AS A highly dedicated wife, mother, and beloved co-worker, Katie Sherman is a woman who deserves to be recognized. When Sherman began working for one of the country\u2019s top 25 pork producers, Tosh Farms, it was very much a \u201cman\u2019s world.\u201d Hired as the first female manager 21 years ago, Sherman recalls, \u201cAbout 10% of our 40-person team was female, with only me in production. But now, women make up about 25% of our 500-plus employees. Over the years, Tosh Farms has evolved, but our core values: energy, knowledge, transparency, commitment, and community focus, [which] promote an environment full of opportunities, have not changed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI manage a farm in Huntland, oversee some of our Kentucky farms, and help with our leadership program,\u201d said Sherman. \u201cI enjoy raising pigs. They play an important role in our lives. But my favorite part of the job is helping others realize and develop their talents. Sometimes, it\u2019s very physical when I\u2019m working in the barns. Basically, I do my best to help meet the needs of our team in whatever capacity I [can]. It\u2019s never boring!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing a mom is rewarding but hard work,\u201d said Sherman. As the regional sow production manager, she has excelled in this demanding career because of the village of women who help along the way. \u201cMy life is filled with amazing family and friends, but there are some extraordinary women that really stand\u00a0out. My mom, Patricia Rieben, steps up daily. She takes our girls to and from school every day and stays over when I\u2019m out of town for a night or two each week. Along with her, our aunts, Peggy Gray, Michelle Sutton, and Sandy Lee, and my mother-in-law, Becky Sherman, have helped over the years with school field trips; carpooling; school projects; orthodontist appointments; meals; overnights; and fun, memory-making activities when I am out of pocket. It\u2019s hard being away from my kiddos, but I never have to worry because they are always with someone who loves and cares for them. It\u2019s easy to get bogged down, but these ladies offer sound advice from different perspectives, hugs, and prayers that reenergize me when I\u2019m waning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sherman also has the support of her devoted husband of 20 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClayton supports our three children, as well as me and my career. That said, he works the third shift for CSX and has a herd of 150 brood cows that require daily care.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere has been a lot of growth during my lifetime in Franklin County, but I love that we still have a small-town feel with agricultural roots and conservative values. In the last few decades, I\u2019ve seen a major increase in activities, such as Farm City Day, the Farmer\u2019s Market, and festivals geared toward family and supporting local businesses. I\u2019ve lived in a few other places, but there is nowhere better! I am thankful that we are blessed to raise our children in such a wonderful community, surrounded by family and friends.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Katie Sherman began working for one of the country\u2019s top 25 pork producers, Tosh Farms, it was very much a \u201cman\u2019s world.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":12047,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-12042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-february"],"yoast_head":"\n