SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
Kristy L. Archuleta, M.S., LMFT
Charlotte 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.”
Women
Managing
the
Farm
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?
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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
WOMEN MANAGING THE FARM
Developed in a Partnership between:
Kansas State University
&
USDA Risk Management Agency’s
Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership
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:
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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
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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
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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:
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Farm Safety
Family Communication
Stress Management
Cellulosic Ethanol
Disaster Recovery
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kristy Archuleta, M.S., LMFT
School of Family Studies and Human Services
326 Justin
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: 785-532-6984
Email: kristy@ksu.edu
CONTACT INFORMATION
Charlotte Shoup Olsen, Associate Professor
K-State Research & Extension
School of Family Studies and Human Services
343 N Justin
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
Phone: 785-532-5773
Email: colsen@ksu.edu