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East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference-A decade of growing confidence and connections

Extension Education

Heather Neikirk
Extension Educator
The Ohio State University
Louisville

Abstract

The 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture shows a significant number of female farm operators for the Eastern Ohio region. According to an Ohio State University College of Food Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) article on the Characteristics of Ohio Farm Women, female farmers in this region of the state comprise 33-39% of total agricultural producers.  The East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference was developed in 2014 to meet the unique learning needs of farm women, address agricultural risk management education and grow confidence and connections through educational programs and activities for all ages of women to build independent and productive lives. The conference is managed by a small multi-disciplinary planning team of area Extension Educators in the agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H youth development program areas.  The team uses a framework that is comprised of tracks with four break-out sessions per track.  This year’s conference will feature six tracks for a total of 24 breakout sessions.  2025 educational tracks focus on plants, animals, business and finance, special interest, home and family. and personal development. Additional components of the framework include a breakfast with networking and vendor fair, morning welcome, buffet lunch and keynote speaker, and closing with door prizes. The team has planned 11 and hosted 10 in-person conferences since 2014 reaching more than 1200 participants.  One virtual conference was held in 2021 and one conference had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.  Each year an overall program evaluation by participants is conducted, as is each breakout session and speaker.  In 2018, a 5-year in-depth participant evaluation of conference impacts was completed.  A 10-year participant evaluation survey is in development to measure impact over the period of 2014-2025.  The East Ohio Women in Agriculture conference continues to be the only conference of its kind held in Eastern Ohio. Over one-third of conference participants have returned for multiple years. One of the participants from last year’s conference stated, “As someone who is new to the industry, it was great being with like-minded women.”

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

This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.

A poster file has not been provided

Authors: Heather Neikirk, Sandra Trushel, Brett Kinzel, Kate Shumaker, Emily Marrison, Christine Kendle, Rebecca Davis, Corinna Gromley
  1. Neikirk, H. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension-Stark County, Ohio, 44641
  2. Trushel, S. Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resoures, Ohio State University Extension Carroll County, Ohio, 44615
  3. Kinzel, B. Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resoures, Ohio State University Extension Coshocton County, Ohio, 43812
  4. Shumaker, K. Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension Holmes County, Ohio, 44654
  5. Marrison, E. Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension Coshocton County, Ohio, 438121
  6. Kendle, C. Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Ohio State University Extension Tuscarawas County, Ohio, 44663
  7. Davis, R. Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension Tuscarawas County, Ohio, 44663
  8. Gromley, C. Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension Carroll County, Ohio, 44615