Women in Agricultural Literacy Campaigns

Agricultural literacy is the ability to make sense of where food, fiber and other agricultural products come from and how people make decisions about them. A woman organizing an outreach campaign can make that knowledge tangible with a good question and a familiar product. A child can learn a great deal from following one apple from the orchard to lunch. Trying to cover all of agriculture before the classroom bell rings is how you end up discussing combine financing with somebody who mainly wants to know whether apples have seeds.

“Ag literacy: explaining 'no, chocolate milk doesn't come from brown cows.'”

Pick a question and a group

Find out what your audience already knows and what you would like participants to explain afterward. A library group might trace the stages between harvest and sale. A middle school class could compare what products need from a supply chain. The USDA NIFA Agriculture in the Classroom program provides a starting point for locating programs and agricultural literacy resources. Ask teachers or community partners what materials suit their participants and how the lesson fits their broader goals.

Make people and choices visible

Invite a woman who works in an agricultural occupation to describe an ordinary decision. A produce packer might explain why orders are sorted into different sizes. A veterinarian could describe the coordination needed to visit several distant farms. Use an accurate example that children or adults can discuss without disclosing client information or unsafe practices. Let participants compare the job with another role on the same path. A student may know what a farmer grows and still have questions about the people who inspect, transport or sell the crop.

Use evidence and give people time to practice

Give people a chart, map, photograph or object to observe. Ask them to order the stages, identify something in the image or explain which record would help answer a question. Check claims and numbers with the people who know the work or public authoritative sources. Explain how examples can vary between locations and enterprises. If a demonstration involves food, animals or farm visits, follow the applicable school or venue requirements and seek qualified safety guidance. Plan how participants will take part if the usual material or space is inaccessible to them.

Check what people learned in their own words

Ask participants to explain one change in their understanding and one question they still have. Compare their answers with the original goal. If everyone remembers what color the tractor was and few can explain the path of the product, give more time to that task at the next event. Save a short plan, the useful materials and a list of approved presenters in a place a new organizer can find. Ask other women working in agriculture whether they could contribute a practical example for another audience. A campaign gains reach when new presenters can keep the material accurate and bring a piece of their everyday knowledge to the next group.