Women in Denim
Date of event – January 14-15, 2005

Problem:
Living in an agriculture based state, there is a growing need to know more about grain marketing, agriculture regulations, estate planning, and passing on the farm. Finding a venue to address these issues in a manner that would attract the appropriate audience became the challenge to meet.

Response:
After attending the “Women in Blue Jeans” conference in South Dakota in 2002, Diane Radke and Beulah Imming (two women actively involved in their farm business) approached the ISU Extension office in Buena Vista county, asking for help to plan and sponsor a conference similar to the South Dakota Conference. Extension pulled together a 16 member committee representing a variety of agriculture businesses and education organizations to explore and then moved forward in sponsoring a “Women in Denim” conference in January, 2005.

Participants were offered twenty eight different sessions on a wide variety of topics, plus a keynote speaker with dinner, lunch and vendor displays, refreshments and door prizes. Time was planned in the conference for networking. Nominations were accepted for the Women in Denim Inspiration Award and the Spirit of Women in Denim Award with recognition given to one woman who operates a farm business and one ag organization.

Impact:
Two hundred and six women attended the conference, in addition to the planning committee, sponsors and vendors, for a total of nearly 250 people. Attendee’s were from Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois. Due to the excellent financial support provided by 20 different agencies and businesses, over $27,500 was gifted to the planning committee, allowing conference attendees a registration cost of $25.00 per person for the 1 ½ day conference.

Comments from participants were, “I’ve already gotten my $25 worth! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring!” “This has been wonderful, I have learned so much from all the sessions.” Four women were provided guidance to counseling after it was disclosed in a workshop session that they were being abused in their family situations.

Three women attending the conference asked to become a part of the planning committee for the 2006 conference. Phone calls have come from other states and parts of Iowa asking how their community could have a “women in denim” event in their area.

The first conference has moved on to become the “2nd Annual Women in Denim” conference with the next conference scheduled for January 20-21, 2006 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA.

Contact:
Rhonda K. Christensen
County Extension Education Director
Buena Vista County
824 Flindt Drive, Box 820
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Phone 712-732-5056; Fax 712-732-5006
Email rchris@iastate.edu       

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