Assessing and Meeting the Growing Needs of Arkansas' Women in Agriculture

Project Overview

CS05-035
Project Type: Sustainable Community Innovation
Funds awarded in 2005: $9,901.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2006
Region: Southern
State: Arkansas
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Jennie Popp
University of Arkansas

Annual Reports

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: focus group, networking
  • Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, employment opportunities, social networks

    Proposal abstract:

    The number of women in agricultural production, processing, marketing and other agribusiness activities is growing. Nationwide, since 1992, the number of full time male farm operators has decreased from roughly 1,000,000 to 792,000 in 2002 while the number of female full time farm operators increased from roughly 165,000 to 236,000. In Arkansas, there are nearly 20,000 women operators and roughly 25% of them hold full responsibility for their agricultural activities (USDA NASS, 1994, 1999, 2004). The increase in women all agriculturally related activities is due to a number of factors. Some are gaining control through family inheritance, divorce, death or because the spouse works off-farm. Others are changing careers to engage in agriculture that involves local marketing or alternative products (organics, value added). More women are taking advantage of educational and training opportunities in agriculture processing, marketing, and retailing. As women gain more responsibility and ownership control, they face new challenges. In all arenas, women are in need of education tailored to the roles they play in the business, in the family and in their communities. The purpose of this project is to help prepare Arkansas’ women to meet the challenges of an ever-changing agricultural marketplace and rural landscape. In particular we will help prepare women by offering: 1) production/business skills, 2) development of an agricultural women’s network, 3) ways to balance personal/professional demands, and 4) ways to improve circumstances of Arkansas women and rural communities. This program will represent the first of its kind in Arkansas and only the third in all of the Southern Region states. This project consists of six objectives: 1) Develop and convene the 2006 Arkansas Women in Agriculture conference consisting of roughly 30 sessions covering topics related to sustainable production, financial, marketing, legal, family and community development issues. Additionally, up to 50 vendors will offer further educational opportunities and to provide examples of value added production; 2) Develop and conduct a two tiered (high school and college level) writing contest that enables young men and women to learn more about the roles women hold in agriculture and agricultural related careers; 3) Design and administer a survey of Arkansas women in agriculture to assess and understand the roles women hold in agriculture and in the community and factors that influence their success in agriculture/community, such as access to credit, information, and availability of time; 4) Analyze and distribute survey results to researchers, extension personnel, community leaders, policy makers and Arkansas women in agriculture; 5) Conduct subsequent information sessions/focus groups to gather more in-depth information related to survey responses; and 6) Devise a long-term education and outreach program for Arkansas women in agriculture that promotes sustainable agriculture and community development. By bringing unique educational opportunities to women we anticipate stronger connections between and among rural and agricultural women around the state and stronger connections between these women and community leaders. Stronger connections mean an increase in the human capital of agriculture and rural communities.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    This project consists of six objectives:
    1. Develop and convene the 2006 Arkansas Women in Agriculture (ARWIA) conference program that will consist of roughly 30 sessions that cover topics related to production, financial, marketing, legal, family and community issues important to Arkansas women in agriculture. Additionally, up to 50 vendors will be on hand to offer further educational opportunities and to provide examples of value added production that can be undertaken on Arkansas farms and in rural communities.
    2. Develop and conduct a two tiered (high school and college level) writing contest that enables young men and women to learn more about the roles women hold in agriculture and agricultural related careers.
    3. Design and administer the second research survey of Arkansas women in agriculture with for the purpose of assessing and understanding 1) the roles women hold in agriculture management, 2) their roles in the community and 3) factors that influence their success in agriculture/community, such as access to credit, information, and availability of time.
    4. Analyze and distribute research survey results to researchers, extension personnel, community leaders, policy makers and Arkansas women in agriculture.
    5. Conduct subsequent information sessions/focus groups to gather more in-depth information related to survey responses.
    6. Devise the 2007 education and outreach program for Arkansas women in agriculture.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.