by Jessica Groskopf

I am a Nebraska Extension educator, and I farm with my husband, Andy, in the Scottsbluff and Gering area. I am a graduate of LEAD 33, and I serve on the board of directors of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council that oversees the Nebraska LEAD program.

I am director of the 38-year-old Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. The Nebraska WIA Conference began in 1985 from an idea and a prayer. Jane Green and Deb Rood spent a winter presenting “Managing for Tomorrow,” a program for farm and ranch couples, when they noticed that women were eager students who wanted to learn more about management.

Getting started

Out of that came the idea for a conference targeted toward women. That's when the prayer began. Rood, Green, Larry Bitney, Glennis McClure and Pat Parmley combined their talents and passion for agriculture to create the first Nebraska WIA conference.

Since the first conference, the mission of the Nebraska WIA program has remained the same: to provide unbiased, research-based risk management education to female agriculture operators, consultants, landowners, service providers and value-added business owners in Nebraska.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln WIA program is uniquely positioned to assist women to address challenges related to economic, environmental and social sustainability. This program helps fulfill the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s land-grant mission as a vital component of Nebraska Extension.

Women are a significant and growing percentage of the population employed by, managing and owning farms and ranches in Nebraska. Thirty-two percent of producers in Nebraska are female, according to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture.

Over the years, the program has grown and expanded, offering year-round educational opportunities for women. In 2022, the program reached more than 800 participants, half of whom participated in virtual events.

Events coming up

The Nebraska WIA program is looking forward to several upcoming events. Details, including registration information, can be found at wia.unl.edu.

Book club. “Farming’s In-Law Factor,” by Elaine Froese and Megan McKenzie, has been chosen for the third-quarter book club. Froese will lead the virtual discussion of this book at 1 p.m. CST Sept. 7. This discussion is free to attend, but registration is required.

Herd That! Conference. Partnering with the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program, Nebraska WIA is excited to announce the third annual Herd That! Conference on Sept. 19-20 in Broken Bow, Neb. The keynote speaker is entrepreneur and North Dakota rancher Calli Thorne. A horsemanship demonstration will be provided by legendary horseman Curt Pate.

Transition planning webinar. On Oct. 26, the Nebraska WIA program will host a webinar titled "Family Harmony Through Transition Planning." During this webinar, Lisa Quist will share tips for successful communication and best practices that can help make the transition of our farms and ranches smoother, with the end goal that families still celebrate holidays together after transition has taken place. This webinar is free to attend, but registration is required.

Annual WIA conference. The Nebraska WIA conference is an annual two-day event designed to educate and uplift women involved in any aspect of Nebraska's agricultural industry. Through workshops and presentations, attendees will learn how to better manage risk, improve their farms and ranches, and become more successful operators and business partners. The 2024 conference will be held Feb. 22-23 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Kearney. Featured speakers include David Kohl and Ashley Machado.

Emergency preparedness. March is Emergency Preparedness Month. The Nebraska WIA program will host a four-session workshop series focused on farm and ranch emergency management. Topics include first aid, fire protection, personal protective equipment and hazardous materials. Workshops will be held March 5, 7, 12 and 14. Participants should plan to attend all four workshop dates.

Groskopf is a graduate of LEAD 33.