An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on emergency preparedness for rural families.
The program will be a 4-part series, held locally at 524 Branch Court, Columbia City, IN. The series will focus on farm and ranch emergency management, first aid, fire protection, and hazardous materials. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time on March 5, 7, 12 and 14. Other regional host sites include Angola and Plymouth, IN.
The program is a collaboration between extension Women in Agriculture programs at Purdue University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, agricultural occupations have high rates of work-related injuries and deaths. While not all emergencies result in bodily injury or death, they also may cost rural families in other ways.
“Women play a critical role in ensuring the safety of their homes and rural communities,” said John Woodmansee, Extension Educator in Whitley County. “In many farm families, safety is an important topic, but it sometimes gets overlooked because it does not directly impact profitability.”
Each state will host several workshop sites with local extension personnel. Keynote speakers will be simulcast to each location, and each site will provide additional speakers and hands-on activities. Dinner will be included.
Woodmansee said the program’s structure is intended to strengthen networks of women in rural areas, which can provide opportunities for building trust and sharing information. “Connections are so important to rural women,” he said. “We have seen the benefits that come from knowing your peers, having a place to share difficulties, and mitigating the isolation that so many in agriculture often feel.”
The workshops seek to help participants initiate preventative practices, set up a plan to deal with emergencies before they occur and be more comfortable reacting to emergencies.
There is a registration fee of $50 per person before Feb. 20. The fee increases to $60 per person after Feb. 20. The final registration deadline is Feb. 27 at noon. Participants should plan to attend each session. A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers. The virtual registration fee is $75 before Feb. 20 and $80 after Feb. 20. Registration may be completed on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu/prep.
This project was supported by a grant from NCRCRD through funding from USDA NIFA Award #2022-51150-38141.