Transcript WIA.extension.06.06.06.ppt

Breaking Ground:
Lessons From Western MA’s
New Women in Agriculture
Program
What is CISA?
• Community-based
organization with a
mission to connect
farmers and
consumers
• Started Buy Local
Campaign
• Offer Technical
Assistance
• Educate
WHY a Network?
• National and regional trend:
Growing # of women
operators
• Historic women’s network in
region
• Interest and enthusiasm
among women
WHAT a network?
What we hoped a network would do…
• Provide a place for women to
share
• Create a supportive environment
to educate women about farming
and marketing/business skills
• Provide structure for bottom up
ideas
Gleanings on How
• Developed initially in 2004
• Entering 3rd year
• Evolved from one-on-one mentoring
model to social network model
• Supported by CISA research, tipsheet development, e-newsletter,
etc.
Current Meetings
– Last summer held kick-off transition
meeting
– Meet every other month (switch day,
format, meal)
– Each meeting is half social networking
and half informative
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Mary Peabody
Diversifing Farms
Cheryl Rogowski
Grants
Supporting Activities
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Started quarterly E-News
Developed TIP SHEET series
Organize meetings
Bring in experts
Pay for conferences
Whose network is
this anyway?
• Is this CISA’s or the women’s?
• Who are the women?
– Principle operators, all operators, wives
– Matriarchs, wanna be farmers
• Where do we serve?
– CISA’s area, the state?
• What format works best?
– Group meetings, topic roundtables,
one-on-one
What we’ve learned
• Be realistic
– You can’t be everything to everyone
• Your leadership is important
– Enthusiasm doesn’t always mean
participation
• Keep asking for feedback