BRODHEAD, Wis. — The growing number of women farmers in Wisconsin—the recent agriculture census showed a 16 percent increase—will find support and resources at the “In Her Boots” workshop Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, at Riemer Family Farm in Brodhead, Wisconsin. The all-day workshop is offered by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES).
MOSES In Her Boots workshops offer a blend of practical information, skill-building, resource connections, and networking. This particular session also covers how to raise livestock for meat, with advice from several women farmers on raising cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry. The workshop includes a tour of the Riemer Family Farm, run by Jen and Bryce Riemer and their daughters—the third generation to run this Wisconsin family farm.
“Jen Riemer is an inspiring example of this new movement of women farmers committed to collaboratively supporting each other,” shared Cara Carper, head of the Green County Economic Development Corporation (GCDC). “We’re excited that this In Her Boots session will be in Green County and will showcase this growing movement of women farmers creating new approaches to agriculture and how these innovative entrepreneurs positively impact our local communities and are committed to keeping our region’s agricultural heritage vibrant.”
Various resources will be available at the workshop from MOSES, GCDC, Wisconsin Farmers Union, FairShare CSA Coalition, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), REAP Food Group, and various USDA agencies. The workshop will also cover a new opportunity for farmers to create additional income by selling baked goods made in home kitchens, now legal in Wisconsin thanks to a judge’s ruling in October 2017.
The workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes lunch. Cost is $25; space is limited and registration required. To register, see mosesorganic.org/in-her-boots-aug-2 or call the MOSES office at 715-778-5775. If you have questions about the workshops, contact In Her Boots coordinator Lisa Kivirist at lisa@mosesorganic.org or 608-329-7056 (farm office).
“In Her Boots workshops are based on the idea that women learn best from each other in a format where we can ask questions and mentor and inspire one another,” explained Kivirist, author of Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers. She and her family run Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B outside Monroe, Wis. “Whether you’re a seasoned female farmer or are just starting to bring your farm dream to life, this is a great opportunity to learn from and connect with other women who share a commitment to stewarding the land.”
This In Her Boots workshop kicks off the Soil Sisters annual weekend of over 25 on-farm workshops, farm bus tours, and culinary events led by a team of 20 women farmers in Green County who are committed to sustainable and organic agriculture and land stewardship. For details on the Soil Sisters events, see soilsisterswi.org.
MOSES is a nonprofit organization that promotes organic and sustainable agriculture by providing the education, resources, and practical advice farmers need to succeed. The organization’s flagship event, the MOSES Organic Farming Conference, is the country’s largest educational event on organic agriculture. It takes place every February in La Crosse, Wis. For more information, see mosesorganic.org.
— MOSES
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