BY TED SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
Rachelle Luttig had the largest exhibit Tuesday at Metompkin Elementary School’s Career Day — a hulking John Deere dry fertilizer spreader.
When students arrived at her table, she showed them vials of dry fertilizer, explained its importance to crops, and then led them on a tour around the massive machine.
Being close to the tractor-like vehicle was a unique experience for the students.
Even more unique, however, is that Luttig drives the fertilizer applicator for a living for Growmark FS, a regional agricultural cooperative that has a location in Accomac.
Luttig agreed that it is “not very common,” for a woman to be driving the fertilizer rig for an agricultural company.
While women have a large role in the work of family farms, it is rare to see a woman operating the heavy equipment for a farm-related business.
But working in the field is a field she enjoys.
“I love it,” she said.
Luttig, a Nebraska native who lives in Parksley, has worked for Growmark for more than five years.
She always has been around agriculture.
“I can remember when I was a little girl my grandfather, across the road, working the land under a big, yellow, John Deere umbrella,” she said.
“Growing up, being around it, I was always fascinated by it. Growmark gave me the opportunity to do it,” she said.
She has driven fields from lower Northampton County to Princess Anne, Md.
Last week, she spread fertilizer on more than 1,000 acres from Silver Beach to near Cheriton over a three-day span.
“I was driving a lot,” she said.
Luttig said her favorite part of the job is helping farmers.
But like many who work in agriculture, she said being outside and enjoying the rural scenery is also a benefit.
“It’s never a boring day at the office,” she said.
