University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension’s Heart of the Farm-Women in Agriculture program will start hosting a new online ‘Coffee Chats’ series in various locations, times and dates across the state starting May 12^th, 2020.

The Heart of the Farm-Women in Agriculture Conference series is an Extension program that addresses the needs of farm women by providing education on farm business topics, connecting them with agricultural resources and creating support networks.

Due to COVID-19 we were not able to host the 2020 Heart of the Farm – Women in Ag Conferences in person this year, so we’ve switched to an online way to connect! After our May 8th kickoff session with keynote speaker Jess Peters from Spruce Row Farm, the Heart of the Farm Program will be offering individual “Coffee Chats” throughout the state at seven different locations, dates and times over the next two months. Starting  May 12th, we will have the following lineup for all “coffee chats so you can choose the day/time/topic that works in your schedule.

Time Management: Structuring your Day with Purpose: May 11^th – May 16^th, 2020 Time is both valuable and limited: it must be protected, used wisely, and budgeted. People who practice good time management techniques often find that they are more productive, have more energy for things they need to accomplish, feel less stressed and get more things done. This session will help participants understand some of the best practices associated with time management and increase understanding of why and how to use the different strategies to their benefit.

Communications: Exploring Perspectives to Improve Communication: May 18th – May 23^rd and May 27^th Join us as we dive into the topic of effective communication skills.  At this first session, we will explore how to listen for and respond to each other’s different perspectives to deepen the understanding of the issues at hand and help guide decision-making.

Relationships: Nurturing Healthy Relationships Under Times of Stress: Bidding for Connection: May 25th – May 30^th, June 10^th During this session learn what bids for connection are and why they matter in building and maintaining a healthy relationship.  Participants will learn how to respond and bid for connections in positive, healthy ways.

Financial: Finding Financial Well-Being: June 1^st – June 6^th and June 24th People who feel good about their finances have four things in common. We’ll explore what those four factors are and ideas to find your own path to financial well-being. Spoiler alert – you don’t need money to get started!

You must register for the individual “Coffee Chat” you are interested in attending. Locations, Times and Dates and Registration information can be found on the Heart of the Farm Website: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/heartofthefarm,  or by contacting the Extension county educator in/or around your area:

Once registered, you will receive meeting connection information (website link and phone number). Registered participants will only need the meeting website link or phone number to participate in the meeting.

More information can be found on the Heart of the Farm website: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/heartofthefarm, by calling your local Agriculture Educator, Stephanie Plaster at 262-284-8288, email stephanie.plaster@wisc.edu or contact Jenny Vanderlin, jenny.vanderlin@wisc.edu, 608-263-7795.