Women in agriculture: yesterday – today – tomorrow
Spot on: Women are moving into the Ostermundigen farmhouse! Why? The UN has declared 2026 to be the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This is reason enough to focus on women in agriculture. Who are the women shaping our farms and food supply, often far from the public eye? With authentic portraits, the special exhibition ‘Women in agriculture: yesterday – today – tomorrow’ puts them in the spotlight. It provides insight into their daily lives and work, and also looks back at the past, as well as into the future.
Get to know our women from agriculture – Chantal, Norah, Corinne and co.
Inspiring, moving and thought-provoking, the exhibition is an invitation to rediscover the female perspective on agriculture.
Through images, sound and video, all in the historical ambience of Ballenberg, visitors can encounter women who make agriculture their way of life and steer it with a passion. Corinne, Norah, Sonja, Ilena, Sevenja, Chantal and many other fascinating women talk about tradition, change, challenges, responsibility, compatibility and future issues. The presented women are both role models and trailblazers – showing young people that agriculture has many faces and perspectives.
What awaits you in the special exhibition
- Portraits of female agriculturists and farmers from all over Switzerland
- Stories told through images, sound and film
- Themed rooms on tradition, the present, education and the future
- Children’s play area
- A look beyond Switzerland
- The short film ‘Women in Agriculture’ by Vanessa Simili
The exhibition offers fascinating insight, new perspectives and plenty to talk about. Young people can discover inspiring vocational fields – and perhaps even new ideas for the future.
An exhibition that broadens horizons, moves and connects.
2026: the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer
The exhibition has been realised by the Agricultural Information Service (LID) in cooperation with the Swiss Women Farmers’ Association (SBLV) and the Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg, to mark the UN International Year. With this observance in 2026, the UN aims to raise global awareness of inequalities, as well as to encourage governments, organisations and societies to specifically promote women in agriculture, strengthen their rights and create fairer structures.
Good to know
- The special exhibition is located in our Bernese Midlands area, in the farmhouse from Ostermundigen BE (331).
- It can be reached on foot in 5 to 10 minutes from the west entrance, near Hofstetten.
- The special exhibition is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
- Entry to the exhibition is included in the museum admission fee.
Credits: Women in agriculture: yesterday – today – tomorrow
- Concept, exhibition management, curation
Nina Hübner, Maria Känel and team, Agricultural Information Service (LID) - Design, audio and film
Mirjam Loosli, Rambling Visuals, Zuchwil - Exhibition consultants
Mirjam Koring, Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg
Anton Reisacher, Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg - Translations
Trait d’Union, Bern - Stand construction
Christian Mäder, Mäderart, Rütschelen - Advertising technology
Outbòx, Bern/Zurich - Printing
Ostschweiz Druck AG, Wittenbach - Film
Vanessa Simili, Bern
Many thanks to the following organisations for the valuable support:
Cooperating partners:
Gold sponsors:
Ballenberg
Swiss Open-Air Museum
Museumsstrasse 100
CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz
Opening hours Administration
3 November 2025 to 8 April 2026
From Monday to Friday
8.30 am to 11.30 am
1.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Opening hours
9 April to 1 November 2026
10 am to 5 pm daily
