Ledyard — Twenty-seven-year-old first-generation farmer Allyson Angelini, already an anomaly in the field, became further distinguished Aug. 8 when eWomenNetwork named her its "2015 Emerging Leader of the Year."

The international group chose Angelini because "her passion for feeding others, 10 years of experience and innovative farming practices have made her an example of what dedication to your dream can accomplish."

Angelini, who's been using rotational grazing and organic growing methods to raise vegetables, chickens, pigs, herbs and small fruits at the 6-acre Full Heart Farm since 2012, called the experience "overwhelming."

"I had never traveled to Dallas, Texas, before, but everything really is bigger there, including the awards luncheon," Angelini said of eWomenNetwork's 15th Annual International Conference and Business Expo. "It felt like, not that I've ever been to the Oscars or the Grammys, but like a mini version of that."

Founded by Sandra and Kym Yancey in 2000, eWomenNetwork has more than 100 chapters in the United States and Canada and puts on more than 2,000 women's business events each year to help women market and grow their businesses.

Of the more than 3,000 attendees at this year's international conference, Angelini said she thinks she was the only farmer — something she doesn't consider a bad thing.

"That I was invited to this international conference to be in a room with thousands of people that don't understand this lifestyle on a daily basis ... I think is really telling of the change to come" in the movement for local agriculture, she said.

Right now, most of what she produces yearly — 16 to 20 pigs, almost 2,000 chickens for meat, eggs from about 80 laying hens and three-quarters of an acre of vegetables — goes straight to those who participate in Full Heart Farm's various MemberShare programs.

During the summer season, about 70 families participate, paying set amounts to become shareholders and receive about $20 to $30 in local, seasonal food each week.

Angelini said she makes an effort to include recipes and foods, such as tomatillos, with which some families may not be familiar.

In most cases, the families don't just grab their food and go, Angelini said — she gets to know them well.

"A good number of the families have been with us since the beginning," said Angelini, in her fourth growing season. "The babies from the first year are going into kindergarten this fall. That's what I mean when I say we've built a community."

With a toddler of her own and another baby on the way, Angelini isn't looking to grow the farm in the immediate future, although she said she's always learning new techniques and seeking efficiencies.

Still, Angelini — who said there are "a lot of negative things happening in our food system right now" — hopes one day to tackle such issues on a larger scale.

"Nothing has changed on a daily level; the farm keeps trucking on, especially in this heat of August," Angelini said, joking about how quickly she's been picking tomatoes lately. "But (winning) did make me rethink the scope of the work that I do and take pause to remember how important work in our local food system is. It reassured me that I am on the right path."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle