Illinois Farmer Appears in New TV Show Spotlighting Women in Ag

By Rhiannon Branch

FarmWeek

Television series like “Yellowstone” that depict the way of life for an American farmer or rancher have tugged at the heartstrings of viewers across the country. Now an Illinois farmer is hopeful her role in a new show will shed light on women in agriculture and spark positive change around the issues to which she brings awareness.

Brandy Renshaw and her father, Steve Williams, of Alexander County, told the story of their family farm in a 30-minute pilot episode of “The Farmer’s Daughter,” which aired on FOX23 ahead of the NFL playoffs in late January. The documentary-style episode featured all aspects of Renshaw’s life, from farming to “flipping” houses to running a local boutique in Anna.

Having no sons of his own, Williams welcomed his daughter’s interest in the farm at the age of 13. Renshaw told FarmWeek more women are getting involved in agriculture, and “The Farmer’s Daughter” helps bring awareness to the movement.

“For me, the main message is women are so strong, and we can do anything,” she said. “I also want to put a spotlight on the men in my life who believed in me and gave me that platform. They didn’t feel like they needed to turn me into something I wasn’t. My dad just took me under his wing and never thought twice about it, even though there was so much criticism.”

Renshaw said she believes a farm shouldn’t sell out just because there aren’t any men in the next generation to take it over. “In high school, I took shop class while all the other girls were in home economics and nursing,” she said. “It all came natural to me from being on the farm with my dad.”

Renshaw also wants girls to know they don’t have to be a “tomboy” to be a farmer. “I’m out there in designer jeans,” she said. “Even though I’m covered in filth and grease, I always have my earrings in. We’re just so used to a certain stereotype, and I really want to break that.”

There are aspects of the show non-farmers can relate to, as well.

“There is more to farming than what people think,” she continued. “Business is a big part of farming, and I feel like that background is how I’ve been able to be successful with my other businesses that are featured.”

As the storyline follows Renshaw’s life, she aims to bring awareness to several important issues, including flood devastation from a levee break in her community and support for Type 1 Diabetes, an illness her own daughter battles daily on the farm. It also showcases her role as a working mom.

“It’s really hard being a mother and farming,” she said. “I would be working right alongside my dad and my husband. Then, I was still the one coming home and cooking and cleaning and doing all these things with my kids. We take on so much as women, and I would love for that story to get out.”

Perhaps the most relatable aspect of the show is Renshaw’s relationship with her dad. “I am a big daddy’s girl. That’s really the reason I was always on the farm, because that is where my dad is,” Renshaw said. “But I think the most important thing is that he was OK with it. He didn’t have a problem with his daughter being in Ag.”

Renshaw has received positive feedback since the initial air date and said FOX23 received more than 100 calls with interest in the show.

“It got a 1.7 rating,” she said. “Which I am told is really great, considering we only had one week to promote it.”

She said they are meeting with producers soon to consider a full season and plan to pitch the idea to other local networks and corporate FOX. They are also looking to partner with Ag companies for sponsorships.

The pilot episode of “The Farmer’s Daughter” is scheduled to air again on February 17, at 9:30 p.m., on FOX23 and Hulu.

As for the future of the show, Renshaw said there are several ideas flowing, like showcasing other farmers’ daughters and women in agriculture, who are not afraid to get their hands dirty.

“We are very creative, very ambitious, and that is why we end up in these roles” because we can think outside of the box and see the bigger picture, she said. “We are go-getters; we break the mold.” 

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.