Flourishing in Farming & Friendship: Two Local, Modern-Day Women in Ag
Flourishing in Farming & Friendship: Two Local, Modern-Day Women in Ag
Did you know that one-third of farmers in Ohio are women? Meet Jessi Iams and Christina Moser – two local women who wake up with the roosters every day ready to keep the farming industry they love alive and well right here in Liberty Township.
More than 10 years ago, they were introduced by a mutual friend because of their shared agricultural experiences. Since then, Jessi and Christina have found that their backgrounds as agri-entrepreneurs, wives and mothers have blossomed into a unique story of friendship, shared values, and collaboration.
Jessi owns and operates LR Farms, on N. Liberty Road, overseeing her goats, bees, an orchard, and a one-acre vegetable garden. Christina, along with her husband Brad, owns Moser’s Farm Market on Clark-Shaw Road, an 11-acre property including a small apple orchard, chickens, vegetables and flower fields. Their farms are less than three miles apart.
Like most farmers, both women also hold full-time “day jobs” outside of their farm duties, and in their cases, additionally manage busy households with kids: Jessi owns and operates Local Roots restaurant in Powell, and Christina works full-time as an IT account executive.
Farming is deeply rooted
With no formal training in ag, their interests in farming grew from the generational roots of their families. “I was raised on a 200-acre family farm in Marysville,” says Jessi. “I remember working in the garden with my grandparents. I’d walk over after every meal just to see how things were growing each day. At the time, I didn’t realize how much it meant to me.”
For Christina, both sides of her family were farmers – corn, soybeans and orchards full of apple trees. “I ran around the orchard with my cousins and worked in my grandparent’s market from the age of 9,” Christina remembers. “I would stand on a crate to run the register and knew all the fun facts about apples. It wasn’t until I moved away and had my first ‘grocery store’ apple that I realized what I had as a kid.”
The two agree that life is better on the farm, and they seek out ways to make it accessible and educational for others. “I’ve always been in awe of Christina’s vision and desire to give the farm experience to the community,” says Jessi. “We are lucky that Mosers opens their farm to showcase not only local produce but also to allow others to enjoy the simple pleasures that farm-life offers.”
And of course, Jessi is bringing her love of the land directly to the plates of Local Roots diners. “There’s such joy in watching the plants grow and in using them to make delicious meals. To me, nothing compares to a sun-warmed tomato or a ripe watermelon straight from the garden on a summer day,” she said.
What’s the secret to the success of these “Wonder Women of Ag”:
Both cite having great partners as the ingredients to help them run fruitful ag operations while balancing the demands of family life and personal obligations. “Honestly, I couldn’t manage the farm without the help of my team -- Craig and Jenny. Since we’re fully organic, every single weed has to be pulled by hand – it’s truly a full-time job,” Jessi commented with appreciation.
Christina also credits teamwork to her ability to manage it all. “Brad and I are a team no matter what. We are fortunate to have been blessed with the most amazing market staff, neighbors, friends, and farm partners. Our extended families see the sacrifices we make and have been incredibly supportive, as well.”
In more recent years, Jessi and Christina’s friendship has led to unique business collaborations that highlight some of the best of their individual worlds.
In 2019, LR Farms started supplying Moser’s with a few items to sell in the market. “During the pandemic, Jessi reached out to brainstorm everything she could do to keep her team working. I truly admired her selflessness to help ensure the least amount of impact for others,” says Christina. From those conversations, Jessi’s team helped to supply Moser’s with CSA baskets and to supply even more vegetables and honey to sell – which continues to this day. On a more personal nod to their bond, Jessi once worked with Brad to secure apples from Christina’s grandpa’s orchard to surprise her friend with the “Sweet Christina,” a one-of-a-kind dessert her restaurant team created for their weekly featured menu.
Staying connected through common values
Their home-grown farming professions not only keep them connected to the Earth, but also provide great life lessons, they say. “If you farm, you can’t be afraid of hard work, and you have to love it,” admits Christina. “I’ve never heard anyone say they want to go into farming because they want to be rich.”
While the work is demanding, they find the rewards are abundant. “The garden teaches us, just like the Bible does, that we truly reap what we sow,” says Jessi. “From the bees, I’ve learned that everyone has a role to play, and each role is equally important. The garden – and even the weeds – have taught me that if you don’t maintain and address things head-on, they don’t disappear. They actually can become bigger problems once they go to seed.”
Living by these common values, Jessi and Christina also share a similar POV for building relationships with other women in farming and the wider community. “We have quite a few female farm partners at our market – and a rare concentration of them right here on Clark Shaw Road -- I’m grateful I get to learn from them every day,” says Christina. In addition, Jessie routinely mentors students at DCCC to help build their business acumen.
Farming is the profession of hope
Like the family farmers before them, the joy of planting and cultivating is the daily fuel for Jessi and Christina – and they’re hopeful the next generations of their families also see the gifts of mud on their boots, soil under their fingernails and the satisfaction of a long, productive day of work. “Like my mom, I feel an itch every spring to get my hands in the soil and begin planting,” says Jessi. “I hope this love of the land takes root in my son as well.”
Christina also tries to bring her five kids along for the ride to learn the ways of the land. “There are many great life lessons from farming … I feel we’re winning if my kids learn that every time you think you know something, Mother Nature will prove you wrong.”
