COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture is bringing together women landowners and will host in-person gatherings in Missouri, Iowa and Kansas this year.
The Women Landowners Leading Regeneration (WLLR) project is a learning community designed for women landowners to connect with other landowners and conservation professionals while acquiring tools to apply regenerative practices to their land, said Kelly Wilson, associate director of the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture (CRA).
“Women own roughly 25% of U.S. farmland—an estimated 354 million acres—but are often overlooked in traditional conservation outreach,” Wilson said. “Many women landowners want to steward their land in ecologically responsible ways but lack access to the information, networks and support they need. This project fills that gap.”
The project is a collaboration of MU, the Kansas Soil Health Alliance and E Resources Group to address the unique needs of women who own farmland but do not farm it themselves, she said. Partners include consultants Jean Eells and Rebecca Christoffel, and Jennifer Simmelink, executive director for the Kansas Soil Health Alliance.
Hybrid gatherings will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Columbia, Mo. (May 5), Manhattan, Kan. (May 12) and Winterset, Iowa (postponed until fall 2026). Three virtual sessions will follow, extending opportunities for continued learning and connection, Wilson said.
“WLLR is rooted in the ‘Women Caring for the Land’ model, which uses a peer-to-peer learning circle approach proven effective in increasing women’s knowledge, confidence and ability to advocate for conservation outcomes on rented farmland,” she said.
Participants will learn about topics that encourage regenerative farming, such as government-funded cost-share and incentive programs and practices like cover crops and reduced tillage. In-person participants can get into the field and see conservation practices at work.
“This effort is about building bridges between women landowners and the conservation tools available to them,” said Wilson. “We’re not only seeing increased adoption of practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage, but we’re also witnessing women forming lasting networks of support that strengthen rural communities.”
Earlier this year, WLLR wrapped up training for conservation professionals in Kansas, Iowa and Missouri who will attend the upcoming gatherings alongside landowners.
“We’re connecting women landowners with one another and with resource professionals who respect and understand their goals,” said Olivia Caillouet, who leads the project with Wilson. “We want to make sure that everyone has a chance to attend, so fully virtual learning circles will be available starting in 2027.”
Visit http://mizzou.us/WLLR-Registration for details and registration. Register online or contact Makayla Zimmerman at vorism@missouri.edu.
This project is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Conservation Partners Program.
Individuals interested in WLLR events can contact Zimmerman at vorism@missouri.edu or 573-952-6498.
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