NJ Department of Ag Business Development Expert Karen Kritz Motivates Women Farmers at Annie's Project Conference

Karen Kritz, business development representative with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, will be a featured speaker at all three locations of the New Jersey Farm Women Conference scheduled for Cumberland, Mercer and Morris counties on Feb. 20, 21 and 22.

Participants in the women’s farm business management event, "Annie’s Project: Farm Women Conference," will benefit from the agricultural economic development expertise of Kritz, a dynamic speaker who has been involved in New Jersey agriculture for thirty-two years.

Kritz is surprised at the number of women farmers who lack any knowledge about insurance, estate planning and writing business plans. She sees this conference as a great opportunity for women to learn, to network as well as be exposed to things they may not have thought about.

“This conference will get them thinking about their farm operation now and in future,” Kritz explains. “The business plan is a road map about where they are and want to be, estate planning is about what’s going to happen to my farm when I leave this earth, and the financial plan makes sure capital needs are met and covers various insurance policies.”

A state expert in agricultural construction code, motor vehicle regulations and other areas, Kritz’s motivational style will encourage the women farmers to push through toward completing essential business plans that will make their farms economically viable.

To Kritz, the most challenging aspect for women in agriculture is still the issue of gender. She recalls an incident during her first year working for the federal government when a male farmer asked her to leave his farm because he didn’t want a woman on his farm giving him advice. She made it a point to find something in common and talked about livestock, after which he allowed her back on his farm.

“Individuals who are intimidated by women farmers don’t take us seriously, but it shouldn’t matter because we each have the same goals about keeping our farms viable. People shouldn’t be intimidated and embarrassed to ask for help.”

According to Kritz, “the worst thing to do is to call me after you get into trouble. It’s hard to fix things at that point. Call me when you are thinking about your project,” she said. “My job is to keep you out of trouble. So if your family members tell you one thing, check with me first! Then you’ll know more than they do.”
 
The best advice Kritz has for new and beginning farmers is that, in addition to being passionate about what they want to do, think about aspects of risk management. Kritz adds, “the most important thing to remember is if you don’t know who to call… call me! If I can’t help you, I will tell you where to go.”

There is still room at the Annie’s Project: Farm Women Conference. The cost is $25 per person, including lunch. Register online at http://njfarmwomenconference.eventbrite.com. For more, contact Jenny Carleo, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, at 609-465-5115 or by email at carleo@aesop.rutgers.edu.

The conference is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Risk Management Agency and Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Cooperating agencies include Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders.