California Small Farm Conference

Research shows that women tend to negotiate less and reach less favorable outcomes because of gender-related social pressures and challenges. This can have economic implications for their businesses and may, in the long term, stifle their leadership opportunities. Research also informs what might be some effective strategies that women-identifying people can employ to improve their confidence to initiate a negotiation and
achieve more favorable outcomes. Learning Circles apply a peer-to-peer approach, focused on participants as the experts of their own experience, providing a supportive environment from which to learn collectively. American Farmland Trust (AFT) has been utilizing this model across the country to engage women farmers and landowners to support their increased access to on farm conservation support and farm viability resources. Developed in partnership with Kitchen Table Advisors, and adapted from workshops led by the University of Vermont Cooperative Extension, this Learning Circle will create space for womxn* in agriculture to 1) Learn tips for successfully negotiating in a variety of farm-related scenarios; 2) Practice strategic communication skills within a group of your peers; 3) Dialogue about the challenges you are facing on your farm and hear how farmers like you have navigated similar issues; 4) Build relationships with service providers in your community who are poised to support your farm. *Womxn includes women, transfeminine, and non-binary people, and anyone marginalized by misogyny or impacted by women-related issues.