ANNIE’S PROJECT

By: Shannon Dill, University of Maryland Extension Jenny Rhodes, University of Maryland Extension

Interacting with Annie’s Participants

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Objective

Annie’s project is designed to empower farmwomen to manage information systems used in critical decision making processes and to build local networks throughout the state. The target audience is farmwomen with a passion for business and involvement in the farm operation.

Focus on the five areas of risk management – Production, Market, Financial, Legal and Human Resources Used similar formats from the Mid-West with some topic changes – QuickBooks, Small Farms, New Farms

Annie’s Project

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2008 - 19 participants, 1 site 2009 - 24 participants, 1 site

Annie’s Project

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2010 – 146 participants, 9 sites

_____

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

, Annapolis, MD _____

Carroll Community College

, Westminster, MD _____

Cecil County Economic Development Office

, Elkton, MD _____

Chesapeake College

, Wye Mills, MD _____

Garrett College

, McHenry, MD _____

New Castle County Extension Office

, Newark, DE _____

Southern Maryland Higher Education Center

, California, MD _____

Sussex County Extension Office UD Carvel Research & Education Center

, Georgetown DE _____

Washington County Extension Office

, Boonsboro, MD

Collaborators are Key

- Have had many collaborators in the past 3 years 2010 site facilitators and project team    

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

 Lisa Barge, Economic Development Specialist

Carroll Community College

  Ginger Myers, UME Marketing Specialist Beth Woodring, Carroll County Small Business Development

Cecil County Economic Development Office

,  JoAnn Richart-Young, Cecil County Economic Development  Ilene Milburn, Farmer and Past Participant of Annie's

Chesapeake College

  Jenny Rhodes, Extension Educator Shannon Dill, Extension Educator     

Garrett College

 Willie Lantz, Extension Educator  Cheryl DeBerry, Garrett County Ag Marketing Specialist

New Castle County Extension Office

 Maria Pippidis, Extension Agent, FCS  Anna Stoops, Extension Agent

Southern Maryland Higher Education Center

 Ben Beale, Extension Educator  Christine Bergmark, Southern MD Tri County Council

Sussex County Extension Office UD Carvel Research & Education Center



Tracey Wootten, Extension Agent Washington County Extension Office

  Lynn Little, Extension Educator, FCS Leslie Hendrickson, Washington County Ag Marketing Specialist

Annies Project Funding

   Participant Cost - $50.00

Grant Funding from   USDA – NorthEast Center for Risk Management Education USDA – Risk Management Agency   Rural MD Council -The Maryland Agricultural Education & Rural Development Assistance Fund USDA, Farm Service Agency In-kind support from  Local sites and facilities   Local agencies and businesses that support the agriculture industry University of Maryland Extension

Technology

    Internet  Annie’s Website www.anniesproject.umd.edu

Email  Project team  Participants (snow dates, facility information) Adobe Connect  Sites have a choice to “tune in” or have their own local session Team Wiki  Project team can access for materials and handouts

Marketing

 Word of mouth  Local papers and media outlets  Marketing at other Extension Events

Annie’s Project

 Generating interest in other women in agriculture programs   Regional Women in Ag Conference Annie’s Project Bus Tour visited 2 participant farms - a vineyard and orchard.

Curriculum

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Production Risk

– Crop Insurance, enterprise diversification, natural disasters, new technology

Financial Risk

– Financing, business plans, credit, business organization

Marketing Risk

– Direct/Grain marketing, marketing plans, tools, contracts, value added

Legal Risk

– Estate management, liability insurance, contracts and agreements

Human Resources Risk

– Personnel management, health, family issues, safety

Class Outline

 8 Sessions  6 classroom and 2 in the computer lab

Session One

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Registration/Introductions Class Survey

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Women in Farm Business: A Personal Experience

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Colors Personality Test Session Two

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Crop Insurance Understanding your Farm Insurance Policy 2008 Farm Bill Update Session Three

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How Property is Titled: Who Else is in business with you?

Business Planning

Class Outline

Session Four

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Computer Basics and Minimizing Technology-Related Risk

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Intro to computers and Excel basics Session Five

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Computers and Your Farm Business

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Excel and QuickBooks Session Six

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Straight Talk about Farm Transfer Estate Planning Session Seven

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Developing Grain Marketing Plans Session Eight

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Annie’s Graduation Class’s Chosen Topics Course Wrap-Up

Impacts

Percentage

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Change Insurance Policy Change Lease/Property Title Write Farm Business Plan Use Computers & Sofware Complete Farm Financial Stmts Create/Update Estate Plan

Comments

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“Overall I learned so much I feel empowered to run a farm business” “All of it was good. There wasn’t a day I didn’t learn something” “Meeting other farm women and learning together from Annie’s Project but most of all realizing that we were privileged to be part of the concept that finally farm women have been empowered.”

Follow-up Evaluations after 1 to 2 years

Taken steps to create or update your estate plan Completed farm financial statements Checked your credit report Used computers and software to improve farm efficiency Started or completed a written farm business or marketing plan Changed lease or property titles Purchased or changed your insurance policy Increased communication and positive family relations 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 NO YES

Follow-up Evaluations after 1 to 2 years

NO YES 0

Is your farm more profitable

20 40

If so, how much?

60 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% $1-1999 $2000-2999 $3000-3999 $4000-4999 $5000-above

Comments

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“We have had family meetings, formed a family limited partnership, and we are now aware of other things we can do to improve our farming efficiency” “We have met with a lawyer to work on an estate plan” “Launched a new agri-business entity since participating in Annie’s” “This is a very good program. It was a great way to learn and enjoy a friendly atmosphere to ask questions about farming and the speakers presentations.”

Future Annie’s Projects

  Possible Annie’s Class Reunions Annie’s Tours of Participants Farms   Targeted Workshop trainings and follow up Annie’s 2011  Apply for a additional grant funding to continue offering Annie’s Project in the Region

Thank you

Questions: Jenny Rhodes, [email protected]

Shannon Dill, [email protected]