It is the policy of the University of Maryland Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, or disability.
Annie’s project is a national program 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.
The focus is on the five areas of risk management –
Production, Market, Financial, Legal and Human Resources.
In 2010, through a Northeast Center of Risk Management
grant Annie’s Project expanded to 9 sites in Maryland and
Delaware reaching 144 farm women and participating in 24
hours of class time. A follow-up survey was conducted 18
months after the class in order to determine impacts and
outcomes. The survey was anonymous and had a
44% response rate. Participants were asked to complete ten
questions regarding actions they have taken or implemented
since they attended Annie’s Project. Responses included
50% of the women checking their credit, 66% increasing use
of computers, 45% preparing financial statements and 57%
writing an estate plan. Overall, 48% of the participants report
increasing farm profitability in the range of $2,278 to $3,832.
In 2010, through a Northeast
Center of Risk Management
grant Annie’s Project
expanded to 9 sites in
Maryland and Delaware
reaching 144 farm women and
participating in 24 hours of
class time
There are eight specific actions that participants are encouraged to
take to manage information for critical decision making that will
enhance farm operations. End of class and follow up evaluations
were conducted for all 2010 participants. Results are summarized in
the following charts regarding actions taken.
Overall, the follow-up evaluations point to the fact that the
program is successful in that women leave the program with the
skills and knowledge to take action. Quotes from the survey
support this statement:
“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.”
48%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Yes
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. The
Average Annie’s Project Participant
increases their farm profitability by:
Low Mid High
AVERAGE
$2,278.11
$3,222.22
$3,832.56
Annie’s Project
Participants: 2010
Average Age 49
Acres Owned 17,314
Acres Farmed 42,017
Years Farming 1,657
Average Years
Farming 17.6
N = 99
Ben Beale, Christine Bergmark, Lisa Barge, Cheryl DeBerry,
Leslie Hart, Willie Lantz, Lynn Little, Ginger Myers, Maria
Pippidis, JoAnn Richart-Young, Anna Stoops, Tracy Wootten,
Nan Stenzel, Brad Paleg, Shelia Shorter, Pam Chollet
Shannon P. Dill*1 and Jennifer L. Rhodes2 1Extension Educator, AGNR, University of Maryland Extension,
Talbot County, 28577 Marys Court Suite 1, Easton, MD, 21601.
[email protected] 2Extension Educator, AGNR, University of Maryland Extension,
Queen Anne’s County, 505 Railroad Avenue Suite 4, Centreville,
MD, 21617. [email protected]
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