Through social media, entrepreneurship and a passion for farming, Mona-Lisa McKay is giving consumers an authentic glimpse into life beyond the farm gate while inspiring a new generation to see agriculture differently.
For many Namibians, farming begins at the supermarket shelf or the butcher's counter. Few see the early mornings, difficult decisions and financial pressures that come long before food reaches consumers.
Young farmer Mona-Lisa McKay is helping change that.
Better known online as Plaas Meisiekind, McKay has built a growing social media following by sharing the realities of life on a Namibian farm. From checking livestock and repairing fences to speaking openly about farming's challenges, her content offers an unfiltered look at an industry many people rarely experience.
Rather than chasing followers, McKay sees social media as a platform to educate consumers, promote agriculture and inspire more young people to consider farming as a career.
"I don't look at myself as an influencer or content creator. I am just a girl out here living in her passion and profession and sharing with others the little that I can," she said.
Finding her path
Agriculture was not always part of McKay's plan. Although she spent school holidays on the family farm, she initially imagined a future beyond the countryside. After finishing school, uncertainty about her career led her to improve her Grade 12 results while attending agricultural training programs offered through the Ministry of Agriculture and Agribank in Aroab.
Those experiences transformed her outlook.
"Living on the farm and being involved with it every day slowly grew on me and attending the trainings is what actually captivated me into pursuing a career in agriculture," she said.
McKay journey took another unexpected turn in 2025 when her father passed away just two months before she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Sustainable Agriculture. She stepped into a greater role on the family farm, helping manage the operation alongside her mother while continuing her studies. Today, she is completing an Honors degree in Sustainable Agriculture.
"So when I say what I'm doing is my passion and profession, I mean it literally," she said.
Being relatable
McKay believes one of agriculture's biggest challenges is the growing disconnect between producers and consumers. Through social media, she hopes to give people a better understanding of where their food comes from and the work behind it.
"The consumer sees what I do and knows where what I'm selling comes from," she said.
"By engaging with the consumer not only in advertising my products but also by sharing a bit of me, it gives them a sense of personal relation as well as holds me accountable for shortcomings. It creates an open relationship where I can hear people's voices, improve and also share my way of doing things," McKay stated.
Her content is rarely planned and she wants to keep it more natural.
"I always want to keep it genuine. Most of the time it comes spontaneously. I'll be walking in the veld or on my way to the kraal and decide to share my thoughts or a word of encouragement. Maybe somewhere, somehow it lights up someone's day," she said.
McKay believes authenticity also means showing the difficult side of farming.
"A lot of us only show the good and forget that the good sometimes comes because of the bad. It is important to show where I went wrong and what happened to help the next person make better decisions than I did," she said.
McKay believes digital platforms also present significant opportunities for agriculture.
"As we all know we are moving into a technologically advanced phase in the world and this is our opportunity to jump on the wagon and use it all to our advantage," she said.
Growing the business
Alongside managing the family farm, McKay has diversified the business through meat sales, creating a steady income to support day-to-day expenses while allowing larger farming income to be reinvested into feed, medication and infrastructure.
She believes supporting local producers is key to strengthening Namibia's agricultural sector.
"How are we going to reach self-sustainability if we don't support our local producers and allow them to enter into the markets and supply consumers?" she asked.
McKay also hopes consumers gain a greater appreciation for the costs behind livestock production.
"They don't see the effort and costs involved with raising and caring for the animals up until it reaches their freezers," she said.
Inspiring the next generation
McKay hopes her journey encourages more young people particularly young women to pursue careers in agriculture.
"For all the women out there dreaming of being in the industry, remember that you can do all things that you set your mind to. It is definitely not going to be a walk in the park, but I can assure you that it is all worth it," McKay said.
She also wants to challenge the perception that farming is only for older generations or those without formal education.
"We often hear that farming is for old and uneducated people. I hope people look at me as an example and that we break that mentality," she said.
Her advice is simple: "Start small, ask questions, be curious and open to learning. Don't let others make you feel that what you're doing is old-fashioned or only for certain people."
Looking ahead, McKay hopes to expand the family farming enterprise into a recognised supplier to major retailers while opening a shop that supports other local farmers.
"We want to become a well-renowned producer that supplies the big retail stores and hopefully open our own shop where we will be selling our products as well as encourage other local farmers to be part of the business," she said.
For McKay, social media is not about creating an online persona. It is about opening the farm gate, strengthening the connection between producers and consumers and showing that behind every meal is a farmer with a story worth telling.
