Women make up 29 percent of the farmers in the state of West Virginia. And in recent years, the number of women farmers in West Virginia has increased by about three times the national average.
The West Virginia University Extension Service is offering a free, six-week training course addressing the special needs of women farmers. The course will cover risk management, business planning, financial analysis, and food safety. In addition, the women will become involved in a peer-based learning and mentoring network.
Dee Singh-Knights of the WVU Extension service states, “The topics aren’t new but the delivery system is. We’re providing the opportunity to learn from local experts in an environment where women can relate to the struggles that their peers have faced in this industry.”
“For many of our farmers, farming starts out as a passion and a hobby, but not necessarily something they view as a sustainable source of income,” Singh-Knights said. “Farming can be your passion but it can also be your paycheck if you start with the right tools in your farm management toolkit.”