In 2026, the United Nations recognized the International Year of the Woman Farmer, honoring the women who sustain agriculture around the world. In California, women farmers, landowners, and stewards are helping protect the land that feeds our communities and shapes our rural landscapes. Their stories often look different, but they share a common thread: dedication to the land and a deep commitment to preserving agriculture for the next generation.
Of the many women connected to farms protected through California Farmland Trust, three exemplify this spirit through their unique journeys in agriculture.
For Bonner Mendez, farming is inseparable from family history. She grew up on the ranch her grandfather purchased in the early 1930s, a place where cousins lived within shouting distance and agriculture was simply a way of life. As a child, she worked alongside family members in the cattle business, learning early on that land is both a responsibility and a privilege.
“The land is a legacy. Protecting it means honoring the generations before us and making sure there is still farmland for the generations to come.”
Today, the ranch has evolved into walnut and almond orchards, reflecting the changing realities of agriculture. Though she no longer works the land physically, Bonner remains deeply involved in its management and future.
Of the many women connected to farms protected through the California Farmland Trust, three exemplify this spirit through their unique journeys in agriculture.
Her commitment to conservation led her to place the ranch into an agricultural conservation easement in 2019, ensuring it will remain farmland forever. For Bonner, protecting the land means honoring generations past while creating opportunities for those who will farm it next.
Jean Okyue’s path to agriculture was anything but traditional. Originally trained as a musician, she eventually found herself managing a 70-acre farm in Merced County after the loss of her husband. What began as a necessity became a calling.
Jean continues to manage the orchard with the help of neighbors and family, embodying the strong sense of community that defines rural agriculture. She also advocates for soil health, farmland preservation, and agricultural education, believing that protecting the land means educating future generations about its value.
For Jean, one of the most meaningful moments each year is almond bloom, when orchards burst into white and pink blossoms. To her, the season represents renewal, reminding farmers that agriculture is ultimately about nurturing life and sustaining the land for those who follow.
“When the orchards bloom each spring, it reminds me that farming is about renewal and caring for the land so life can continue.”
Laura Dompe’s role in agriculture reflects another important side of farming: stewardship. Through her family’s connection to Lucas Ranch, she has become the guardian of land that has been in her family for generations.
While she may not drive tractors or work daily in the fields, Laura oversees the property, manages tenants, maintains historic barns, and ensures the land remains productive. The ranch is now planted in walnuts and forms part of a greenbelt along the western edge of Gustine, helping prevent urban sprawl from overtaking valuable farmland.
After the sudden loss of both her brother and mother, Laura became the sole steward of the ranch. Her priority remains clear: keep the land unencumbered and ensure it remains farmland for future generations. For Laura, being a woman farmer means protecting a legacy and standing guard over land that cannot be replaced once it is gone.
Women farmers come from many backgrounds. Some grow up in agriculture, others arrive through unexpected paths, and many serve as stewards who protect farmland long after previous generations are gone.
What unites them is resilience, vision, and a shared belief that the land matters. Through their leadership, farms remain productive, communities stay connected to agriculture, and future generations continue to have the opportunity to grow, harvest, and steward California’s farmland.
“Being a woman farmer today means standing guard for the land, making sure it remains farmland for the families and farmers who will follow us.”
