March 2025 - 15

SWEET CORN
Fox University in Newberg, Oregon,
Gross received a master's in sports
psychology from Oregon State.
Originally planning to return to the
family potato and wheat farm, which
provided her a work ethic growing
up, Gross was a college admissions
administrator, coached softball at
a George Fox, marketed pitching
machines and batting cages,
and worked for a sports lighting
company in Florida.
In 2012, Gross returned to replace
a farm manager and help her brother
Ray work the mint harvest. She
began growing corn seed in 2015.
Gross took over the farming
operation when Ray, who also farmed
potatoes, died in 2017 of sheath
sarcoma, a rare cancer. Gross carried
the legacy of Ray's farm before buying
out her sister-in-law and establishing
her own farm in 2020.
Her oldest brother Doug helped
her transition into owning her own
farm. She learned much about
growing practices and relationship
management from her brothers
and her dad.
" You don't farm as if you are on
an island; you farm as if you are
part of a huge community, and you
rely on the give-and-take from the
community to survive, " Gross said.
Being raised on a farm helped Gross.
" I returned to ag later in life than
most farmers, and even though I grew
up and worked on our family farm,
nothing prepares you for serving in
the key leadership position with all
the decision making and stress, "
Gross said. " He (Doug) has helped me
through those growing pains. "
Gross' sports retail work, in a
majority male field, prepared her
as a woman in the male-dominated
farming industry.
" You understand there are benefits
to being a female, and you understand
there are restrictions in being a
female, " she said. " There are things
I might be able to get as a female
that my brother doesn't get the
opportunity for, and vice-versa. It's
understanding that there are certain
advantages you have and taking
advantage of that if it's being offered. "
Women aren't always included in
social occasions, Gross said, noting
VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM | 15
how, in sports, for example, there's
something about guys who like to
be around other guys talking sports,
while women often like to be around
other women in their conversations.
" That social component can
sometimes leave you on the margin, but
I'm okay with that, " she said. " I don't
think it really affects the way I farm. I
don't think I make any adaptations for
it at all. But is it different? Absolutely. "
Female farmers sometimes must
prove themselves.
" I feel like you have to prove your
credibility as a female, " Gross said.
When Gross initially returned to
the farm, she said she would get
treated differently at the local parts
store until she proved she knew the
correct part for the right piece of
machinery and the part's function.
" But, once you gain that respect,
it seems to stick around, "
Gross said. " The loyalty in an ag
community is huge. And once you
earn respect in the ag community,
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March 2025

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