The Vermont Farm Women’s Fund provides stipends and scholarships to help women farmers build thriving businesses and to participate in agricultural policy development. Since 2009, the fund has made 71 awards totaling over $36,000.
Vermont’s working landscape depends on women farmers
Nearly 70% percent of Vermont’s farms have at least one woman operator.
Women are the primary producer on a third of Vermont farms.
Women typically operate smaller farms and earn less than men.
VFWF provides help at critical times in farm business development
VFWF stipends and scholarships provide funds that would otherwise be unavailable through other loan and grant programs.
Awards pay for consulting fees, tuition and registration fees, and associated childcare, replacement labor and travel costs.
Women farmers encounter a number challenges
They often have different learning needs when it comes to production, marketing and finance.
Farmers use their awards to help research and develop new products; conduct feasibility studies; and learn new marketing, business management and value-added production skills.
What farmers say:
“Thank you so much for helping me get to this class. I think it was exactly what I needed at this time in my career. I look forward to maintaining the connections I made with other farmers in the class, and implementing ideas we learned.”
—2020 recipient