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Farm Financial Skills for Kansas Women in Agriculture

Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Business Management

Cade Rensink
District Director
K-State Research & Extension
Salina

Team Members: Baker, A*1, Barthol, K*2, Beckman, J*3, Blocker, S*4, Boor, A*5, Boyle, R*6, Buller, T*7, Burns, A*8, Clemens, K*9, Coover, J*10, Fechter, R*11, Gleason, M*12, Haney, B*13, Hatesohl, K*14, Holder, M*15, Hughes, W*16, Meyer, A*17, Kissick, E*18, Lanham, D*19, Marston, S*20, McClure, G*21, Meek, M*22, Melton, B*23, Miller, C*24, Nordyke, K*25, Otte, C*26, Petersilie, J*27, Powell, A*28, Powell, W*29, Rees, B*30, Rippe-May, A*31, Scronce, A*32, Shorter, L*33, Sneath, E*34, Van Skike, K*35, Wick, S*36, Reid, R37, Winsor, L38, Rensink, C*39
  1. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Leoti, Kansas, 67861
  2. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Paola, Kansas, 66071
  3. County Extension Agent Emeritus, K-State Research & Extension, Scott City, Kansas, 67871
  4. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Westmoreland, Kansas, 66549
  5. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Great Bend, Kansas, 67530
  6. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Stockton, Kansas, 67669
  7. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Lawrence, Kansas, 66046
  8. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Dodge City, Kansas, 67801
  9. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Ashland, Kansas, 67831
  10. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Girard, Kansas, 66743
  11. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Howard, Kansas, 67349
  12. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Kinsley, Kansas, 67547
  13. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Lakin, Kansas, 67860
  14. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Washington, Kansas, 66968
  15. District Director Emeritus, K-State Research & Extension, Strong City, Kansas, 66845
  16. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Lyons, Kansas, 67554
  17. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Marysville, Kansas, 66508
  18. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Ulysses, Kansas, 67880
  19. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Yates Center, Kansas, 66783
  20. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, McPherson, Kansas, 67460
  21. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Manhattan, Kansas, 66502
  22. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Lawrence, Kansas, 66046
  23. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Concordia, Kansas, 66901
  24. County Director, K-State Research & Extension, El Dorado, Kansas, 67042
  25. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Winfield, Kansas, 67156
  26. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Junction City, Kansas, 66441
  27. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, LaCrosse, Kansas, 67548
  28. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Mound City, Kansas, 66056
  29. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Altamont, Kansas, 67330
  30. County Director, K-State Research & Extension, Emporia, Kansas, 66801
  31. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Oberlin, Kansas, 67749
  32. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Independence, Kansas, 67301
  33. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Eureka, Kansas, 67045
  34. County Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Meade, Kansas, 67864
  35. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Norton, Kansas, 67654
  36. District Extension Agent, K-State Research & Extension, Smith Center, Kansas, 66967
  37. Extension Associate, K-State Research & Extension, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506
  38. Extension Assistant, K-State Research & Extension, Grantville, Kansas, 66429
  39. District Director, K-State Research & Extension, Salina, Kansas, 67401

Abstract

In early 2020, a team of 83 Extension professionals from across Kansas worked together in a cross-disciplinary effort to deliver a farm financial series which addressed the grand challenges of global food systems, health, and community vitality. There were 32 host sites for the program which had a total of 685 participants. The series consisted of four sessions.  Topics included Farm Recordkeeping, Balance Sheets, Income Statement, Cash Flow, and Goal Setting. Funded by a North Central Extension Risk Management Education grant, the series was set apart from traditional programs by a mixture of statewide and local presenters and collaboration with a large number of agents across the state. The financial concepts were delivered from the main campus and broadcast to each location using Zoom Conference and Microsoft Teams. Host agents served as facilitators to assist participants in networking and completing hands-on activities that reinforced the financial information presented. In addition, specialists in the area of Family and Consumer Sciences developed presentations on Mental Health and  Family Living Expenses which were given by local experts at the individual locations. These presentations used small group interaction as a way to network around common struggles in their everyday life. The material was approved by Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA) and, through this series, 70 people satisfied the financial education requirement for FSA loans.  Post survey results (n = 520) showed that over 95% of participants ranked the material as “Valuable” or “Very Valuable”. All participants showed an increase in their level of knowledge for keeping quality farm records and putting together and assessing balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. Over 87% of participants stated they planned to develop a balance sheet for their farm business every year, over 75% stated they would develop an income statement and cash flow statement every year, and 63% planned to make a family living budget.  The 6-month follow up survey (n = 193) revealed that 75% of the respondents had accomplished one to three items from the Personal Action Plan they developed during the program.  Another 19% had implemented four or more action itmes.

Years of CES Service: 0

Entry