The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Women in ag returning to Goldendale

On Feb. 23

February 05, 2013

Women farmers in Washington State will have the unique opportunity to participate in an agriculture workshop offering inspirational speakers, practical advice on how to improve management skills and networking opportunities with other women entrepreneurs.

"Growing Your Successful Farm Business" will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23, and will broadcast the keynote speaker to 21 different locations throughout the state, including Goldendale at the Head Start offices at 920 Schuster St.

The conference begins at 8 a.m. with a light breakfast and ends at 4 p.m., with lunch included in the registration price.

The localized format of the conference is designed to let women farmers benefit from a statewide conference while still meeting their on-farm duties.

"Women are uniquely tasked with the demands of both farm and family, which can make travel to one state location a challenge," said WSU Douglas County Extension Director and chair of the conference Margaret Viebrock. "This new approach allows us to offer our headline speaker at all locations, while also making the conference specific to each region."

Keynote speaker Trini Campbell, owner of Riverdog Farm in Guinda, Calif., will share her experiences of beginning farming in the Napa Valley in 1990 by renting two acres and sharecropping and now owning a diverse 500-acre organic farm in the prime agriculture area called the Capay Valley.

Campbell will discuss her challenges of managing labor, financial planning, dealing with crop loss and market instability and maintaining a work-life balance with her family.

A second workshop will help producers become better financially prepared to take advantage of an opportunity to grow an operation and survive a downturn in the economy.

This session, led by a financial expert in each location, will focus on working capital and what it means to your farm.

According to Viebrock, women producers have the skills to grow their crops, but have requested help with financial management to help them make better farm business decisions and how to use financial records to improve the bottom line.

A local producer panel at each location will talk about their risks and challenges with farming, including how they use their financial tool to manage risk.

Registration for the conference is $25 and includes lunch and a copy of the book "Farmer Jane -- Women Changing the Way We Eat."

The deadline to register for the event is Feb. 18 by mail or online. Women farmers and producers, supporting spouses and aspiring farmers are encouraged to attend. Agriculture students and farm interns are also welcome to participate.

Web site registration is at www.womeninag.wsu.edu.

For more information about the Goldendale program, contact Susan Kerr at kerrs@wsu.edu or 773-5817.

The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the WSU Extension Western Center for Risk Management Education.