Our in-person Circles were WIR's original offering, created to answer a growing call for support and community among rural women in agriculture.
That call came from women seeking support in their agricultural work, and Elaine Patarini of Paicines Ranch and Wendy Millet of Tomkat Ranch answered it by gathering women together on the land, connecting them with one another and building community within an industry that has historically sidelined and withheld resources from female-identifying folks. The first gathering was a wild success, drawing at least 26 women, and Elaine and Wendy went on to host facilitated Circles annually for six more years. WIR continued to lead Circles when it became a program of the Western Landowners Alliance in 2018, and again when it became its own nonprofit in 2022.
Over the past few years, we've shifted toward more skill-based, ranching-specific programming based on feedback from our community. Perhaps one day Circles will return. Until then, we hope you enjoy these foundational memories.
WIR now channels direct support to community-led gatherings and projects through our Community Regrant Initiative.
