Carthage To Host Second Annual Women In Agriculture Summit.

The Upper Cumberland Agricultural Extension team is hosting its second annual Women in Agriculture Summit Thursday at River Point Ranch in Carthage.

Smith County Agriculture agent Katie Martin said the number of women involved in the business has grown in recent years. She said the event will be a great networking opportunity.

“We know that the agriculture industry is so vital to feeding and clothing our world, and women play such a huge role in that,” Martin said. “And sometimes they think kind of unique challenges as well, so we want to give them tools and resources, and networking connections, and opportunities to really be successful in whatever role they take on in the agriculture industry.”

Martin said there has been an increase in recent years in women being involved in agriculture. She said more and more women have been interested in farming and in teaching agriculture. She said she believes women have a bright future within the industry.

“I think it is definitely a great time to be a woman involved in agriculture, we have had so many trailblazing women go before us to kind of create that path for us and now there is a great community to be found for women in agriculture,” Martin said. “There are so many opportunities for them to kind of choose their own way, chose what way they want to go with the agriculture industry, and there are lots of resources available to help them be successful.”

Martin said there will also be a variety of different demonstrations.

“We have five different breakout sessions that participants can choose to attend,” Martin said. “Everything from backyard poultry, to seed starting and operating equipment, so really trying to have something kind of for everybody,” Martin said.

Martin said the Keynote speaker will be Farm Credit Mid-America Chief Lending Officer of Agriculture Tara Durbin.