Virginia Extension Hosts Skills Program for Female Farmers
The WISE program provides hands-on training to help female agricultural producers manage livestock and farm tasks.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Agriculture
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The Virginia Cooperative Extension is hosting a three-day WISE agricultural skills event for female farmers across the state. This initiative aims to build confidence and technical expertise for the more than 25,000 women currently managing approximately three million acres of land in Virginia.
Why it matters
The program addresses the growing presence of women in the agricultural sector, where they now account for one-third of total producers nationwide. It focuses on practical training to help participants effectively manage cattle, sheep, and goats.
Virginia is home to over 25,000 female producers, with significant populations including 1,180 in Rockingham County and 1,120 in Loudoun County. Nationwide, the total count of female farmers exceeds 1.2 million, a substantial increase from under one million twenty years ago.
The players
Virginia Cooperative Extension
This educational outreach organization provides research-based knowledge to communities and serves as the primary sponsor for the WISE program.
Virginia Tech
As a leading public research university, it collaborates with the cooperative extension to provide agricultural training and resources.
Virginia State University
This institution partners with other academic entities to support agricultural education and cooperative extension programs.
The details
Instructors guide participants in using leverage rather than sheer strength for manual labor and teach animal management techniques like utilizing flight zones. The curriculum also covers specialized skills such as rendering tallow and responding to veterinary emergencies.
Timeline
The WISE program lasts three days.
Twenty years ago, there were fewer than one million female farmers.
Events occur each fall.
Additional classes are scheduled for fall 2026.
Market Landscape
The WISE program reflects the rise of female agricultural producers to one-third of the U.S. total by providing targeted skill-building opportunities. This initiative follows the pattern set by the national shift toward greater female participation in agricultural production.
Female producers gain professional skills that can improve operational efficiency and safety on their farms. Participants are better equipped to handle daily livestock management tasks and veterinary emergencies independently.
The takeaway
Empowering women in agriculture through hands-on technical training contributes to the professionalization and sustainability of small and large farms alike. Farmers can improve their operational efficiency by learning mechanical and animal-handling techniques that maximize their personal impact.
What happens next
Organizers plan to offer specialized fall 2026 courses, which will include instruction on artificial insemination and fence maintenance.
Further reading
For additional context, visit the Agriculture section on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WVTF.
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