Heartbeat of the Farm: Human Resource Management

​​A four-session course designed to give women strategies for effectively working with family and employees.

Extending Knowledge ~ Empowering Women
Women in AG - Courses in Iowa

Classes starting Tuesday, April 9, 2019 and continuing:
April 16
April 23
​April 30
6:00pm - 9:00pm (meal at 5:30pm)
Jefferson County Extension Office - 2606 West Burlington Ave., Fairfield, Iowa

Please Register by Tuesday, April 2! Cost is $75.
Register online at www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag
641-472-4166

Annie's Project - Empowering Women in Agriculture

Heartbeat of the Farm is taught in the tradition of Annie's Project:

• Topics of importance to your future in farming
• Brief presentations and extended discussions with ag professionals
• Practical hands-on activities
• Decision making resources available to you
• Networking with other farm women

Educational programs dedicated to strengthening women's roles in the modern farm enterprise. The courses foster problem solving, record keeping, and decision-making skills in farm women.

Courses are offered through a network of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach educators, including farm management specialists, value added agriculture specialists, and county staff that have received Women in Agriculture curriculum training.

"When interviewing look for personality not skills because you can always teach skills."
- Jewel, Petersburg, Virginia

What is Heartbeat of the Farm: Human Resource Management?
The heartbeat of every farm business is the people involved. This course is designed to empower farm women to improve working relationships with both family and non-family partners and employees. Women will become more knowledgeable on effective strategies to manage human resources in the areas of employee supply, recruitment and law; family and farm business communication; employee supervision and retention; and health, stress and well-being. The course is taught in the tradition of Annie's Project and incorporates a comfortable and supportive learning environment.

At the end of four weeks, participants will know more about:

• Employee Supply, Recruitment, and Law

1. Strategies for identifying labor needs
2. Hiring and terminating
3. Legal, tax and accounting requirements

• Family and Business Communication

1. Strategies for sharing farm business goals
2. Managing interpersonal conflict
3. Conducting farm business meetings

• Employee Supervision and Retention

1. Strategies for clarifying expectations
2. Training family or non-family job tasks
3. Evaluating employees and increasing job satisfaction

• Health, Stress, and Well-being

1. Strategies for balancing personal and work energy
2. Increasing farm safety
3. Planning for continuity if one or more key persons is lost

Heartbeat of the Farm: Human Resource Management courses in Iowa are made possible by these statewide sponsors:
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
Farm Credit Services of America - Agriculture Works Here.