for about 250 head.
The couple raised three children, Evan, Amber and Brent, and the farm is now transitioning to the next generation. Their son Evan has joined the operation and is expected to eventually take over.
That continuation means a great deal to Ogren.
“Keith is the fourth generation, Evan is the fifth and Sparrow would be the sixth,” she said.
Busy On The Farm
While she spent years working at the sale barn, Ogren was also heavily involved in daily farm work.
Over the years she has taken on a wide range of responsibilities, including running the chopper, baler and rake during haying season and helping with corn combining. She also handled the farm’s bookkeeping and helped raise bluestem grass seed.
“I like it all,” she said with a laugh. “I just won’t drive the semi.”
Spring is one of her busiest seasons. “In the spring I’m always checking the cows and sorting pairs,” she said. “Then getting the pasture fences ready. April and May are cow months.”
These days she also cares for Sparrow full time, balancing farm work with time spent with her grandchildren.
“I like to be outside,” she said. “I’d rather be outside than in the house any day.”
Like most farmers, Ogren knows the job comes with challenges, especially when the weather refuses to cooperate. “The weather is king,” she said. “You figure it out as you go. You can’t fix it or change it, so you roll with the punches.”
Despite the difficulties, the work continues to bring rewarding moments. “There’s no better feeling than moving your cows to a pasture full of green grass,” she said.
Working alongside family is another source of pride. “I love what I do. I love to work with the family,” she added.
Ag Is Women’s Work
Although farming has often been viewed as a male-dominated industry, Ogren believes women are increasingly recognized for the roles they play.
“If you show up and are willing to learn and get dirty, the men will put you to work,” she emphasized. “For the most part, women are taken seriously.”
There are still occasional assumptions. Sometimes a supplier will ask to speak to the “boss,” expecting that person to be a man. “But they realize you are the boss and you know what you’re doing,” she said.
On their farm, Ogren said she and her husband complement each other’s strengths. “I do jobs no one else wants to do, the prep work and planning ahead,” she said. “He’s a dirt guy and would rather be in the tractor.”
Ogren encourages women interested in agriculture not to hesitate.
“Don’t be afraid to try,” she said. “Watch and ask questions.”
She believes women bring important strengths to the industry.
“There’s a lot women can do if they’re passionate about soil health, growing crops and animal health,” she said. “Women are smart and motivated.”
Confidence, she said, is key. “Women are capable,” Ogren said. “You can drive a tractor or take a big tire off with the right tools. They’re smart enough.”
For Ogren, the future of agriculture will continue to depend on families working together and women playing an important role.
“It’s fun to see the women in ag,” she said. “Don’t underestimate them.”
