Woman Taking the Lead for Kentucky Agriculture

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Woman Taking the Lead for Kentucky Agriculture

• A Report to the
• National Extension Women in Agriculture Education
  Conference
• St. Louis, Missouri
• April 6, 2006

This is a project of the Southern Region
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) Program and the Southern Rural Development
Center (SRDC) through the Sustainable Community
Innovation Grants Program.
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Somebody ought to dosomething about that?
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What was needed

• Understand Kentuckys legislative development
  process
• Be aware of rules for lobbying
• Analyze and interpret data and trends related to
  agriculture

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What was needed contd

• Prepare statements for public hearings and
  listening sessions
• Work with local media to tell agricultures
  story and
• Develop strategies for sharing information
  learned with other women and small farmers around
  the state

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Process

• Sustainable Community Innovation Project Grant
  from Southern SARE
• Collaborators
• Kentucky Women in Agriculture (sponsor)
• League of Women Voters
• American Association of University Women
• Competitive Application Process
• Conference Participation Follow-up Session

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Institute Topics

• Getting InvolvedWhy You are Important
• Finding Your Way Through the Legislative Maze
• By the Numbers Finding Data on Agriculture,
  Community Development, and Economic Trends
• Making Your Voice HeardEffective Communication
  Skills

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Outcomes

• Organized to get tractor warning signs on local
  roads
• Worked to get 4-H livestock project started in
  county program
• Serving on county green space committee
• Participated in local water resource ownership
  issues

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Outcomes contd

• Building relationships with local farmers to
  participate in and use government programs
• Writing grants with regional tourism committee
• Working with local elementary school to promote
  food to table programs
• Organized steering committee for study of local
  food economy policy development

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Institute Toolkit

• Action Fact Sheets
• Available on KWIA website after June 1, 2006
• www.kywomeninag.com

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For more information

• Gae Broadwater
• Cooperative Extension Program
• Kentucky State University
• 400 East Main Street
• Frankfort, KY 40601
• 502-597-6325
• gae.broadwater_at_kysu.edu