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HOMEFRONT TO HEARTLAND: EMPOWERING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE & SMALL BUSINESS

Extension Education

Alice Rhea
AREA SPECIALIST II - FARM MANAGEMENT
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE EXTENSION
MARYVILLE

Abstract

\r\n Women play an important role in Tennessee agriculture (28.8% of all operators) providing leadership to financial management and decision-making aspects of family farms. These leadership roles create unique demands for female owner/operators as they balance the roles of owner/operator, employee, and in many cases mother /homemaker.  Managing the challenges and stress of work/family balance has been identified as an educational need facing this group. Furthermore, participation by females in agriculture continues to grow as the farms with female principal operators has increased 6% (9,413 farms in 2002; 9,960 in 2007). As principal operators, these women need information, training, and capacity building to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to handle the risks associated with their operation. In lights of these trends, a needs assessment was conducted in 2008 with Tennessee female farmers.  Feedback from the assessment demonstrated clear educational needs for instruction on topics such as external funding sources, record keeping, stress management, labor issues and work/family balance. In response to these needs, intensive, one-day conferences were developed and conducted. Programs focused on stress management, civic engagement, personal financial management, small business management, and healthy living. The target audience for this program included women agricultural producers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs in Tennessee.  Participation for both conferences totaled 228 women.  On average, Homefront to Heartland participants have increased savings and/or investments $108.00 per month with an overall economic benefit of the conferences equal to $250,402. The program continues with plans for online learning modules in 2012.

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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: A.J Rhea, C.T. Sneed, J.H. Starnes
  1. Rhea, A. Area Specialist III - Farm Management, University of Tennessee Extension, Tennessee, 37804
  2. Sneed, C. Extension Agent II, Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Tennessee Extension - Blount County, Tennessee, 37804
  3. Starnes, J. Research Associate III, University of Tennessee, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Tennessee, 37996