Annie?s Project: Education for Farm Women begins in Washington January 9

Farming is a complex business. More and more farm women are becoming active business partners in their operation. Annie?s Project helps farm women learn more about managing today?s agricultural technology and becoming an effective farm business partner.

Annie?s Project is a critical decision-making and information management course which begins Jan. 9 for six weeks. Topics include: financial statements and records, production records, marketing plans and risk management, legal records and documentation, human resources and time management, estate planning and farm leasing.

Classes run once per week from 6 - 9 p.m. with a light meal at 5:30 p.m. The classes will be held at the Washington County Extension Office. There is a cost per person for the series. Class size is limited to 25.

Classes combine lecture, discussion, individual work, small group work, computer work and audio/visual support. Speakers include Iowa State University Extension Program Specialists, Farm Service Agency personnel, insurance agents and grain marketers.

According to Nancy Adrian, Washington County Extension Director, Annie?s Project has been a big success over the years. ?The course was offered in Iowa for the first time in February of 2004 right here in Washington County,? said Adrian. ?Since that time it has been offered all over Iowa and currently in 33 other states. This class will be the 101st class held in Iowa,? she added.

Past participants agree that they have a better knowledge of what farming involves and have become more active in their family farming operations. Many of these women have gone on to help promote agricultural education for women in other ways.

For more information on Annie?s Project or to register for the class contact: Washington County Extension at 319-653-4811 or email nadrian@iastate.edu. Registrations are due Jan. 2.