The Delaware SWCD, formed in 1944, brought forth an era of sound conservation and wise management of natural resources. Many changes in agriculture were occurring at the same time as the birth of the soil and water conservation districts. The world was at war, and women stepped up to feed the country, whether through planting personal victory gardens at their own homes or signing on to the Women’s Land Army (WLA). The WLA program employed nearly 3.5 million workers (farm laborers and non-laborers) over a five-year timeframe. Jump nearly 75 years to present times: As reported by the 2017 census, 36 percent of American producers (farmers) were women, and trends data indicates that the percentage is increasing over time.
