Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year finalist Christina Traeger of Avon, Minnesota, has been immersed in agriculture since childhood. She credits 4-H with shaping her leadership path, which led to involvement with the British White Cattle Association of America, the Minnesota Farm to School committee, and the Land Stewardship Project.
Over the years, she has managed farmers markets, consulted on agricultural social media, mentored producers at different stages, assisted neighbors at all hours, and taught veterinary students practical skills.
At Rolling Hills Cattle Company, Traeger raises British White cattle along with Mangalitsa pigs, Katahdin sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys for meat customers.
Her work earned her a place among five finalists for the 2026 Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year. Ahead of Farmfest, she answered five questions about her career and outlook.
Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year: 5 questions
1. What is your role in agriculture?
Traeger describes herself as the sole proprietor and owner of a beef cow-calf-to-finish ranch.
2. How did you end up in this role?
She says cattle have always had a place in her life, and over time that passion became a business and the operation she runs today.
3. What is your goal for the future?
Traeger plans to continue producing British White cattle and to keep teaching others whenever possible. She believes knowledge is at its best when shared.
4. What is your advice for others interested in your path?
Starting out can be difficult, she says, but begin small and invest in quality livestock. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Choose stock already performing the way you want, then build from there.
5. What does the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer mean to you?
Traeger calls it humbling to work in an industry where women’s efforts are not always recognized. She sees it as a significant responsibility to serve as a matriarch and ambassador for agriculture. With or without a male partner, she says, women in agriculture are on the ground doing the work every day, and recognition is hard earned.
Traeger is one of five finalists for Minnesota’s Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year honor, along with Trisha Zachman, Meg Stuedemann, Erica Sawatzke, and Mary Joyer. The winner is scheduled to be announced at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, during the Women in Ag event on the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center stage.