Increasing the number of women farm owners through outreach to girls and young women
(Book - Regular Print)

Thesis,MSFS,Green Mountain College,2019

Includes bibliographical references.

To engage more women in primary farm ownership, a multilayered outreach approach for girls and young women must be created. This approach must reach girls in agricultural programs like 4H, middle and high school girls in the form of camps and classes, and young women in agricultural programs in college. Girls have strong rates of participation in early development activities, but only constitute 17% of primary Virginia farm owners Meta analysis showed successful engagement will include reframing agriculture from an extractive industry to one that builds communities and cares for the planet. Treating agricultural education with the same attention and national initiatives that have been used in other STEM fields is one solution. While this paper includes specific recommendations for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the implications are relevant nationally to Extension and its efforts to maintain engagement of women in agriculture.