In celebration of American Business Women’s Day (September 22nd), we’ve pulled from the archives this wonderful, intimate portrait of Molly Peterson, owner of Heritage Hollow Farms in Sperryville and a bonafide farm(h)er!

Story and Photos by Amy Fewell

You could’ve cut through the humidity with a knife that morning, but she didn’t even break a sweat. She stood off to the side near the fence, hand on her hip, with breakfast—a half-eaten apple—in hand. The contemplation on her face was as heavy as the summer air. When we arrived to the field, she learned that some pigs went missing. As any good farmer would do, she mulled over the case of the missing swine, sifting through possible scenarios before arriving at any conclusions. She turned and smiled as she took another bite of her apple, “I’d like to think it’s a mystery of them escaping before thinking someone has tampered with our animals.”

The entirety of her character, contained in that statement, unfolded before me. Her faith and trust in the good of her community epitomized female farmers throughout the world. She uncovers the positive in everything.  Moments after she spoke there was the faint, faraway holler from her husband: “I found them!” The pigs were safe and sound.

Molly Peterson is the “farmher” behind Heritage Hollow Farms in Sperryville. Along with her husband, Mike, she manages more than 600 rolling acres in Rappahannock County. Heritage Hollow Farms specializes in pasture-raised pork and 100% grass-fed and finished beef and lamb. Molly manages their farm store, also in Sperryville, where customers can purchase their farm’s meats as well as fresh eggs, craft food and drinks, and other products from nearby farms.

Molly isn’t new to loving the farm life. As a child raised in rural Illinois, she always had a random farm animal—be it a goat, turkey, or rabbit—lurking around the yard. However, it wasn’t until 2008, when Molly and her husband moved to Virginia, that she really took on the title of farmer.

Molly scratching and loving on some of their Mangalitsa pigs

When they moved to Virginia, Mike, a professional chef, found work at The Inn at Little Washington, and Molly continued to develop her budding photography career. But one day, while driving by a farm in Rappahannock County, they realized that they would both enjoy giving the farming lifestyle a try. They soon became the farm managers of Mount Vernon Farm, the same farm that sparked their interest that fateful day. In 2013, they became full-time farmers and bought the farm business, striving to create something new and interesting with Heritage Hollow Farms. They haven’t looked back since. They now raise all of their animals on pasture, rotating fields on a regular basis, and with little intrusion in each animal’s natural way of living and grazing.

Not only has the farm expanded into an incredible permaculture system, Molly also has grown into so much more than a farmer. Her photography and farm career catapulted her into a larger sea of sustainable agricultural influence. She is a nationally published photographer and collaborator with New York Times best-selling author, Forrest Pritchard. Their book, Growing Tomorrow, is a farm-to-table journey in photos and recipes that highlights 18 extraordinary sustainable farmers across the United States. You can also find Molly’s fine art prints for sale in the farm store.

When asked about the national food system, Molly smiles and thinks about how to answer the question simply while still conveying her point: sustainable food isn’t cheap, nor should it be. Farming is hard work, and good food comes at a high price.

“I think people have lost a sense of the sacred value for other beings—be it animals or fellow man. When money is tight or your family is sick, you don’t want to think about whether the farm workers who picked your lettuce were able to pay their children’s hospital bill with their impossibly low wages just to keep your prices down, or whether the animals who gave their life to feed you were happy and eating what they’re supposed to eat.”

Though female farmers have taken on an increased presence in the agricultural community, Molly still faces the hardship of being a woman in the industry. Her biggest complaint as a female farmer is being told or treated as though her opinion and expertise don’t matter as much as a man’s, even if their opinions and backgrounds are otherwise the same.

“I’ve heard a few times that I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m a woman. Mike and I both have our strengths and we try best to utilize that in the field and in the business. I know my physical limits and I’ve gotten over the frustration that most men are physically stronger than me. That’s not a fault; it’s just basic genetic make up. But I am also stronger in other areas on the farm than most men, such as with intuition and marketing.”

Molly’s passion for offering her community nutritional and ethically raised food is inspiring. Each day brings new adventures and goals. In the future, she hopes to create a completely sustainable agriculture system with their farm. Becoming fully sustainable without being a detriment to her family’s way of life is important to her. What many don’t understand is that farmers work from sunrise to sundown, with no holidays, vacations, or sick days included.

Turnips that are planted in the pig fields for wild foraging

“It’s a very fine balance to be ecologically, financially, and socially sustainable,” says Molly. “Our family’s quality of life does take a hit before the needs of the farm does. The animals come first—as they should—but some days I’d like to find more balance.”

Molly’s take on life, agriculture, and farming as a woman go hand in hand. Live generously, eat sustainably, and be kind to one another is her philosophy, one that she applies to men, women, and her farm’s animals alike. The balance of life sustains, no matter who we are or what we believe.

You can find more information about Molly and Heritage Hollow Farms online, heritagehollowfarms.net.

About the Author

Amy Fewell is the Web Editor of The Piedmont Virginian Magazine, as well as one of our writers and graphic designers. She resides in Rixeyville, VA along with her husband, son and loveable lab. They run a small “mini-homestead” and Amy owns her own photography and marketing business. For more information, visit their homestead website and Amy’s business website.