Women have always played a large role in agriculture.  They drive tractors and combines, haul grain, cook supper, and take care of their families.  In recent years, women are becoming more involved in the business operations of the farm. 

Farm women have diverse backgrounds, some which prepare women well for the responsibilities of running a farm business. Other farm women come into farming operations by way of marrying men who happen to be farmers, or by means of their spouse or family members dying and leaving them in charge. Being married to a farmer or being a woman in a male dominated business has its challenges.

Some women have learned to handle this responsibility very well and are valuable mentors to women who have not had it so easy.
Annie’s Project is an educational program that was created specifically for farm women.  Topics include:  risk management, record keeping software, ownership of property, insurance, financial statements, spreadsheets, writing a business plan, estate planning, leases, communication issues, personality traits, and marketing. The course will be taught by University of Missouri Extension personnel and will also include guest speakers. 

Annie’s Project provides farm women with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make informed risk management decisions regarding their farm business operations.  This will enable farm women to become better managers, and in turn, increase the viability of their farming operation.  It also gives farm women an opportunity to network and interact with other women involved in agriculture. Farm women find answers, strength, and friendship, in Annie’s Project.
University of Missouri Extension is offering Annie’s Project beginning Nov. 2. The course is targeted towards farm women, women landowners and new farmers.  The course includes six evening classes (Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and Dec. 7).  The location for this course is the Mark Twain High School in Center.
The fee for the course is $50.  The class is being partially funded by grants through the North Central Risk Management Educational Center and USDA RMA.  With the software, resources and materials that each participant receives, the value of the class exceeds $300 per person. Limited scholarships for the course are available. For more information or a brochure contact Karisha Devlin at the Knox County Extension Center at 660-397-2179. University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity/ADA institution.