Transcript MWIA06

Midwest Women in Agriculture
Conference
Kelly L. Easterday
Purdue Extension -Kosciusko County
Presented at the
National Women in Agriculture Conference
April 7, 2006
St. Louis, MO
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Inspiration for conference
• Nebraska
• Ohio
• Kentucy
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Indiana Data
• 23% of farm operators are women (20,246)
• 7.5% of principal operators are women
(4,520)
• Increase of 8% in principal operators since
1997
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Determining the Need for
Programming
• Committee formed in early 2001
• Combination of Extension Educators for
agriculture and consumer & family
sciences
• In February 2001 survey mailed to
determine interest for a conference
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Creating the Conference
• Not a goal to go statewide in the
beginning
• Purdue Agriculture Communications
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Mission of the Conference
Meeting the needs of women in
agriculture by addressing the
personal, family, and farm issues that
affect their lives, their families, and
their farm businesses.
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Objectives of the Conference
• Define the woman’s role in making
the family farm profitable
• Strengthen the role of a woman as
she deals with emotional well-being
of her farm family
• Build a network of support among
women in agriculture
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Marketing of Conference
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Brochures
Press Releases
Web page
Farm Shows
Extension in Surrounding States
SWCD, FSA, FFA, Farm Bureau, Ag Bankers
Commodity Organizations
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Conference Website
• http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/wia/
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Example of Topics Covered
• Stress reduction
• Differences between men
and women
• Agricultural products
marketing
• Financial planning for later
life
• Farming without a spouse
• Rural-urban relations
• Diversified agriculture
• Insurance
• Landscaping
• Tax tips
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
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Passing on the family farm
Conflict management
Working with a farm lender
The future of agriculture
Small-scale agriculture
enterprise
Economic Impact of China
International Agriculture
Agri-Tourism
Meth Labs
Farm Business Software
Cash Rents
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Keynote Speakers
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Jolene Brown
Kendra Smiley
Dr. Ron Hanson
Jane Eckert
Dr. Bernie Erven
Chris Fesko
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
1st Conference 2002
295 women and men attended
1 day – March 21
$40/person
$3,500 in grants & $5,800 in sponsorship
Coverage in all Agriculture newspapers in
IN
Web site created
True Team Effort
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Evaluation of the Conference
• Speakers
– Immediately following presentations
• Conference
– 2 weeks after
– Received $5 rebate for completing
• Follow-up
– 6 months after
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
2002 Evaluation Results
• 70% - define role in farm profitability
• 85% - strengthened role in emotional wellbeing of family
• 66 % - build a network of support
• Follow-up survey in September 2002
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
2003-05 Conferences
• Expanded to modified 2 day conference
in 2003
• 2004-2005 Full two day conference
• 2005 Regional Meeting in southern IN
• 2006 Two locations – 2 days at each
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Conference Attendance
300
250
200
Attendance
150
# of 1st Time
attendees
100
50
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
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OH
MI
IL
WI
NY
OK
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Distribution
of Attendees
Demographics of Attendees
• 695 Participants, 6 six states, over 75% of IN
counties over the 5 year history
• Employment
– Half work off the farm
• Farm Size
– Majority less than 500 acres
• Age
– Average is in the 36-55 years range
• Education
– Majority have college background
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Financial Support
• Grants ($28,500)
– 2005-06 North Central Risk Management Education Center
– Women’s Challenge Grant
• Sponsorship ($29,050 – 3 year total)
– Mainly local
– Statewide
• Purdue
– Registration brochures and web page design
• Product Donations
• Registration Fees
– 1st Year - $40; 2nd year - $60, 3rd year and after $75
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Conference Impact
• Empowered women to make decisions about
their family farms
• Increased confidence, morale, motivation
• Support from others dealing with similar
issues
• At least 3 started their own soy-candle
business
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Conference Impact in 2004
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Contact a financial advisor for estate planning
Work with the Purdue New Ventures Team
Being more aware of pesticide handling
Direct marketing
Work on family relations
Add more detail to family meetings
Make sure all conditions are in writing
Be more assertive
To stay more positive
Investing smarter
Investigate insurance available
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Conference Evaluation History
• 84% - define role in farm profitability
• 92% - strengthened role in emotional
well-being of family
• 85 % - build a network of support
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Conference Comments
• "Prior to the conference, I considered myself
a 'ho-hum' farmer's wife. It made me far more
aware of the important role I'm in."
• "It is interesting to see the "women's" role
develop among interaction with other women.
The conference gave me more confidence to
take steps that I have always dreamed about
implementing."
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Conference Comments
I really believe in the conference since it
provides information that we all need to hear
and consider. I even tell my sisters who are
involved in small businesses that they should
attend, even though their business are not
directly involved in agriculture. I am glad that
my daughter could attend the conference with
me this year, since each of us were able to
gain different perspectives from the speakers.
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Future
• 2006 Statewide Women in Agriculture
Committee Formed
• March 2006
– Survey mailed to those not attending the
conference
– Determine what changes need to made
and how to move forward for 2007
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Summary
A tremendous journey with many
rewards………………
Thank You!
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.
Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.