Women, Land and Legacy establishing Linn County group

Women, Land and Legacy, an outreach project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is establishing a group in Linn County.

Founded in 2004, the project gives women interested in agriculture the opportunity to meet and aims to educate women on ag topics, said Melody Bro, a project coordinator.

'Historically, some women have found it difficult to get information that they want or need for their agriculture enterprises,” Bro said, adding that the program also connects women to USDA resources that they might not know exist.

The group will be host to two listening sessions Thursday at the Lynn Dunn Memorial Building at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Central City. An afternoon session is scheduled for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and an eveningsession from 6:30 to 8:30.

Despite what the name might suggest, Bro said the event is open to the public, and men also are welcome to attend.

During the meeting, Bro said participants will devise a list of topics about which they would like more information, such as conservation tillage, water quality and soil health.

From there, the group will arrange speakers, farm tours or presentations on those topics of interest, said Tammy Dougherty, a program tech with the Farm Service Agency.

'It's their program, we are just kind of helping them get the ball rolling,” she said, noting that her agency only is providing only administrative support for the group.

This will be the 25th Iowa county the project is active in, Bro said.

Dougherty said her office has seen more women come in asking for information as they become landowners. She said the office established there was a need for a group in Linn County and has been planning for it for the past two to three months.

Bro said USDA agencies provide administrative support for the group, but the members decide what topics the group will cover.