ANNIE’S PROJECT
By:
Shannon Dill, University of Maryland Extension
Jenny Rhodes, University of Maryland Extension
Interacting with
Annie’s
Participants
Objective
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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
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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
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Anne Arundel Economic Development
Corporation
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Ginger Myers, UME Marketing Specialist
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Beth Woodring, Carroll County Small Business Development
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Chesapeake College
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Jenny Rhodes, Extension Educator
Shannon Dill, Extension Educator
Ben Beale, Extension Educator
Christine Bergmark, Southern MD Tri County Council
Sussex County Extension Office UD Carvel
Research & Education Center
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Maria Pippidis, Extension Agent, FCS
Anna Stoops, Extension Agent
Southern Maryland Higher Education Center
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Willie Lantz, Extension Educator
Cheryl DeBerry, Garrett County Ag Marketing Specialist
New Castle County Extension Office
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Cecil County Economic Development Office,
JoAnn Richart-Young, Cecil County Economic Development
Ilene Milburn, Farmer and Past Participant of Annie's
Garrett College
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Lisa Barge, Economic Development Specialist
Carroll Community College
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Tracey Wootten, Extension Agent
Washington County Extension Office
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Lynn Little, Extension Educator, FCS
Leslie Hendrickson, Washington County Ag Marketing
Specialist
Annies Project Funding
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Participant Cost - $50.00
Grant Funding from
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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
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Local sites and facilities
Local agencies and businesses that support the agriculture
industry
University of Maryland Extension
Technology
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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
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Annie’s Project
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Generating interest in other women in
agriculture programs
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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
Women in Farm Business: A Personal Experience
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
Change
Insurance Policy Lease/Property
Title
Write Farm
Business Plan
Use Computers Complete Farm
& Sofware
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
NO
Started or completed a written farm business or
marketing plan
YES
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
Follow-up Evaluations after 1 to 2 years
If so, how much?
Is your farm more
profitable
50%
45%
40%
35%
NO
30%
25%
20%
YES
15%
10%
5%
0
20
40
60
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
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Possible Annie’s Class Reunions
Annie’s Tours of Participants Farms
Targeted Workshop trainings and follow up
Annie’s 2011
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Apply for a additional grant funding to continue
offering Annie’s Project in the Region
Thank you
Questions:
Jenny Rhodes, jrhodes@umd.edu
Shannon Dill, sdill@umd.edu