Annie’s Project Workshops Are Back for 2011!

Annie’s Project, a risk management program for women in agriculture, will again be offered throughout Ohio in the winter of 2011. Annie’s Project workshops are currently held in 22 states, and more than 7,000 participants have completed the program. Annie’s Project was introduced to Ohio in January 2007, with 282 women completing the program since then.

Annie’s Project is a multi-part course designed to strengthen women’s role in modern farm enterprises. The project’s namesake was a woman who grew up in a small rural community and spent her adult life learning how to be an involved, successful business partner with her husband. Annie’s daughter, Ruth Hambleton, became an Extension educator in Illinois and developed the program in 2000 in honor of her mother’s life experience. The program is for women who live and work in a complex, dynamic farm business environment, and it focuses on five broad aspects of risk typical in the agricultural setting: human, financial, marketing, production and legal.

Fourteen Annie’s Project workshops have been held in Ohio with seven more planned for this winter. These workshops have found wide support from women throughout the state, Ag Lenders, Agribusinesses, Ag Service providers and Ag Organizations. They have all provided information, class instructors and sponsorship for the workshops.

Ohio workshops are scheduled for January through May. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Cost for the workshop is $65 per person. In most cases, workshops are sponsored by several county offices of OSU Extension; anyone residing in nearby areas may sign up for any of the workshops. To register or for more information, contact organizers listed below or Annie’s Project coordinators Julia Woodruff at woodruff.94@osu.edu or 419-627-7631 and Doris Herringshaw at herringshaw.1@osu.edu or 419-354-9050.

Workshops are planned for:

— Wood County (Erie Basin EERA). Mondays, 6-9 p.m. Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14, 28. Contact Doris Herringshaw at herringshaw.1@osu.edu or 419-354-9050.

— Wyandot County (Erie Basin EERA). Wednesdays 6-9 p.m., Jan. 5 – Feb. 9. Contact chris Bruynis at bruynis. 1@osu.edu or 419-294-4931.

— Morgan/Washington County (Buckeye Hills EERA). Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., March 31 – May 5. Contact Chris Penrose at penrose.1@osu.edu or 740-962-4854 or Eric Barrett at barrett.90@osu.edu or 740-376-7431.

— Montgomery County (Miami Valley EERA). Saturdays, 9-12 noon, Feb. 5 – Feb. 19. Contact Suzanne Mills-Wasniak at mills-wasniak.1@osu.edu or 937-224-9654.

— Fulton County (Maumee Valley EERA). Dates – TBA. Contact Cheryl Spires at spires.53@osu.edu or 419-337-9210.

— Fayette County (Miami Valley EERA). Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., Jan. 20 – Feb. 24. Contact John Yost at yost.77@osu.edu or 740-335-1150.

— Tuscarawas County (Crossroads EERA). Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m., Feb. 8 – March 15. Contact Chris Kendle at kendle.4@osu.edu or 330-339-2337.

There will also be a second workshop for women in agriculture focused on financial risk management. The Farm Finance for Women workshops are being conducted as part of a North Central Risk Management Education Center Grant. Look for future articles in the Ohio Ag Manager for more information on this workshop.

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