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