Farm Operator Characteristics

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FARM OPERATOR CHARACTERISTICS

Are you male or female?

	Frequency	%
Male	266	77.6
Female	77	22.4
TOTAL	343	100.0
Nonresponses = 13

How old are you?

Age	Frequency	%
20-29 years	12	3.5
30-39 years	33	9.7
40-49 years	73	21.5
50-59 years	144	42.4
60-69 years	61	17.9
70 years or older	17	5.0
TOTAL	340	100.0
Mean age = 51.8
Nonresponses = 16

Which of the following categories best describes your ethnic background?

Ethnic Background	Frequency	%
White (not Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino)	318	94.6
Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino	10	3.0
Asian or Asian American	4	1.2
American Indian or Alaska Native	1	0.3
Multiple categories selected	3	0.9
TOTAL	336	100.0
Nonresponses = 20

Did your parents farm during any part of your childhood (age 0-18 years)?

	Yes	No
Parents farmed during childhood	56.2	43.8
Nonresponses = 11

How many years have you been involved in farming either as an owner, manager, or primary decision maker?

Years in Farming	Frequency	%
1-2 years	21	6.1
3-5 years	27	7.9
6-10 years	47	13.7
11-20 years	91	26.5
21-30 years	73	21.3
31-40 years	61	17.8
41 years or more	23	6.7
TOTAL	343	100.0
Mean years in farming = 21.1
Nonresponses = 13

What is the highest level of formal education that you have completed?

Highest Level of Education	Frequency	%
Some high school or less	13	3.8
High school diploma or equivalent	27	7.9
Some college, but no degree	79	23.2
Vocational or Extension certificate	10	2.9
Two-year college degree	36	10.6
Four-year college degree	106	31.1
Some graduate school	20	5.9
Graduate degree	50	14.7
TOTAL	341	100.0
Nonresponses = 15

Do you work at a regular off-farm job (full-time or part-time)?

	Frequency	%
Yes, I have a full-time off-farm job	62	18.4
Yes, I have a part-time off-farm job	51	15.1
No, I do not work off-farm	224	66.5
TOTAL	337	100.0
Nonresponses = 19

Are you a member of any of the following community-based groups?

Organizations	Yes (%)	No (%)
Civic organization (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club, VFW, etc.)	16.2	83.8
Athletic/recreational group (bowling league, softball, etc.)	14.6	85.4
Educational/school group (PTA, band boosters, etc.)	15.9	84.1
Community government (town board, county board, etc.)	19.1	80.9
Church group (choir, church board, etc.)	30.7	69.3
Nonresponses ranged from 29 to 36

Are you a member of any of the following agriculture-related organizations?

Organizations	Yes (%)	No (%)
Farm Bureau	42.8	57.2
Washington Tilth Association	42.6	57.4
Product-specific growers’ association	26.9	73.1
Organic-specific growers’ association	25.6	74.4
Marketing cooperative	22.3	77.7
Farmers’ market association	20.2	79.8
Grange	14.9	85.1
Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network	11.4	88.6
Organic Trade Association (OTA)	5.5	94.5
Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group	2.2	97.8
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association	2.2	97.8
National Farmers Organization (NFO)	1.2	98.8
National Farmers Union (NFU)	0.9	99.1
Nonresponses ranged from 24 to 33

Do you hold a leadership position in one or more sustainable/organic agriculture organization(s)?

	Yes (%)	No (%)
Leadership position in sustainable/organic agriculture organization(s)	8.8	91.2
Nonresponses = 14

Do you hold a leadership position in one or more conventional agriculture organization(s)?

	Yes (%)	No (%)
Leadership position in conventional agriculture organization(s)	13.3	86.7
Nonresponses = 17

Are you currently living with a spouse or domestic partner?

	Yes (%)	No (%)
Live with spouse or domestic partner	87.9	12.1
Nonresponses = 16

For respondents who checked “Yes” . . .

Does your spouse or domestic partner work at a regular off-farm job?

	Frequency	%
Yes, she/he has a full-time off-farm job	98	34.2
Yes, she/he has a part-time off-farm job	60	20.9
No, she/he does not work off-farm	129	44.9
TOTAL	287	100.0
Nonresponses = 12

Do you currently have any children (age 0-18 years) living with you?

	Yes (%)	No (%)
Live with children	38.9	61.1
Nonresponses = 17

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