Woman Taking the Lead for
Kentucky Agriculture
A Report to the
National Extension Women in Agriculture
Education Conference
St. Louis, Missouri
April 6, 2006
This is a project of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Program and the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) through the
Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Program.
Somebody ought to do
something about that?
What was needed
•
Understand Kentucky’s legislative
development process;
•
Be aware of rules for lobbying;
•
Analyze and interpret data and
trends related to agriculture;
What was needed – cont’d
• Prepare statements for public hearings
and listening sessions;
• Work with local media to tell agriculture’s
story; and
• Develop strategies for sharing information
learned with other women and small
farmers around the state
Process
• Sustainable Community Innovation Project
Grant from Southern SARE
• Collaborators:
Kentucky Women in Agriculture (sponsor)
League of Women Voters
American Association of University Women
• Competitive Application Process
• Conference Participation & Follow-up
Session
Institute Topics
• Getting Involved—Why You are
Important
• Finding Your Way Through the
Legislative Maze
• By the Numbers: Finding Data on
Agriculture, Community Development,
and Economic Trends
• Making Your Voice Heard—Effective
Communication Skills
Outcomes
• Organized to get tractor warning signs
on local roads
• Worked to get 4-H livestock project
started in county program
• Serving on county green space
committee
• Participated in local water resource
ownership issues
Outcomes cont’d
• Building relationships with local farmers
to participate in and use government
programs
• Writing grants with regional tourism
committee
• Working with local elementary school to
promote food to table programs
• Organized steering committee for study
of local food economy policy
development
Institute Toolkit
• Action Fact Sheets
• Available on KWIA website
after June 1, 2006
www.kywomeninag.com
For more information
Gae Broadwater
Cooperative Extension Program
Kentucky State University
400 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-597-6325
gae.broadwater@kysu.edu