Empowering Women in Agriculture: Heart of the Farm Initiative

1. Women in AgricultureHeart of the FarmProgram Statistics / Trends Jenny Vanderlin, Information Processing Consultant Joy Kirkpatrick, Outreach Specialist Center for Dairy Profitability (CDP) University of Wisconsin - Madison

2. Women in Agriculture Heart of the Farm Project • Overall Mission Farm Management and Production Education for Women Improving Farm Business Decision-Making • Long-Term Goal “…address the needs of farm women by providing education on pertinent topics, connecting them with agricultural resources, and creating support networks.” • Funding Source North Central Regional Risk Management Education Center Risk Management Agency (2008) and the Center for Dairy Profitability

3. Women in AgricultureTrends* • Most farm women are responsible for farm bookkeeping and bill paying • Farm errands and vegetable gardening are common tasks • Women are more likely to work with livestock than do field work • Women’s age influences the tasks that women do; in particular, almost two-thirds of the women interviewed (63%) contributed 40 or more hours of on-farm work per week. * The Roles of Women on Wisconsin Dairy Farms at the Turn of the 21st Century. PATS Research Report No. 10. Nov, 2001.

4. Women in AgricultureOther Trends*… • Farm women are involved in all of the major decisions on farming operation • Majority of women are responsible for household decisions • Women likely to work with financial decisions rather than crop management • More than ½ (57%) said they were “very involved” in farm decisions * Heart of the Farm Women in Agriculture, PATS Research Report No. 20. September, 2003.

5. Heart of the FarmPrograms2002-2007 Spin-off Workshops: Financial, Health Care, Direct Marketing Conferences were offered at various sites throughout the State Over 500 women attended these conferences

6. Demographics • Most Attendees Were From Dairy Farms • Followed by beef, then grain, no hog farmers • 42% Worked Off The Farm • Averaged 30 hours per week • Wide Distribution of Ages • Largest participation age 45-54, followed by 35-44 • Average Size of Farm was 600 Acres

7. Reason for Attending… TOP 3 REASONS 1. Content Relevant 2. Other Women 3. Distance

8. Logistics… • Willing to travel 30-60 miles to attend • 2006 Respondents indicated they were willing to drive fewer miles than 2003 respondents.

9. Marketing… BEST WAY: Direct Mail, Extension Newsletters and Local/Ag Newspapers HEARD ABOUT: Direct Mail, Extension Newsletters and Personal Contact

10. What We Learned… • “Liked Best” • Discussion • Lots of information • Network with women • “Change” • More In-Depth Information • More Discussion/Networking Time • “Add” • More In-Depth Information • More Information (on all topics)

11. What We Learned… • Plan early – “Save the date” postcards/flyer • Planning committees – topics and promotion • Newsletters • HCE groups • Google groups • 2008 – longer super-sessions – hands on

12. Networking Activity • Balancing Act or Is it a 3 Ring Circus • Divide participants into groups • Have them answer questions in their groups • Report back to the full group • Questions: how do they balance work, farm, family, technologies that help them, finding time away, etc.

13. Supporting Women Advantageousto Wisconsin Agriculture • Empowerment and Confidence of Women in Agriculture • Opportunities and Support for Networking, Mentoring and Sharing • Development of Positive Attitude

14. Questions/Discussion ? Joy Kirkpatrick Outreach Specialist joy.kirkpatrick@ces.uwex.edu Center for Dairy Profitability 608.263.3485 http://www.uwex.edu/ces/heartofthefarm/

15. Heart of the Farm Women in Agriculture http://www.uwex.edu/ces/heartofthefarm/