#WomenInAgSpotlight: Hilary Maricle

AFBF is proud to salute Hilary Maricle as part of #WomenInAg, which recognizes the contributions of women involved in agriculture. Maricle is a Nebraska farmer and Farm Bureau leader.

A sixth-generation farmer, Maricle sits on the boards of the Nebraska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. She’s a member of CommonGround Nebraska and AFBF’s Grassroots Outreach (GO Team). She previously served on AFBF’s Promotion & Education Committee and on the board of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. She’s also a long-time 4-H leader, serving her community in Northeast Nebraska for the past 17 years.

Maricle raises cattle, hogs, sheep, corn and alfalfa hay on Maricle Family Farms with her husband, Brian, and their children. The Maricle’s farm practices are all conventional, with a focus on sustainability and caring for the environment.

“We’re working hard to position the farm for success for the next generation,” Maricle said. What the farm will look like in the future is currently an open book, as the five “youngsters” in the family range in age from a college senior to a fourth grader.

Off the farm, Maricle is an education consultant. Her clients include University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Doane University Online and Northeast Community College, a public community college system with four campuses. She also works part-time with junior high and high school FFA teams at Boone Central School.

Over time, Maricle has seen an evolution in the way women in agriculture are perceived.

“It’s more of a level playing field now,” she said. In her experience, “There’s no hesitation in putting women in leadership positions.”

She sees it as normal for women in agriculture to be hesitant about stepping up into leadership roles, but “Don’t discount your abilities,” Maricle advised. “Find your skill set and strengths, and build from there,” she said, adding “There’s a fit for everyone in agriculture, women and men.”

Connect with Maricle on social media – Instagram: @hilarymaricle; Facebook: Hilary Esch Maricle; and Twitter: @mariclefarm.