Ohio State University Extension Engaging Women involved in the Agricultural Industry

Herringshaw, D., Extension Educator, Ohio State University, Wood CountyWoodruff, J.N., Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

“I thought I knew a lot about the farm already, but I have gained so much more by coming to this class.”

–Annie’s Project Participant

Farm Business Transition Class.

“I believe I can be more help because of what I learned in these classes. I hope to make an impact from now on.”

–Annie’s Project Participant

Annie’s Project ImpactsFrom 2007 – 2010:

13 workshops were conducted

282 women have participated

Results from 6 month follow-up survey after 2008 classes:

88% became involved with goal setting for the farm.

67% have become more involved in the farm decision making process.

50% adopted at least one new risk management practice.

42% have remained in contact.

A New Opportunity Growing to Bring Farm Women Together

Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.

Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension TDD No.  800-589-8292  (Ohio only) or  614-292-1868 .

“We women farmers need to speak up and make sure we are heard and that our opinions count, at home, in meetings, at the parts store, by the laborers we hire, and the farmers who lease our land or provide contracted services.

–Highland County Study Participant

Women in Agriculture Conference

The 2009 Northwest Ohio Women In Ag conference was attended by 140 women including 29 FFA members representing three chapters. Participants represented 46,721.05 acres of farm land in 18 counties and 3 states.

94% of respondents agreed that the program will increase farm family communications

93% agreed that the knowledge they gained at the program will be applied to their farm operation

99% of the participants agreed knowledge gained during the conference will be applied to their personal life.

Those attending more than one year of Women In Agriculture programs were asked if they made any changes to the farm operation based on knowledge gained at past conferences.

78% responded they had made changes.

Ohio Farm Women Consortium

~ fostering and spreading great ideas that benefit Ohio women in agriculture

Women have a critical role in the future sustainability of Ohio agriculture.

Almost 40% of the 75,861 Ohio farms have at least one woman operator: 29,207 farms

Almost 30% of the 114,172 Ohio farm operators are women: 31,277 women

12% of the 75,861 principal operators of Ohio farms are women: 9,127 women

97% of the 9,127 woman who are principal operators are full or partial farm owners: 8,842 women

5% of Ohio’s almost 14M acres of farmland are principally operated by a woman: almost 722,000 acres

Almost 40% of the 9,127 women principal operators farm as their primary occupation: 3,518 women

About 3% of the $7 billion in Ohio’s annual agricultural product sales are sold by women principal operators: almost $188M in agricultural product sales

Ohio Farm Women Consortium stimulates and supports responsive, appropriate, and adequate service to meet the occupational and business development needs of the growing number of Ohio women who are farm operators, farmland owners, and farming partners. We will evaluate service availability and quality at the regional level, specifically, by Ohio's 12 economic development regions as defined by Ohio Department of Development. We will maintain awareness of both women farmers in contiguous states who have a vested interest in Ohio markets and of services available in contiguous states that may be of potential benefit to Ohio women farmers. Since forming in 2009 and through 2010 Ohio Farm Women Consortium will invest resources to achieve four outcomes.

1. Gain an in-depth understanding of the service needs and priorities of Ohio women farmers, and of their experiences and evaluation of services they receive.

2. Promote high-value services already available to Ohio women farmers.

3. Identify and create opportunities to enhance existent services so that Ohio women

farmers attain greater benefit.

4. Identify and begin to close gaps in services to Ohio women farmers.