Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference

Stacy L. HerrPurdue Extension – Wayne County

&Kelly L. Easterday

Purdue Extension -Kosciusko County

Presented at the National Farm Management Conference

June 12, 2007Rochester, MN

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

Inspiration for conference

• Nebraska

• Ohio

• Kentucky

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• 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

• 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.

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

Keynote Speakers

• Jolene Brown

• Kendra Smiley

• Dr. Ron Hanson

• Jane Eckert

• Dr. Bernie Erven

• Chris Fesko

• Rebecca Long Chaney

• Jane Jenkins Herlong

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 attended1 day – March 21$40/person$3,500 in grants & $5,800 in

sponsorship Coverage in all Agriculture newspapers in IN

Web site createdTrue 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 well-being 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

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Attendance

# of 1st Timeattendees

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

Distribution of

Attendees

• OH

• MI

• IL

• WI

• NY

• OK

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

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

• 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 CommentsI 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 Purdue Women in Agriculture Team Formed

- Focus on all educational programming for women in agriculture

- Industry representatives, Extension Educators & Campus Specialists

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

Future

• 2007 Began Yearly Rotation of Conference between Three Regional Locations

- Held for first time in Central Region

- Had nearly 50% First Time Attendees

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

Future• 2008 Two Grants from NC RME for

Marketing and Human Risk Management Education - Regional Workshops – Estate Planning & Employee Management - IP Video Marketing Series - Publications - Web Based Employee Evaluation Tool

Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution.

Summary

A tremendous journey with many rewards………………

Thank You!