Michaela Hoffelmeyer

Michaela Hoffelmeyer is an Assistant Professor of Public Engagement in Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, affiliated with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Specializing in feminist, queer, and labor theories, her research explores structural inequalities in agrifood systems, focusing on topics like robotics, labor dynamics, market concentration, and alternative farm models.

• Education: Ph.D. in Rural Sociology with a dual-title in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Penn State University

Hoffelmeyer’s work examines how marginalized groups access agricultural resources and how inequalities shape food production and sustainability. She employs mixed methods, including semi-structured interviews, surveys, and ethnographic immersion, to analyze the experiences of queer/LGBTQ+ farmers, midscale farms undergoing succession, and meat processing laborers.

Her publications highlight intersections of sexuality, labor, and sustainability. Recent work investigates the impacts of heteropatriarchy on farm viability and queer farmer visibility during the pandemic. Hoffelmeyer actively collaborates with community-based agriculture organizations and contributes to equity-focused educational programs.