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Elkhorn woman honored for rural advocacy

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Mary Bub of Elkhorn recently won the 2008 Fred Lindner Prize for Social Innovation in Wisconsin.

LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP — It might seem idyllic.

Living in the cozy farmhouse on the hill and making a living raising crops and livestock. What could be more peaceful?

The problem, rural Elkhorn resident Mary Bub said, is that what goes on inside the walls of some of those picturesque farms might be closer to nightmare than American dream.

Bub, 64, founded the Wisconsin Rural Women's Initiative, a non-profit organization that promotes wellness and social interaction among farm women. Among other things, the organization creates and maintains "Gathering Circles," discussion groups that help farm women who are feeling isolated vent with their "rural sisters."

Instances of depression and domestic violence are high among rural women and often go unreported, Bub said.

"We just want to empower women to be the best they can be," Bub said. "The hard part, when we try to get funding, is people don't believe they (rural women) are a hidden population.

"We call it the ‘red barn syndrome.' There's no concept of what's happening in those walls. When you drive through pretty Wisconsin, you see pretty farms and red barns. Not the people in them," Bub said.

Bub recently was awarded the 2008 Fred Lindner Prize for Social Innovation in Wisconsin for her work with the initiative. The annual award includes a $10,000 prize—$5,000 for the initiative and $5,000 for Bub.

Bub became aware of the need for such a project more than 11 years ago when she and her husband, Don, moved to rural West Bend after closing their coffee, art and self-help shop in Pewaukee.

Sitting on her new front porch, Bub realized she was in a strange place with no friends and none of the social networking she was used to.

"Here I was in this farmhouse that wasn't exactly what I pictured a retirement home to be," Bub said.

Bub had a history of organizing support groups, bible studies and retreats for teens and adults. So one day she picked up the phone and asked a friend if she wanted to help start a group for rural women.

Eleven years later, the initiative has bloomed to have a presence in all 72 Wisconsin counties, and it's been active in 57 counties, Bub said. They have 26 trained facilitators and workshops ready to train more.

About 12 circles are active in the state, although none yet meet in Rock or Walworth counties. Bub has had initial conversations with Walworth County UW Extension agent Peg Reedy to talk about getting a circle started locally.

Typically, 12 to 20 women attend a circle, Bub said.

Aside from the circles, the initiative hosts free weekend getaways for women, workshops for group leaders and free health screenings, including mammograms and diabetes screening.

Participants learn to speak up for themselves and share their stories. Group leaders learn crisis intervention skills and how to run a meeting that's safe and comfortable.

But wait. Those are pretty basic human needs. How are rural women any different than urban women?

They're not, Bub said.

All women—and people—share the same issues, but resources are less available for women living in rural areas, Bub said.

Domestic violence programs might cover thousands of square miles, leaving women to drive hours for help. Self-employed rural women might lack health insurance. And they might hesitate to seek counseling in a nearby small town where everyone knows them, Bub said.

From time to time, Bub has asked herself why, at her age, she still works so hard to run a statewide advocacy network. After all, she's got her own farm to run. She, her husband and her children operate MoonStar Farm outside Elkhorn where they raise and sell produce, poultry and grass-fed beef and goats.

When she has a bad day and doesn't know where she'll get funding for another weekend retreat, she's renewed by the stories of women she's met along the way.

"I'm going to be 65. Why am I doing this?" Bub asked. "I guess what I did, I facilitated my first circle. Watching that unfold was amazing.

"We're not talking about turning them (rural women) into women libbers at all. We're just talking about empowering them."

TO LEARN MORE

The Wisconsin Rural Women's Initiative is a non-profit group that organizes "Gathering Circles" discussion groups and other events for rural people—mostly women—throughout the state.

The initiative provides health screening, mental health resources, domestic violence resources and social connections.

Circles have yet to start in Rock and Walworth counties, but initiative founder and executive director Mary Bub has started working to make it happen.

-- If you would like to learn more about the initiative or donate time or money, call Christy Harteau at (262) 723-4156, e-mail her at harteau@uno.com or visit www.ruralwomensinitiative.com.

-- Bub is the 2008 recipient of the Fred Lindner prize for social innovation. The award recognizes Wisconsin residents over age 60 who work creatively to create social change. To learn more about the award, visit www.fredlindnerprize.org.

-- The next statewide farm and rural women's gathering will take place Saturday, Feb. 7, and Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Heidel House, 643 Illinois Ave., Green Lake. For more information, call Bub at (262) 723-4156 or e-mail her at mbub@juno.com.