Welcome to the Rural Virtual Assistant Academy!

A practical, purpose-driven path to building a business that works with your lifestyle, not against it.

The Rural Virtual Assistant Academy was created for women who call rural America home and who want to contribute financially without leaving the farm, sacrificing time with their kids, or burning out in a corporate job that no longer fits.

This program is for the woman who’s craving flexibility, freedom, and the ability to earn real income doing meaningful work on her terms. Whether you’ve never considered yourself an entrepreneur or you’re unsure if you have the “right” skillset to get started, this is your step-by-step blueprint.

Inside the Academy, you’ll find everything you need to launch a virtual assistant business with confidence, including:

  • A modular course so you can learn at your own pace

  • Two private strategy sessions to personalize your path

  • Monthly co-working hours to help you work on your business (not just in it)

  • Lifetime access, with new content added regularly

  • An offboarding strategy session to ensure you're ready to fly

  • A real opportunity to work with your first client—us—as a paid subcontractor (no invoicing or client chasing)

We’ve removed the overwhelm and replaced it with clarity, support, and a realistic roadmap that lets you grow without pressure. No marketing hustle. No guesswork. Just the tools, mentorship, and community you need to get started.

If you're ready to turn your existing skills into a business that fits your life, the Rural Virtual Assistant Academy is here to guide the way.

👉 Let’s turn your skills into income, without ever having to leave the farm.

Meet the Team

The Rural Virtual Assistant Academy came together as an idea between two women who know the agriculture industry like the back of their hand. Having both worked as Rural Virtual Assistants, they know what it takes to launch, sustain, and grow a virtual assistant business. On top of that, they have the specialized experience that rural and agricultural businesses need when it comes to hiring an assistant.

Get to know the Founders below, and know that their story can also be yours. This isn’t a pipe dream or another “get rich quick” course. This is sustainable, long-term income that you control.

Krysta Paffrath, Co-Founder, Rural VA Academy

For the past decade, I’ve supported entrepreneurs across industries, starting in 2016 with a social media management business for local shops. Since then, I’ve built three successful businesses and partnered with clients in marketing, brand strategy, content, and community building.

In that journey, there was a time I was calling myself a virtual assistant, and I know the value a skilled assistant can bring to the team. Here at the Rural VA Academy, we focus on giving you the skills and community to build something important, work with dream clients, promote agriculture, and most importantly, do it all while not sacrificing the work you do at home.

Rebecca , Co-Founder, Rural VA Academy

Rebecca is a former teacher turned entrepreneur living on a cow-calf beef farm in central Wisconsin with her husband & daughter. She left the classroom in 2020 while pregnant because squeezing life in around work wasn’t the vibe she wanted for her future. Instead, she set out to build a business that fit into her life and allowed her to be present as a mom, contribute financially, be available to “cow doula” during calving season, and still hold onto her own identity.

Launching her virtual assistant business made all of that possible. Now, she’s on a mission to help other rural women discover the freedom and flexibility of remote work. When she’s not supporting clients, homeschooling her daughter, or writing for her blog, you’ll likely find her outside with her cows, soaking up the slower pace of rural life.

Who is the Rural VA Academy for?

If you’re a rural woman looking to bring in extra income without leaving the farm, the Rural VA Academy was built for you. Whether you want to be home with your kids while controlling your own schedule and income, or you’re ready to step away from the corporate grind but aren’t sure you have the skills to run your own business, we’ve got you covered. Even if sales and marketing aren’t your thing, you can still become a successful business owner with the freedom, flexibility, and confidence to create a work life that fits your rural lifestyle.