Three farmers from Mürzzuschlag are fighting for the title Hofheldin 2025”!

Three farmers from Mürzzuschlag are fighting for the title Hofheldin 2025”!

Things are getting exciting in the Bruck-Mürzzuschlag district! Three outstanding farmers have been nominated for the title “Farm Heroine 2025”. The award ceremony will take place on Friday evening at the Steiermarkhof in Graz, and the excitement can literally be felt. The prize is awarded by the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture in collaboration with the Steiermärkische Sparkasse to women who stand out through innovative thinking, courage and drive. A total of 32 candidates from all over Styria are in the running for this coveted award, as Kleine Zeitung reports.

The nominated farmers are:

• Viktoria Görgl: Die 34-jährige Kapfenbergerin hat vor fünf Jahren den elterlichen Betrieb in Pogier übernommen. Mit einem Studium der Agrar- und Ernährungswissenschaften an der BOKU Wien im Gepäck bewirtschaftet sie 26 Hektar Nutzfläche sowie 120 Hektar Wald und hält Kühe sowie Legehennen, deren Bio-Eier sie regional verkauft.
• Katja Kirschmann: Die 48-Jährige lebt in Mariazell und übernahm 2022 den Hof von ihrem Vater. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Mann hält sie Bio-Mangalitza-Schweine, Gänse und Murbodner Rinder und bringt die Tradition mit Moderne zusammen.
• Sabine Rinnhofer: Im Alter von 38 Jahren ist sie aus Hönigsberg die dritte im Bunde. Sie hat sich bereits mehrere Auszeichnungen bei landwirtschaftlichen Spezialitätenprämierungen erarbeitet und ist aktiv als Gemeindebäuerin sowie Obfrau des Bauernladens „NaturGut Mürz“ in Mürzzuschlag.

The role of women farmers in agriculture

Women farmers play a key role in agriculture. Over 33% of agricultural businesses in Austria are run by women, a total of around 28,000. However, this number has been declining since 2010, particularly among women running smaller businesses, as BMLUK notes. The proportion of female business managers increases with age, which shows that many women gain experience and develop their businesses over the years.

Particularly noteworthy is the “School on the Farm” initiative, in which many farmers pass on their knowledge about agriculture to children and young people. The commitment is diverse and ranges from imparting knowledge about regional products to participating in trade fairs and events.

A look back

Last year, the “Hofheldinnen 2024” received special recognition, among other things, for their innovative approaches to agriculture. Karin Absenger and Michaela Stangl were recognized in their categories, and a new special prize was awarded for the first time. As My District reported, the work behind the scenes of female farmers is finally being recognized, even if they are often overshadowed by the big prizes.

The upcoming awards ceremony in Graz is not only an opportunity for recognition, but also a platform for appreciating the valuable role that women farmers play in agriculture and society. We keep our fingers crossed for the nominated farmers and look forward to the brilliant moments that Friday evening will bring!