Ag women’s business course available this winter

WASHINGTON — There is not rest for farmers, even in the coldest months. Southeast Iowa women who steer the business side of the farm will have the opportunity to use this time to get a fresh chance to strengthen their skills this winter when Annie’s Project brings its farm management training to Washington and Louisa counties.

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The program opens Saturday, Jan. 31, at 9 a.m. at the Conservation Education Center at Marr Park in Ainsworth, with a second session on Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. The course then moves to Columbus Junction for meetings on Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 10 at 5 p.m., and Feb. 12 at 11:30 a.m. The Louisa County Fairgrounds Youth Center will host those sessions. Instructor Paul Martin will lead the training, and Louisa County ISU Extension County Director Adair Lents is coordinating registration at 319-523-2371.

Annie’s Project offers 18 hours of instruction and discussion. Women across the Midwest continue to turn to this program because it focuses squarely on the decisions and challenges they handle every day. The curriculum covers financial, human resources, legal, marketing, and production management.

Each area anchors a major category of risk that influences a farm’s long-term success. Iowa State Extension describes the program as a place where women learn “with and from other women” in a comfortable, supportive setting, something participants often say they value as much as the content.

Farm families in southeast Iowa continue to navigate tight margins, changing markets, land costs, and generational planning. With many also want stronger systems for record-keeping and financial communication, winter offers a practical window for that work.

Annie’s Project fits well into that planning season, giving participants a structured space to review the numbers, ask questions, and map out goals before spring activity ramps up again.

The course builds skills through straightforward examples and conversation. Martin guides participants through planning tools and discussions tied to the five major risk areas — financial, human resources, legal, marketing, and production. The program uses open conversation and practical examples, giving participants room to ask questions and compare approaches that fit their own operations.

Many past attendees say they leave with more confidence — not just in the books, but in the conversations that shape decisions on the farm, according to ISU Extension.

Registration costs $100, which includes materials. This session will welcome 25 women. Spots tend to fill quickly, so Lents encourages early sign-up at 319-523-2371.

For women who want more clarity in the business side of farming or a stronger voice in decision-making, Annie’s Project offers a solid launch point for the 2026 season that is close to home and built for the way southeast Iowa farms operate.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com