Women Taking the Lead for Kentucky Agriculture

Women Taking the Lead for Kentucky Agriculture

Summary

As documented in national agriculture statistics, the involvement of women in agriculture has been increasing. For the past four years, women from various walks of Kentucky’s agriculture life have organized statewide and promoted small agri-business practices, value-added marketing, risk-management, alternative agriculture opportunities, sustainable practices, and networking with government and educational agencies through four state level meetings. Women farmers, many of who represent small and limited resource farmers in Kentucky, are wanting to learn more about how important decisions and policies that affect their future are made.

This proposal outlines a public policy institute for building skills and expanding the efforts of a growing and significant group in Kentucky. It is this project’s aim to strengthen the state’s sustainable agriculture through policy and legislative avenues by preparing women in agriculture for new leadership roles. This will be accomplished by equipping them with the information and tools they need to express their views and concerns.

Through the network of women in agriculture, women’s organizations, and sustainable agriculture groups, this institute will provide information on how policy and legislative priorities are established, how to lobby on agriculture issues, what makes an effective public statement, and ways to work with the media to get the message out to the consumer as well as policy makers. Institute participants will then use these new tools and information to teach others how to make their voices heard—and make a difference for Kentucky’s sustainable agriculture future.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Kentucky Women in Agriculture, Inc., seeks to establish an education and leadership program that prepares its members and collaborators to advocate and promote sustainable agricultural and community development. This project will assist in accomplishing this goal by:

Preparing a group of women to serve as agricultural policy and legislative guides for women and other members of the Kentucky agriculture community;

Conducting an 8-hour educational institute for public policy education on agricultural policy development; and

Disseminating information gained throughout the project.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Highlights of their recent activities include:

• Organizing activities to get tractor warning signs on local roads to warn other motorists of the potential for slow moving vehicles

• Working to get 4-H livestock project started in county program (currently only horse club activities or FFA)

• Serving on county green space committee to determine public views on local urban development

• Participating in local water resource ownership issues and providing strategic assistance to group

• Building relationships with local farmers to get them to participate in and use government programs that will support their farming operations

• Writing grants with regional tourism committee to develop economic plans

• Working with local elementary school to promote food to table programs

• Organizing steering committee for study of local food economy policy development

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Based on the experiences and recommendations of Institute participants public policy educational materials, tip sheets, fact sheets, and other information will be developed for KWIA members and its web site. These may include such topics as working with the press, preparing a fact sheet for local decision-makers, and how to inform the public about agriculture issues.