Virginia Female Farmers Receive New Technical Training
The WISE program helps female producers master livestock handling and farm maintenance to improve operational efficiency.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Agriculture
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The Virginia Cooperative Extension is hosting the WISE agricultural skills event, a three-day program focused on livestock management and farm operations for female producers. This initiative provides practical training to increase the confidence and technical capabilities of women who account for one-third of total U.S. agricultural producers.
Why it matters
The program aims to address the needs of more than 25,000 female farmers in Virginia who manage approximately three million acres, focusing on skills like livestock handling and veterinary emergency response. Providing these resources is intended to bolster professional confidence and operational effectiveness among this growing demographic of agricultural operators.
Nationwide, the number of female agricultural producers has risen to over 1.2 million, surpassing the count of fewer than one million recorded 20 years ago. Virginia alone is home to over 25,000 female farmers, with regional hubs like Rockingham County reporting 1,180 producers.
The players
Virginia Cooperative Extension
An educational outreach organization that provides agricultural training and research-based information to state operators.
Virginia Tech
A land-grant university providing agricultural research and extension services to support state farming operations.
Virginia State University
A public university that partners on extension programming to improve agricultural management and rural development.
The details
The WISE program teaches participants to manage cattle, sheep, and goats through techniques that emphasize animal behavior and physical leverage. Instructors focus on using flight zones and animal balance to handle livestock, minimizing the need for sheer physical strength. Additionally, the curriculum provides instruction on essential maintenance tasks, such as rendering tallow and managing veterinary emergencies.
Timeline
The WISE program spans three days.
Events occur each fall.
Additional classes are scheduled for fall 2026.
Market Landscape
This event reflects the expanding professional footprint of women in agriculture, who now account for one-third of total U.S. agricultural producers. It mirrors a long-term upward trend that has seen the national count of female farmers grow by hundreds of thousands over the last two decades.
Female farm operators should evaluate their current livestock handling and maintenance workflows against the techniques presented in the WISE curriculum. Incorporating behavioral handling methods, such as utilizing flight zones, can improve safety and reduce reliance on manual physical exertion during daily operations.
The takeaway
The growth in the number of female farmers signals a shifting demographic that requires tailored educational support for livestock and facility management. Operators should monitor the Virginia Cooperative Extension schedule to incorporate upcoming training in artificial insemination and fence maintenance into their fall operational calendars.
What happens next
Organizers have announced a slate of additional courses for fall 2026, which will feature specific instruction on artificial insemination and fence maintenance for farm operations.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts and resources for operators, visit Agriculture.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WVTF.
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