Women Bringing Farm-Raised Meat to the Table
Women Bringing Farm-Raised Meat to the Table
Women play a powerful role in agriculture, often wearing many hats: farmer, business owner, parent, marketer, and the catch-all when it comes to running errands, keeping the household moving, and making sure everything gets done.
This Women’s History Month, we asked a few ChopLocal producers to share what life looks like for them and what inspires their work. While each vendor has their own unique story, were reminded the backbone of many operations tends to be the matriarch.
Here are three women helping bring farm-raised meat to tables across the country.
Margaret | Schwartz Meat Company
At Schwartz Meat Company, farm life is truly a family affair.
For Margaret, many days on the farm mean kids in tow and chores to be done. Evenings might include feeding sheep, tagging and vaccinating lambs, watering animals, or caring for bottle lambs while the kids learn alongside their parents.
“The most rewarding part of being a woman in agriculture is raising my kids right in the middle of it,” Margaret said. “Our best days are spent outside together, feeding sheep, fixing fence, and doing chores side by side. The farm teaches them responsibility, resilience, and where their food comes from.”
The farm carries deep roots as well. Margaret’s husband represents the sixth generation of sheep farmers in his family, continuing a legacy of stewardship and care for the land and animals.
Margaret’s favorite cut? Rack of lamb. Beautifully flavored and incredibly tender.
Teresa | West Forty Market
The story behind West Forty Market began with a turning point.
After selling beef from her family farm at a local farmers market, Teresa found herself unexpectedly laid off from her corporate job at a large bank. Instead of returning to the corporate world, she decided to take a leap and open a brick-and-mortar market.
Her vision was simple: create a place where the community could shop Iowa-raised meat year-round.
Five years later, West Forty Market has grown into a small neighborhood grocery store offering hundreds of locally produced meat products, along with an online store through ChopLocal.
“It’s rewarding to be that vessel that helps get farm-raised food to the tables of so many,” Teresa shared.
Her favorite cut? The filet.
Her favorite time of year on the farm is fall, when the weather is perfect and Iowa sunsets stretch across the horizon.
Her journey is also a reminder that careers can take unexpected turns.
“I was a textiles and apparel major working at a large bank, and now I sell meat for a living,” Teresa said. “You can be anything you want to be, and it’s never too late to follow a dream.”
Rebecca | Dalton Farms LLC
For Rebecca at Dalton Farms, agriculture wasn’t always the original plan.
Rebecca married into the farm and spent nearly two decades working as a nurse before the farm and meat business grew enough to require her full-time attention.
Today she plays a major role in the operation. She helps with cattle and sheep chores, manages their retail store, assists in the fields during harvest, and steps in wherever help is needed that day. Dalton Farms was recently named a 2026 finalist for Top Producer of the Year by Farm Journal.
“Mom first,” Rebecca says when describing a typical day, followed by farm chores, store responsibilities, and whatever the day calls for.
The most rewarding part of being a woman in agriculture?
“Autonomy,” Rebecca shared. “Always learning new things and tackling jobs and tasks I never thought I could do.”
Her favorite cut is a porterhouse steak, and like many farmers, fall holds a special place when harvest arrives and the family can see the results of a season’s hard work.
Rebecca’s advice for other women interested in agriculture is simple but powerful: surround yourself with a team that values your contributions and focus on the strengths you bring to the operation.
Margaret, Teresa, and Rebecca each arrived in agriculture in a different way: through family legacy, a career pivot, or marrying into a farm.
But their stories share a common thread. They are dedicated to raising and sharing high-quality food with their communities.
Behind every ChopLocal order is a farmer, rancher, or producer working hard to bring farm-raised meat directly to your table.
This Women’s History Month, we’re grateful for the many women helping make that possible.
