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  • From: "Jill Bussiere" <jdt AT itol.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Women's Voices in the 2007 FarmBill--Pleaserespond]]
  • Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 08:40:19 -0600

Title: Women's Voices in the 2007 Farm Bill-- Please respond
I agree that all have valuable contributions to make, and that we can learn much from one another, no matter what our differences.
 
Yet, I want to put forward that there are times when it is appropriate for people to meet and exclude others.
 
In an organization that I belong to, we have caucuses for groups of people that are not well represented in society - groups that are less powerful than others - groups that have even been repressed by our dominant society..  These groups each elect a representative to the governing body to give them more of a voice - a voice that is not as loud in our society or our organization for both historical and traditional reasons.
 
So, we have a Women's caucus, a Youth caucus, a Diversity caucus, and a LBGT (Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgendered) caucus.
 
White men do not have a caucus - because they already have such power in our society.
 
And yet, men, white men, and all, have valuable voices in our organization, and, in fact, as in the rest of society, have a higher average of representation in our organization than one would predict if one looked at demographics.
 
So, while a affimr the contribution of all voices in any organization, I also affirm the encouragement of voices that are not as well represented.
 
Besides caucuses, we also use consensus in decision making, as an attempt to hear all voices.
 
Not perfect, but both do help!
 
                Jill Bussiere, Wisconsin
-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of Robin Follette
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 8:32 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Women's Voices in the 2007 FarmBill--Pleaserespond]]

>>>>My defining moment in the women's ag movement came at the same conference where Cheryl spoke.  This particular conference had a pre-conference the day before that was only open to women.  After listening to how it was a lovely program and this large regional organization should put on more such conferences, I asked my dining table mates how it would be if a conference would be staged where only men could attend?  <<<<
 
Can you imagine?  We'd be screaming our heads off, and rightfully so.  I attended the Women In Sustainable Ag conference in Vermont last month.  Men were welcome.  They presented and also networked.   One of the best conversations I had during the conference was with a male farmer who just finished his second growing season.  It's a shame to shut people out based on their sex. 
 
One of the most beneficial things to come from the WISA conference was the boost many new and aspiring women farmers got by networking with other women farmers.  I heard a lot of them saying, "I can Do that!" 



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