Are tractors final frontier for farm women?

By The Daily Hampshire Gazette
Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 3, 2008

AMHERST - Armed with a can of WD-40, a tank of gasoline and a filthy rag, about 30 women gathered on the rolling hills of south Amherst around two greasy tractors.

They brought notebooks, pens and questions.

But most of all, they came prepared to stare the roaring machines down and not be intimidated.

Last Thursday night, the women attended a Tractor 101 workshop sponsored by CISA's Women in Agriculture Network. The free, hands-on workshop was created to teach women the basics of tractors mechanics.

Nancy Hanson of the Hampshire College Farm Center, who led the class, acknowledged at the beginning that even she is not an expert on tractors.

For a reason that might well have been shared by her listeners.

"I grew up with a tractor, but I was usually the one to hand the tools to my dad," Hanson said to the laughing crowd. "But eventually you have to start doing it yourself."

The women started by circling the two tractors brought for the workshop - a 1948 Farmall Cub and a newer 5200 John Deere.

Hanson passed out seven handouts that explained how tractors operate. Some of the informational sheets listed common tractor terms and diagrams of the sometimes cumbersome parts.

Eventually, after some chit-chat among participants and Hanson, which included explanations as to why the women chose to attend such a workshop, it was time to get down and dirty.

Hanson demonstrated how to perform an oil check and how to change the oil. As the fluid splattered in all directions, she announced: "You can't stay clean, so get used to getting dirty and greasy."

As Hanson stood by the 1948 tractor, she urged the women to come and take a closer look. The women passed their fingers along the tractor's rough and bumpy edges like children examining a new toy.

"I think I'll be good at this," said Tanya Cushman of Leverett.

"This is something I definitely need to know more about."
Cushman has a tractor on her property, but her partner is mainly responsible for using it.

Most women echoed that, saying they tend to pass on the task of handling the tractor for various reasons. Some because they are intimidated, others because they lack any experience.

"I came today so I can finally help and get my hands dirty," Cushman said.

Claire Morenon, program coordinator for the Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, said this was the first time such a workshop was offered by the Women in Agriculture Network.

"There seems to be a need for this sort of information, and we were happy to provide it," Morenon said.

The workshop was geared toward women with some basic understating of tractor mechanics. Overall, it seemed as if the women did have contact with either their own tractors or neighbors' tractors.

An exception was Orange resident Rachel Scherer. Scherer came to the class with no understating of how a tractor works, or how to maintain one.

"This is all new to me," Scherer said. "I hope to learn all the basics."

Hanson reviewed weekly and yearly checklists that should be followed for tractor maintenance. She changed the aging tractor's fuel and explained the difference between a gas fuel tank and a diesel fuel tank.

After performing routine maintenance on the tractor, she let its engine roar to life, so the women could hear its sound.

Hanson, who has been teaching at Hampshire College for almost 10 years, prepared for the nearly three-hour workshop by speaking to experts and brushing up on diagrams and instruction sheets.

"The workshop is good because it eases their intimidation with the equipment," she said.

Kristen Wilmer, of Sunderland, recently started working on a farm in Easthampton. She said she knows basics of tractor maintenance and can perform such tasks as changing oil, air filters and spark plugs.

"But that's about it. This is helpful, to see her doing the things," Wilmer said.

As the smell of gasoline intensified, the women finished their work at the tractors and moved down the hill to the farm center's headquarters for a free dinner catered by the Black Sheep Deli.

Hanson said she believes this kind of workshop is valuable because the demographics of farming are changing.

"There are a lot of young people who did not grow up on farms, so they lack experience, and women are starting to own more farms," she said.

Scherer, who said she attended eager to become familiar with tractors, left hoping she is one step closer to being considered a real farmer.

"I need to be a little more independent, I hope I'll be on my way soon," Scherer said.

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