Empowering Women Landowners
Extension Education
Amie Breshears
Ag Business Field Specialist
University of Missouri Extension
Warsaw
Abstract
University of Missouri Extension (MU Extension) launched ‘Farm Management – On My Own’ to empower and equip older female landowners and farm operators to minimize financial and legal risk. Beginning in late winter of 2024, the Farm Management – On My Own program equipped Missouri women and women from three other states with 1) Ag Lease programming, 2) Farmland Values programming, 3) Rental Rate Programming, 4) Custom Rate Programming, and 5) Ag Lease resources. One goal was to provide women with targeted education designed specifically for them that would give them the knowledge they needed to understand what their land was worth if sold or leased. A second goal was to equip them with the tools and skills to successfully design and negotiate a lease specific to their farm’s needs and goals. Several characteristics were intentionally included in the designed delivery of ‘Farm Management – On My Own’, including 1) opportunities to get to know other participants and network; 2) an organized participant take-home folder including ten printed handouts of the program presentation and resources included in the presentation, including sample leases; 3) periodic in-presentation questions about the topic posed by the presenter to the audience to encourage discussion and engagement, 4) graphics designed to be eye-catching and artistically pleasing; 5) an informal presentation style to allow maximum audience participation; and 6) a small-group setting. Programming was delivered in-person in eleven Missouri counties as well as online, and eventually included participants from four states. In 2024 and early 2025, fourteen workshops were held across the state. Participant feedback revealed high satisfaction levels, with an average rating of 3.86 out of 4.0 across instructional quality, relevance, and program delivery. Participants demonstrated significant knowledge gains, with an average increase of 1.59 points on a 5-point scale. The most notable improvement was in custom work pricing knowledge, which increased by 1.90 points. Fifty-seven percent reported they planned to change the type, terms, or pricing of their ag leasing following this program.
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: Amie Breshears
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Breshears, A. Ag Business Field Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Missouri, 65355