The key role women have played in Pennsylvania agriculture will be saluted on May 21, 2008 at The Rodale Institute.  “Women Mentoring Women: Sustaining Pennsylvania's Female Farmers” will celebrate the important role mentoring plays in the future of agriculture and will focus on connecting women in ag with mentors in various areas of sustainable agriculture.

A collaborative effort of The Rodale Institute, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management team (PDA RMA), Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network (PA-WAgN), the Southeastern Pennsylvania Resource Conservation & Development (SEPA RC&D) and Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), the event is a continuation and growth of the 2007 commitment between Rodale, PDA, & PA-WAgN to provide annual educational celebrations of women farmers.

To honor the women in agriculture who have pioneered their place to the status of the fastest growing group of farmers in the nation, the day will begin with a keynote address by pioneer mentor of sustainable agriculture, Ardeth Rodale and comments from Rodale’s new CEO Tim LaSalle.  The day will also include a tour of Rodale Institute.

PA-WAgN Senior Extension Associate Linda Stewart Moist will explain how PA-WAgN, formed in 2003, serves and mentors female farmers throughout Pennsylvania. PA-WAgN’s educational programming for 2008 and benefits of membership in PA-WAgN will be discussed.

Berks County Ag Advocate Sheila Miller, will speak about the role mentoring plays in sustaining agriculture. Sheila, who also owns and operates a purebred Hereford cattle farm in Berks County, will describe her experience in mentoring woman farmers both on and off the farm.

Also from Berks County, Penn State Extension Educator Mena Hautau is the daughter of farmers who “taught me about hard work and farming".  A former PASA board member and mentor to many Pennsylvania farmers, Mena will provide her vision of mentoring sustainable agriculture.

SEPA Resource Conservation & Development Council, serving Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton counties supports mentoring, education and community programs. Catherine Rapose , Director of SEPA RC&D will explain how they help “improve the quality of life for people in the region by promoting programs that conserve and enhance the area's natural and community resources”.

PASA’s new Southeastern Regional Representative, Marilyn Anthony, will share her history of women mentoring women and how mentoring can facilitate the current surge in Southeast PASA’s Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign.

Thanks to the generous support of Southeastern PA Resource Conservation & Development Council, a nominal registration fee of $5.00 will be collected at the door & includes lunch and materials. Registration will be limited, so pre-register soon at:  http://wagn.cas.psu.edu/Register0805.html.

Click here to download a pdf flyer of the event.