A six-week program called Annie’s Project will get under way the week of Jan. 22 at 23 locations across North Dakota.

Introduced in North Dakota two years ago, Annie’s Project has received very high reviews from the approximately 400 women who have participated in the program. Because of this success, the program is expanding for the third consecutive year.

According to Willie Huot, Annie’s Project state coordinator and North Dakota State University Extension Service agent, the program will be delivered to all sites through the Interactive Video Network and local presenters.

The objective of the curriculum is to empower farm women to be better business partners in their farm or ranch operations. This project gives them the skills and confidence to become more actively involved in the decision-making process.

“’I wish I would have taken this course years ago’ is the most frequent comment made by participants at the end of the project,” Huot says.

The six-session program offers comprehensive information on key farm management topics:

• How bankers make loan decisions
• Tracking expenses and income for business and families
• Mastering spreadsheets
• Land rental agreements
• Retirement, farm transfer and estate planning
• Grain and livestock marketing
• Insurance needs, including crop insurance
• Personnel management
• Business plans - why and how to develop them

More information about Annie’s Project, as well as registration details, are available at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/anniesproject or by contacting Huot at (701) 780-8229 or e-mail at willie.huot@ndsu.edu. Site facilitators listed on the Web site also can be contacted.

The cost is $100 for the course. Seating is limited at all sites. Those interested in the program are urged to register early.

Annie’s Project in North Dakota is sponsored by the NDSU Extension Service, Farm Credit Services and North Dakota Grain Growers Association. In addition, there are many local sponsors at each location.

NDSU Agriculture Communication