support systems for women in agriculture kristy l. archuleta, m.s., lmft charlotte shoup olsen,...

SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

Kristy L. Archuleta, M.S., LMFTCharlotte Shoup Olsen, Ph.D.

Kansas State University

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT FARM WOMEN?

• Farm women play a variety of roles

• Farm women are often depended upon for emotional support for the family and the farm

• Farm women want to be knowledgeable about their roles and about the farm

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT FARM WOMEN?

• Farm women want to be connected to each other.

• Farm women have a sense of isolation.

• Consultants often approach women about interpersonal issues, but fail to carry it back to the entire “team.”

WomenManaging

theFarm

WHAT IS WOMEN MANAGING THE FARM?

• A project that...– Provides valuable tools and materials to address

production, price, human, financial, and legal risks for farm women.

– Develops and present tools especially for farm women to increase overall support through various avenues.

WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?

• Connection

• Networking

• Valuable Knowledge

• Skill-building

• Ongoing Support

HISTORY & ACTIVITIES OF WOMEN MANAGING THE

FARM• 4 Regional Conferences in 2005

– Funded by the North Central Regional RMA

• Annual Women Managing the Farm Conference – Designed for Women involved at all level in the farm operation

• Feb. 17-18, 2006 – 200 participants• Feb. 9-10, 2007 – 325 participants• Feb. 8-9, 2008 – 330 participants

• Networks of Support - Facilitated Support System– 10 Regional groups, by region, role, enterprise

• Rural Route Women - Online Support System– Web based discussion and continuing education

• Website: http://www.womenmanagingthefarm

Developed in a Partnership between:

Kansas State University &

USDA Risk Management Agency’sCommunity Outreach and Assistance Partnership

WOMEN MANAGING THE FARM

WMF PARTNERS• USDA Risk Management

Agency

• Frontier Farm Credit

• Farm Credit of Central Kansas

• K-State Research & Extension

• Kansas Soybean Commission & Association

• Kansas Corn Growers Association

• Kansas Farm Bureau

• Kansas Department of Ag

• Kansas Rural Family Helpline

• Kansas Department of Commerce

• Kansas Association of Family & Community Education

• Kansas Wheat Commission & Wheat Growers

• American Farmers & Ranchers• Natural Resources Conservation

Service• Farm Service Agency• Kansas Department of

Agriculture• Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers

Association• Kansas Rural Center• Kansas Agriculture Mediation

Services• Kansas Beef Council• Kansas Agri-Women• Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers

Association

WOMEN MANAGING THE FARM

• Targets all Farm Women in Multiple Capacities

• Provides tools in the risk management areas of:– Production– Price– Legal– Financial– Human

CONFERENCE TOPICS: Celebrating Ag Women

• 2008 Plenary Speakers:– Don Jonovich, Ph.D.

• Farm Business Management Services, Cleveland, OH

• “Surviving Farm Business Whitewater”

– Elizabeth Kinney• Professional Speaker, Former Miss Oklahoma, KTUL News

Reporter

• “Celebrating Ag Women”

– Charlie Griffin, M.S.• Assistant Research Professor, Kansas State University

• Director, Kansas Rural Family Helpline

• “Relax! Your Most Important Management Skill is Self-Care”

CONFERENCE TOPICS: Moving Ag Women Forward• 2007 Plenary Speakers:

– Vincent Amanor-Boadu• Ag Economist, Kansas State University• “From Women to Managers: Wealth Creation as a Valid

Objective in Agriculture”

– Jolene Brown• Professional Speaker & Iowa Farm Wife• Who’s Hiding the Humor?• Top 10 Stupid Things Families Do To Break-up Their

Businesses

– Marci Penner• Kansas Sampler Foundation• Author of “Exploring Kansas”• “Seeing Rural Communities with New Eyes”

CONFERENCE TOPICS– Transition Planning

– Workforce Management

– Health Insurance

– Stress Management

– Disaster Relief

– “Making It Work” - Referral Sources for Farm Families

– Understanding Financial Records

– Entrepreneurial Leadership

– Conservation Practices

– Farm Service Agency– Personal Investments– Agri-tourism– Nutrition – Gardening in the Country– Leasing Land– Understanding Your Credit

Score– Land Values– Crop Insurance– Excel Basics– Farm Policy Panel– Computerized Record

Keeping– Communication & Conflict

Resolution

CONFERENCE TOPICS

-Agritourism -Fence building-Animal ID -Communication Skills-Computerized Record Keeping -Value Added Enterprises-Crop Insurance -Personal Financial Planning-Financial Health Ratios -Planning for Safe Farms

-Family Business Meetings-Ag / Biosecurity Disaster Planning -Ag in the Classroom-Leasing 101-Farm Transition - Strategic & Succession Planning

ONGOING ONLINE SUPPORT

• Message Board• Meets weekly for live chat sessions

– Facilitated by a project team member– Features special topics and open chats

• Special Topic Discussions have included:– Farm Safety

– Family Communication

– Stress Management

– Cellulosic Ethanol

– Disaster Recovery

CONTACT INFORMATION

Kristy Archuleta, M.S., LMFTSchool of Family Studies and Human

Services326 Justin

Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS 66502

Phone: 785-532-6984Email: kristy@ksu.edu

CONTACT INFORMATION

Charlotte Shoup Olsen, Associate Professor

K-State Research & ExtensionSchool of Family Studies and Human

Services343 N Justin

Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS 66506

Phone: 785-532-5773Email: colsen@ksu.edu