Vermont Farm Women's Fund (VFWF)
Working to assure a vibrant future for women farmers
The Vermont Farm Women's Fund provides stipends and scholarships to help Vermont's women farmers build thriving businesses.
Raising the profile of women farmers
VFWF Farm Business Development awards help recipients improve their farm businesses. Leadership Development awards help women farmers participate in agricultural policy development.
The future of Vermont's working landscape depends on women farmers
- Half of Vermont's 6900 farms have at least one woman operator.
- The most recent USDA Census of Ag shows the number of female principal farm operators in Vt. increased from 967 to 1466 in five years.
Yet, women farmers face particular challenges.
- Women typically operate smaller farms and earn less than men;
- Women frequently have different educational needs concerning farm production, marketing and finance.
The VFWF provides support that is specifically targets the needs of women farmers.
Farmers use their awards to help research and develop new products; conduct feasibility studies; and to attend workshops, conferences and classes to learn new marketing, business management and value-added production skills and knowledge.
Awards have been used to pay for tuition and registration fees, as well as associated childcare, replacement labor and travel costs.
Support that makes a difference
"These funds have been tremendously helpful to us . . . We
feel really privileged to have been part of this program."
-- Judith Irving, Fat Toad Farm.
Last modified January 19 2013 05:55 PM