Annie´s ProjectEducation for Farm Women

Second and Third Level CoursesBy Ruth Hambleton, Founder

April 2, 2014

What is Annie’s Project

• Educational program for farm women started in 2003 in Illinois with 10 women.

Vision/MissionEnhancing the well being of agricultural woman

Empower farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and

organizing critical information.

What Annie’s Project Does

• Safe Harbor• Connection• Discovery• Guided intelligence

Method of Delivery• Series of six classes• Three hour in length• First five classes are planned, the sixth meeting is at

the discretion of the class.• Curriculum is designed around the five areas of risk

management as defined by USDA.– Production– Financial– Marketing– Legal– Human Resources

Method of Delivery• Class size is between 8 & 25 women• Class discussion is prized and encouraged.• Partner with Extension, Government Agencies,

and private business for teams of instructors.• Women receive resources to bring them into

the business world & build their risk management skills and teams.

• Evaluation survey which is used to measure impact (behavior change, knowledge change, attitude change.)

Need for Follow Up Education

Second Level Courses Differences

• Multiple Topics• Several days• Benefits from women

attending 2nd level course and hearing about Annie’s Project.

• Topic focused• One or two days to

cover content• Not dependent on

having attended an Annie’s Project

• Generates audience for next Annie’s Project course.

Basic Course 2nd Level Course

Second Level Courses• Farm Women Keeping Farm Financial Records– Quicken (over two days 4 to 6 hours total)– Quickbooks (over two days 4 to 6 hours total)– PCMars (over two days 4 to 6 hours total)

• Women Marketing Grain (two days)– Included trips to CME and Options Seminar

• Retirement and Estate Planning for Farm Women (precursor to Managing for Today and Tomorrow)

• Transitioning Farms to the Next Generation (6hrs)– Teams of CFP, CPA and educators work with farm women

to help prepare for business transitioning

Third Level• Runs like an Annie’s Project basic, but focused and more in

depth on a topic that requires several days to deliver content.

– Managing for Today and Tomorrow (15 hours)• Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program grant funded to develop a

curriculum.• Strong partnership with Farm Credit

– Investing for Farm Families (? Hours)• on-line free self-paced educational program supported with group meetings

and discussions• FINRA grant funded.

Other States• Arizona– Sonia Gasho “After our first series, we had

a follow up class on production spreadsheets, future markets, and business plans; Quick Books and basic book keeping for Apr/May.

• Iowa—Marsha Laux coordinator, Livestock Marketing (curriculum), Investing for Farm Families (curriculum and on-line.)

• Missouri—Mary Sobba and Karisha Devlin, Women in Boots and Blue Jeans (Conference),

• South Dakota-Robin Salverson & Adele Harty Sustainable Annie's Systems in South Dakota for Years to Come (SASSY).

Ideas From Other States

• Missouri—Wesley Tucker “….my goal is to get a regular schedule put together and let the ladies help direct me to what they want to focus on.” And “my goal is to have quarterly or semiannual events with guest speakers focusing on specific educational topics.”

Ideas from Other States

• From Maryland, Shannon Dill—”After implementation of Annie’s project we felt the need to keep the women connected. We implemented quarterly newsletters, social media, reunion meetings, farm tours and this year monthly webinars.”

Social Media

Your Thoughts

Join us at our post conference meetingimmediately following this conference on April 3 in Meeting Room B

On behalf of all the Annie’s . . .

Thank you! Ruth Fleck Hambleton,Annie’s Daughter

16591 N White Swan LaneWoodlawn, IL 62898618 485 6711618 237 6441ruthhambleton@wildblue.net