Transcript Ohio State Universtiy Extension Egaging Women involved in the Agricultral Industry

Ohio State University Extension
Engaging Women involved in the Agricultural Industry
Women in Agriculture
Conference
Herringshaw, D., Extension Educator, Ohio State University, Wood County
Woodruff, J.N., Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County
The 2009 Northwest Ohio Women In
Ag conference was attended by 140
women including 29 FFA members
representing three chapters.
Participants represented 46,721.05
Farm Business Transition Class.
acres of farm land in 18 counties
and 3 states.
“I thought I knew a lot about the
farm already, but I have gained so
much more by coming to this class.”
–Annie’s Project Participant
A New Opportunity
Growing to Bring
Farm Women Together
Ohio Farm Women Consortium
~ fostering and spreading great ideas that benefit Ohio women in agriculture
Women have a critical role in the future sustainability of Ohio agriculture.
 Almost 40% of the 75,861 Ohio farms have at least one woman operator: 29,207
farms
 Almost 30% of the 114,172 Ohio farm operators are women: 31,277 women
 94% of respondents agreed that
the program will increase farm
family communications
 93% agreed that the knowledge
they gained at the program will be
applied to their farm operation
 99% of the participants agreed
knowledge gained during the
conference will be applied to their
personal life.
Those attending more than one year of Women
In Agriculture programs were asked if they made
any changes to the farm operation based on
knowledge gained at past conferences.
78% responded they had made changes.
 12% of the 75,861 principal operators of Ohio farms are women: 9,127 women
 97% of the 9,127 woman who are principal operators are full or partial farm owners:
8,842 women
Annie’s Project Impacts
 5% of Ohio’s almost 14M acres of farmland are principally operated by a woman:
almost 722,000 acres
From 2007 – 2010:
 Almost 40% of the 9,127 women principal operators farm as their primary occupation:
3,518 women
 About 3% of the $7 billion in Ohio’s annual agricultural product sales are sold by
women principal operators: almost $188M in agricultural product sales
 13 workshops were conducted
 282 women have participated
Ohio Farm Women Consortium stimulates and supports responsive, appropriate, and
adequate service to meet the occupational and business development needs of the growing
number of Ohio women who are farm operators, farmland owners, and farming partners. We
will evaluate service availability and quality at the regional level, specifically, by Ohio's 12
economic development regions as defined by Ohio Department of Development. We will
maintain awareness of both women farmers in contiguous states who have a vested interest
in Ohio markets and of services available in contiguous states that may be of potential benefit
to Ohio women farmers.
Results from 6 month follow-up survey after 2008 classes:
 88% became involved with goal setting
for the farm.
 67% have become more involved in
the farm decision making process.
 50% adopted at least one new risk
management practice.
 42% have remained in contact.
“We women farmers need to
speak up and make sure we
are heard and that our
opinions count, at home, in
meetings, at the parts store, by
the laborers we hire, and the
farmers who lease our land or
provide contracted services.
Since forming in 2009 and through 2010 Ohio Farm Women Consortium will invest
resources to achieve four outcomes.
1. Gain an in-depth understanding of the service needs and priorities of Ohio women
farmers, and of their experiences and evaluation of services they receive.
2. Promote high-value services already available to Ohio women farmers.
3. Identify and create opportunities to enhance existent services so that Ohio women
farmers attain greater benefit.
4. Identify and begin to close gaps in services to Ohio women farmers.
–Highland County Study Participant
“I believe I can be more help
because of what I learned in
these classes. I hope to make an
impact from now on.”
–Annie’s Project Participant
Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868 .