HARRISBURG, Pa. - At Pennsylvania's inaugural Women in Agriculture Day, women from across the state gathered at the Pennsylvania Farm Show to exchange information, stories and advice.
"The day is important because women are increasing as primary farm operators," said Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Cheryl Cook. "The main goal is that women can network and learn from each other." The 2002 Agriculture Census indicated that 27 percent of farm operators are women.
During the seminar, 22 women of varying ages, careers and backgrounds spoke on topics including leadership, communication and finances.
Jane Alexander, a former deputy secretary of agriculture in Pennsylvania, shared her story of perseverance. She encouraged women to be involved and make a difference for agriculture.
Another speaker, Kristen Ebersole, executive director of the Pennsylvania Senate Agricultural and Rural Committee, educated women on how to take action in the legislative process. She discussed how women can engage in the legislative process by staying informed about agricultural issues and developing relationships with their legislators.
