Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference Kelly L' Easterday Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Present

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Midwest Women in Agriculture ConferenceKelly L.
EasterdayPurdue Extension -Kosciusko
CountyPresented at the National Women in
Agriculture ConferenceApril 7, 2006St. Louis,
MO

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Inspiration for conference

• Nebraska
• Ohio
• Kentucy

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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

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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

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Creating the Conference

• Not a goal to go statewide in the beginning
• Purdue Agriculture Communications

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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.

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Objectives of the Conference

• Define the womans 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

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Marketing of Conference

• Brochures
• Press Releases
• Web page
• Farm Shows
• Extension in Surrounding States
• SWCD, FSA, FFA, Farm Bureau, Ag Bankers
• Commodity Organizations

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Conference Website

• http//www.agriculture.purdue.edu/wia/

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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

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Keynote Speakers

• Jolene Brown
• Kendra Smiley
• Dr. Ron Hanson
• Jane Eckert
• Dr. Bernie Erven
• Chris Fesko

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1st Conference 2002

• 295 women and men attended
• 1 day March 21
• 40/person
• 3,500 in grants 5,800 in sponsorship Coverag
  e in all Agriculture newspapers in IN
• Web site created
• True Team Effort

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Evaluation of the Conference

• Speakers
• Immediately following presentations
• Conference
• 2 weeks after
• Received 5 rebate for completing
• Follow-up
• 6 months after

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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

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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

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Conference Attendance
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Distribution of Attendees

• OH
• MI
• IL
• WI
• NY
• OK

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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

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Financial Support

• Grants (28,500)
• 2005-06 North Central Risk Management Education
  Center
• Womens 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

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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

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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

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Conference Evaluation History

• 84 - define role in farm profitability
• 92 - strengthened role in emotional well-being
  of family
• 85 - build a network of support

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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."

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Conference Comments

• I 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.

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Future

• 2006 Statewide Women in Agriculture Committee
  Formed
• March 2006
• Survey mailed to those not attending the
  conference
• Determine what changes need to made and how to
  move forward for 2007

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Summary

• A tremendous journey with many rewards
• Thank You!

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