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| NEWS - March 25, 2008 |
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| Farm Women prepare for 25th anniversary |
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By Andrew Coffey
Leader Staff
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Ladies from around Barrhead are gearing up for the 25th annual Farm Women’s Day scheduled for April 5.
The first Farm Women’s day was started by then home economist Elaine Breadon of Barrhead. She felt there was a need for rural women to have an opportunity to get away from the farm for a day and do the things that they enjoy. She asked a few people to be on the advisory committee, and the first Farm Women’s Day was held on March 13, 1984.
"They (the women) do so many things on the farm and play so many roles, and this is one day that is to be special for them, and educational as well," says Maureen Greig, who is the chair of the planning committee.
The topics for the first Farm Women’s Day were horticulture and farm safety, followed by a talk about the roles of a farm wife. The event proved to be quite popular, and many women enjoyed the fact that their perspective on farm life was emphasized during the event.
Farm women can’t be expected to do nothing but work, explained Greig, and they need to get out and spend time with other women they can relate to. "They needed some time that was specific to them," said Greig.
Elaine Breadon continued to chair the advisory committee for what had become an annual event until 1991, when she married and moved away. Cindy Bishop then took over the organization of the event, and held the post of home economist until 1995. When the provincial government closed the home economist’s office in Alberta, there was a small group of women that decided Farm Women’s Day would not suffer the same fate ... it was far too important.
Since that time, the annual event has carried on year after year, and every year the topics covered are geared specifically towards the needs of farm women. A new topic like computer education, nutrition, exercise, quilting, and farm safety has been highlighted each year.
"This year’s event is special because of the anniversary. We have the speaker that spoke at the first Farm Women’s Day on horticulture. She will be speaking on gardening tips," said Greig.
"Our topics now are not all related to farming, because the community itself has changed so much and farm women are mostly working outside the home. They are not as much a part of the farm role as they used to be. So we wanted to gear this towards all women. We did not want to lose the name because it was pretty significant for a number of years, so we have just kept it. But the event is for all women, and that is what I really want to emphasize."
Greig later added that anywhere between 100-150 women usually show up for the event, and that no men are allowed to attend. "The only men we have are guest speakers. This year I believe we are having a gentleman coming to speak on identity theft. And Les Dunford with the Town and Country has come to help us out alot over the years, and he has been pretty much the only coverage we have ever had for the event."
The guest speakers vary with the time of the year the event is held. The meetings are not always in April, and the volunteer committee group is responsible for deciding when the meetings will be each year.
"We try to have our first meeting to start organizing the event in November, and then try and meet once a month and have brainstorming sessions. And that’s what it is ... brainstorming, because one topic leads to another, and another, and another.
"We have an evaluation sheet from the year before that we look over to see what the women would like to have. We often bring forward topics that have been mentioned on those evaluation sheets.
There are going to be display tables for attendees to go around and look at. The display tables are for small business owners and entrepreneurs that want to have the exposure. However, merchandise will not be for sale at the event. "It just gives them the opportunity to promote their business, and make people aware that they are out there," added Greig.
Ten women have volunteered to help with the organization of the event this year. While a caterer takes care of supplying the food for the event, the members of the committee take care of everything else. "We decorate, and we put a little ‘fluff’ into the day so that the women feel good, and so that they can go home with a plant, a flower, or a bag of goodies, something that makes the day special. We want the day to be a special day to look after yourself," explained Greig.
Some of the volunteers have been on the committee for 19 years, which is a considerable commitment. Greig added, "I believe that we are the only Farm Women’s Day that is continuously running in the province of Alberta. Some of them stopped after the home economists offices were closed, and then later started up again."
Greig suggested that women purchase their tickets soon so that the planning committee will have an idea of how many women to prepare for. April 1 is the deadline for registration, and tickets must be purchased in advance at the county office for $20 apiece. Registration begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. on April 5, and goes until 9 a.m. before the planned activities commence, which will run until 4 p.m. |
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