Celebrating Earth Day in 2026: The Year of the Woman Farmer

Happy Earth Day! We're so very delighted to be in community with you - thank you for opening this blog!

At Wisconsin Women in Conservation, we know you are busy with planting season and the multitude of family, work, world, and personal duties that women carry. So that's why we're JOYFULLY celebrating YOU this Earth Day in 2026, which has been declared by the United Nations the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The Year is intended to spotlight the essential roles women play across agrifood systems, from production to trade, while often going unrecognized. Women farmers are central to food security, nutrition and economic resilience. And of course, women nurturing land are absolutely essential to the Earth-healing work of conservation.

You are beautiful! And AMAZING!

WiWiC exists to support you, and make sure that you have what you need - and want - to achieve your conservation dreams. To that end, we are currently in the process of designing a WiWiC Needs Assessment Survey with our long-time evaluator, facilitator, and "Unhuggables Ambassador" Dr. Rebecca Christoffel - a wildlife biologist that most of you have already met at WiWiC events. You won't see the survey for another month or so, but please be thinking about your conservation goals for the next few years, your wild aspirations, and what you think might help you get there. Nothing is more important to future generations than your success.

In the meantime, let's CELEBRATE this work and our relationships by getting together! The WiWiC Team, along with a roster of many generous volunteer hosts and presenters, has planned lots of opportunities across the state to gather and learn in 2026. We would love to see you TOMORROW for our Spring Educator Meet Up on Zoom where we'll be talking about conservation careers with Dr. Karen Hyun, DNR Secretary, and Celina Hall, agronomist and Ho-Chunk Department of Agriculture Research and Education Division Manager. Bring your questions and curiosity! You don't have to consider yourself an educator to attend. RSVP HERE to get the link.

We are so ridiculously excited about our May Field Day, which will take us out to rural Reedsburg, in Sauk County for a visit to JBC Heffernan's BEAVER HABITAT at Driftless Dane Farm. Not only will we enjoy a potluck at her beautiful farm stay property, we'll be joined by beaver habitat expert Emily Fairfax, assistant professor at University of Minnesota. Participation is limited to 30 people so we can assure minimal disturbance of the beavers and LOTS of time for networking and sharing. Please RSVP soon to save your spot. CLICK HERE to register.

Today, we are celebrating the SOLD OUT Earth Day launch of our new Illinois Women in Conservation network! 30 women are gathering at an organic farm distillery in Paxton, IL, for a tour and meal and learning circle - with a happy hour afterward. If you tried to register and found that it was already full, we apologize. The good news is - there is a lot of interest in this new network, so you can expect more events soon! Please reach out to Christine Johnson, our Farmer Education Coordinator, to be put on the ILWiC email list: cjohnson@michaelfields.org.

In their designation of 2026 as the Year of the Woman Farmer, the United Nations said that "empowered women farmers are key agents of change in transforming agrifood systems. Closing gender gaps in access to and control over land, finance, technology, education and decision-making enhances the well-being of women and their households, boosts productivity, strengthens resilience to climate change and drives progress" towards sustainable development goals. We believe that empowered women are indeed key change agents in the effort to reverse climate chaos and bring healing and hope to rural and urban communities.

If you agree, we hope you will consider celebrating Earth Day in 2026 by making a gift to the Wisconsin Women in Conservation project. Your donation helps plant seeds for a thriving, productive, beautiful, and hospitable planet. GIVE HERE. Make your donation recurring, and we'll send you a hand-drawn limited edition bandana in one of several colors: natural, green, pink, fuschia, tan, gold, orange.