Report
The MidAtlantic Women in Agriculture program engages, educates and
empowers women on common issues in risk management. Farming is a
unique business that has strong ties to family, values and land. These
strong ties lead to the need for outreach and education on risk
management topics such as financial planning, estate planning, marketing,
communication, computer programs, budgeting, insurance and much more.
As profit margins slim and expenses rise the importance of mitigating these risks has increased.
Women in agriculture programs will:
 increase knowledge
 implement risk management
 increase farm profitability
Educate
Results include writing an estate plan, compiling farm financial statements, creating a business
plan, checking credit reports, marketing products and understanding regulatory information. This
network reaches over 500 farmwomen in Maryland and Delaware as well as surrounding states.
MidAtlantic Women in Agriculture deliver risk and farm management training to women in the
region through a variety of learning environments. These include:
1. Annie’s Project classes – An eight week course offered annually since 2008 has been
attended by 514 women held at 20 unique locations across Maryland, Delaware and
Virginia.
a. Managing for Today and Tomorrow – A six week course that began in 2013
attended by 29 women giving a more in-depth focus on financial and farm
transition planning held at three locations across Maryland and Delaware
2. Regional Women in Agriculture Conference Attended by approximately 175 participants annually
across five states featuring keynote presenters and
breakout sessions for participants to choose from.
3. Social Media and Outreach – Created to maintain
network and education. Social media outlets such as
Pinterest, Facebook and twitter.
Also utilize
quarterly newsletters, reunion meetings, farm tours
and monthly webinars.
Annie’s Project
Annie’s Project is a national farm management program for
women with approximately 24 hours of classroom time. It
provides tools and resources for women in agriculture to gain
more knowledge of farm operations and the business. It
empowers women with the knowledge to make educated
decisions for their family and their future. In 2008, Annie’s
Project began in Maryland at one site. In 2010, the project expanded to 10 sites in Maryland and
Delaware and in 2015 added a site in Virginia.
Annie’s Project Participants
Locations of Annie’s Project Classes
Average Age
Acres Owned
Acres Farmed
Years Farming
Average Years
Farming
45
51,187
118,958
4,575
17.8
N=317
Evaluation data has been collected since the beginning of Annie’s Project. This includes an end of class
evaluation and an 18 month web based, follow up evaluation. There are eight topic areas that
participants learn in class and are encouraged to implement following the class to improve farm
management. The following chart shows the percentages of respondents who intended to take action
and the 18 month follow up of those that implemented that action.
Annie's Project Evaluation Summary
End of Class (n=348)
18 Month Follow Up (n=141)
Increase communication and family relations
83%
Update/create estate plans
93%
61%
Prepare financial statements
92%
51%
Check credit reports
92%
65%
Use computers to increase farm efficiency
74%
Write business and marketing plans
54%
20%
Change insurance policy
73%
37%
0%
10%
20%
30%
98%
97%
42%
Review property titles and lease agreements
94%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90% 100%
Participants conclude the program with a high intent to write business and marketing plans, use
computers, check credit reports, prepare financial statement, update estate plans, and positively
increase community and family relations. Writing business and marketing plans was an action that
participants wanted to do (97%) and 42% actually followed through. Checking credit reports, updating
estate plans, and positively increasing family communications were the actions that the greatest
majority of participants engaged in.
Comments from Surveyed Participants
End of Class
“Women involved in agriculture in any way can
benefit from these topics, even if the involvement
is still in dream form. This provides the inspiration
and sparks initiative”
“Great opportunity for women to share ideas and
experiences, supportive atmosphere”
“Annie's will change our destiny both on the farm,
and my personal business”
“Re-confirms and re-empowers me as a business
partner in our operation.”
18 Month Follow Up
“Learned more about QuickBooks and now we do
our own quarterly statements instead of our CPA”
“I am keeping better records, improved grain
marketing and changed insurance policies”
“We have been able to sit down and begin
planning our farms’ future”
“I enjoyed the project. It did make us re-think our
trusts. It made us purchase an umbrella insurance
policy.”
A medium-term outcome of Annie’s project is to help ensure the economic
viability of farming operations. Data obtained from the participants indicate that
the program is successful in this regard. When asked if Annie’s Project has
increased their profitability 43% responded that yes it has. A range of dollar
increases were then available for selection. The average Annie's project
participant since 2008 has increased farm profitability between $2,165.31 and
$3,780.84 with the average participant increasing farm profitability by $3,123.96.
Increase in Farm
Profitability
43%
50%
0%
Annie’s Project: Managing for Today and Tomorrow (MTT)
Farm women are generating a cultural tide in American agriculture that is moving management, assets
and opportunities to a new wave of farms across the country. Managing for Today and Tomorrow
focuses on the management process and decisions needed to make successful transitions. It includes
18 hours of classroom time with hands-on activities, interaction with local professionals and up to date
resources. Participants of all ages and experience levels practice tasks to increase confidence in setting
goals, nurturing effective family conversations, and defining the farm legacy.
MTT has been completed by 29 women in Maryland and Delaware. Through pre and post assessments
participants were more confident with farm transition gaining 15% more knowledge and implementing
5% by the end of class. Comments from the end of session evaluations reinforce participants intentions.
“After taking the course, I am an "educated" farm woman - not just the farm runner and bookkeeper”
“Annie "Harvests" in the office too! Sweeping files to completion!”
“I enjoyed all of it. I have learned a lot from the other ladies”
Regional Women in Agriculture Conference
The goal of the Annual Women in Agriculture Conference
is to bring all women across cultures who are interested in
agriculture together for a regional conference. The
conference focuses on all five areas of risk management
and provides tools which will enable women in agriculture to make more informed decisions regarding
their agribusinesses and risk management. It is a collaboration with two other states, New Jersey and
Delaware, so as to maximize resources and reach a larger audience.
The conference has served as an institution where attendees participate, learn and improve
management skills for their business and families. Another important aspect of this conference is the
networking opportunity it provides for women to learn and share with other women a similar business
field. Past years’ conference evaluations have indicated that participants gain as much knowledge from
session speakers as they do from networking with other participants.
End of Conference Results
52% of participants have attended over 4 years of the conference
46% made changes in their agricultural business as a result of past conferences
98% rate the event as good or excellent
99% rate the educational value as good or excellent
94% rate the opportunity for discussion and networking as good or excellent
97% felt more prepared to make informed decisions on the farm
For more information:
www.extension.umd.edu/annies-project
www.extension.umd.edu/womeninag
QR Code: Women
In Agriculture
Website
Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/MidAtlanticWomenInAgriculture
Follow us on Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/womeninagma
Twitter: @MidAtlanticWIA
The University of Maryland
Extension programs are open to any
person and will not discriminate
against anyone because of race, age,
sex, color, sexual orientation,
physical or mental disability,
religion, ancestry, national origin,
marital status, genetic information,
political affiliation, and gender
identity or expression.
Document
Updated 05/06/2015