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Female Producers Increase Skills and Education Through Cattle W.I.S.E (Women Increasing Skills and Education)

Extension Education

Jeannie Layton - Dudding
Extension Agent
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Pearisburg

Abstract

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Census of Agriculture reported a 115% increase in farms operated principally by women between 2012 and 2017. Women make up 36% of all operators and 56% of farms have at least one female producer associated with the operation. Female producers are the backbone of many farm families where men are the principal operators. Cattle are ranked second in total sales of Virginia farms. Recognizing the impact that female producers have in the cattle industry (both dairy and beef), our group set-out to provide a female friendly environment to foster learning and to improve and build upon basic skills that may be overlooked in typical programming. This was accomplished by providing a daylong program stacked with cattle related topics taught through hands-on lessons by female instructors. Areas covered included reproductive and calving issues, trailer/tractor driving, and a BQA Certification including chute-side training and low-stress cattle handling. Funds were secured from the Virginia Beef Industry Council to support this program.

   We had 47 women participate in the Cattle WISE program held in October 2021 at the Buckingham Agricultural Resource Network (BARN). During a post-conference evaluation, 97% of respondents stated that the program either met or exceeded their expectations. It was reported that 84% of participants indicated that they will or have already implemented some of the suggestions, management skills/techniques, and practices taught at Cattle WISE. One individual stated “I'm so glad I came! This was so empowering, it was so nice to be in a welcoming environment of capable and supportive women!” Based on these results and informal feedback from participants, we plan to conduct an Equipment WISE as well as other commodity specific WISE programs in the future.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Jeannie Layton - Dudding, Rebecca Roberts, Amy Byington, Cynthia Martel, Jennifer Ligon, Joanne Jones, Kate Lawrence, Berkeley Clark-Cassady, Amber Taylor, Cynthia Gregg, Rachel Henley, Mandy Fletcher, Elizabeth Mullins, Kayleigh Mize, Livvy Preisser, Nicole Shuman
  1. Layton - Dudding, J. Extension Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24134
  2. Roberts, R. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24531
  3. Byington, A. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24277
  4. Martel, C. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24151
  5. Ligon, J. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23921
  6. Jones, J. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23923
  7. Lawrence, K. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24090
  8. Clark-Cassady, B. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24484
  9. Taylor, A. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23040
  10. Gregg, C. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23868
  11. Henley, R. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23139
  12. Fletcher, M. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24210
  13. Mullins, E. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 22851
  14. Mize, K. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 22553
  15. Preisser, L. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23397
  16. Shuman, N. ANR Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23063