The document summarizes a program called Homefront to Heartland that was developed to empower women in agriculture and small business in Tennessee. The program held conferences on topics like stress management, personal finance, and small business management. Surveys found that over 200 participants increased their monthly savings by an average of $108, for a total yearly economic benefit of $250,402. Participants also reported gains in skills like determining net worth, budgeting, and improving record keeping.

1. HOMEFRONT TO HEARTLAND
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE & SMALL BUSINESS
Alice Rhea1, Christopher Sneed2, Jane Starnes3
1Extension Area Specialist – Farm Management, The University of Tennessee Extension, Maryville, TN, 37804, arhea@utk.edu
2Extension Agent – Family & Consumer Sciences, The University of Tennessee Extension, Maryville, TN, 37804, csneed@utk.edu (Non‐NACAA Member)
3Research Associate III – The University of Tennessee Department of Agriculture & Resource Economics, Knoxville, TN 37996, jhstarnes@utk.edu (Non‐NACAA Member)
Abstract
Homefront to Women play an important role in Tennessee agriculture (28.8% of all operators) providing leadership to financial management and decision-making aspects
Heartland
of family farms. These leadership roles create unique demands for female owner/operators as they balance the roles of owner/operator, employee, and in
many cases mother /homemaker. Managing the challenges and stress of work/family balance has been identified as an educational need facing this group.
participants Furthermore, participation by females in agriculture continues to grow as the farms with female principal operators has increased 6% (9,413 farms in 2002;
9,960 in 2007). As principal operators, these women need information, training, and capacity building to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to handle
report increasing the risks associated with their operation. In lights of these trends, a needs assessment was conducted in 2008 with Tennessee female farmers. Feedback
from the assessment demonstrated clear educational needs for instruction on topics such as external funding sources, record keeping, stress management,
their savings labor issues and work/family balance. In response to these needs, intensive, one-day conferences were developed and conducted. Programs focused on
and/or stress management, civic engagement, personal financial management, small business management, and healthy living. The target audience for this
program included women agricultural producers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs in Tennessee. Participation for both conferences totaled 228
investments $171 women. On average, Homefront to Heartland participants have increased savings and/or investments $108.00 per month with an overall economic benefit
of the conferences equal to $250,402. The program continues with plans for online learning modules in 2012.
per month for a
total $84,132
yearly. Based on conference topics such as
decreasing spending, increasing income,
and better financial management
Program Results
practices, conference participants
Objectives estimated $250,402 in economic benefit
to their business and/or personal lives.
End of Conference Evaluations:
• 54% of participants gained knowledge and/or
skills to determine net worth.
The following objectives were established for • 63% of participants gained knowledge and/or
conference participants: skills to increase savings and/or reduce debt.
• Develop a family and business net worth • 48% of participants gained knowledge and/or
statement and spending plan. skills in developing a budget.
• Identify methods for transferring tangible
property.
• 55% of participants became more motivated to
begin or increase contributions to savings and
• Identify appropriate savings and investment plans.
investment options for achieving post‐
retirement goals. • 81% plan to implement an improved record‐
keeping system.
• Utilize computer applications for personal
and business financial record keeping. Educational Activities Six‐month Follow‐up Survey:
 41% have implemented a record‐keeping
system for their home, farm, and/or small
• Homefront to Heartland featured in five East Tennessee newspapers business.
reaching a readership of 185,000+ households.
 94% improved their financial record‐keeping
• News story announcing the Homefront to Heartland conference was system.
aired on the local NBC affiliate reaching 33 East Tennessee Counties.
 59% made/up‐dated their will.
• Feature story with local small business owner published in Maryville
Daily Times.  88% are working toward a new savings and/or
• Conferences included general sessions and concurrent sessions. investment goal.
• Facebook page and website house timely tips and up to date  88% followed a spending plan.
information.  76% can better determine how to balance
• Provide programs focused on stress management, civic engagement, investments among pre‐tax and after‐tax
personal financial management and healthy living. options.
 58% are more confident they can build wealth.
Participant Comments  60% became more motivated to begin or
increase contributions to savings.
• “Very organized, informative, and well worth my day’s time.”
• “This was excellent addressing issues…great combination of topics. Do it again!”
• “Wonderful. Too many good session.”
• “Real people…real stories…very relatable.”
• “This was an extremely well put together conference with great topics and speakers to
match. Kudos to the planning committee.”
• “I enjoyed hearing from the individual women and how they made their life worth with
everyday problems.”