In Her Boots: Reaching Out to Women in Sustainable
Agriculture
2012 Women in Agriculture Educators National Conference
Speaker IntrosLisa Kivirist, MOSES Rural Women’s Project; Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B Leigh Adcock, Women, Food & Agriculture Network (WFAN)Jan Joannides, Renewing the CountrysideBeth Osmund, Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm
Agenda:National Trends: Leigh
Program Examples: Leigh & Lisa
Young & Beginning Farmers: Jan
Success Stories: Lisa
Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm: Beth
Outreach Tips
National Trends: Who are Women in Farming Today
30.2% of the farm operators counted were women – that’s more than 1 million.
Up 19% from 2002, compared to 7% increase in farmers overall.
Principal operators of 14% of US farms. That’s up 30% to 306,209.
* 2007 US Census of Agriculture
National Trends: Who are Women in Farming Today
Diversified farms
Smaller farms than men
More likely to own all their farmland
Average sales $36,440 compared to $150,671
* 2007 US Census of Agriculture
National Trends: Who are Women in Farming Today
Mostly white, 40s and 50s
Highest number in NE and SW
More women than men raise: vegetables, fruit & nuts, horticulture (flowers & herbs), “other” crops, poultry, sheep and goats, and other livestock
* 2007 US Census of Agriculture
National Trends: Programs & Support
1997 • Celebrating 15 Years • 2012
WFAN supports women in agriculture and food systems
Membership over 2,100 todayNewsletter, e-bulletins, Facebook, Twitter, listserv
National Trends: Programs &
Support
National Trends: Programs & Support
WFAN supports women in agriculture and food systems
Women Caring for the Land conservation learning circles for women farmland owners
WFAN supports women in agriculture and food systems
Harvesting Our PotentialSM on-farm apprenticeships for beginning farmers
National Trends: Programs &
Support
National Trends: Programs & Support
Rural Women’s Project, Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
National Trends: Programs & Support
Rural Women’s Project key elements
• In Her Boots:
Sustainable Agriculture For Women,
By Women
National Trends: Programs & Support
Rural Women’s Project key elements
• Media Support
• Over $20,000 value generated in 2011
National Trends: Programs & Support
Strong Program Cross-Pollination:
• Plate to Politics (RWP, WFAN & White House Project)
• Women Caring for the Land
• Wisconsin Women, Food & Agriculture Network
• RTC Agritourism Training
• Young Organic Stewards
Young & Beginning Farmers
Two Categories of Young Farmers
1) Those from farm families2) Those from non-farm families
Young & Beginning Farmers
Those from Farm Families may be
Discouraged by parents to farm
Discouraged to innovate
Belittled by community
Lacking management experience
Young & Beginning Farmers
Challenges for those from Non-Farm Families
Farmland access
Gaining relevant experience
Access to capital
Stigma of the outsider
Young & Beginning Farmers
Risk Management Strategies
Train communities
Tap into supportive networks
Tap into training opportunities
Explore innovative financing
Success Stories
Kim Marsin & Rachel Reklau (Sweet Home Organics, IL)
Success Stories
Adrienne Fox (Powerkraut, WI)
Success Stories
Liz Brensinger & Ann Adams (Green Heron Tools, PA)
Success Stories
Jordan Champagne (Happy Girl Kitchen, CA)
Success Stories
Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B (Wisconsin)
Success Stories
Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm (Ottawa, IL)
Cedar Valley Sustainable
Farm• Moved back to family-owned land in 2003 to begin farming.
• Began a vegetable CSA, then created IL first meat CSA.
• On-the-job learning!
• The farm has supported our family of 5 since 2006.
• Working on arranging innovative financing to purchase land.
Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm
Relationships Are Key
• CRAFT
• Angelic Organic Learning Center
• Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
• Illinois Stewardship Alliance
• CSA members
• "Greenfarmers"
Outreach Tips
1. Attend a organic & sustainable ag conference• MOSES, EcoFarm, PASA, SAWG
Outreach Tips
2. Visit area farms
Outreach Tips
3. Seek out organizations & programs in your state: Farm Beginnings, CRAFT, Annie’s Project, fruit & vegetable growers association, state certified organic list
4. Read research on outreach to women farmers:http://agsci.psu.edu/wagn/research
Outreach Tips
7. Direct mail, Community Newspapers, Radio & TV, Organizational newsletters & listserves
8. Overlay with existing programming
Thanks & keep in touch!Lisa KiviristMOSES Rural Women’s ProjectInn Serendipity Farm and B&Bwww.mosesorganic.orgwww.innserendipity.comLisa@innserendipity.com
Leigh AdcockWomen, Food & Agriculture Network (WFAN)[email protected]
Jan JoannidesRenewing the [email protected]
Beth OsmundCedar Valley Sustainable [email protected]
