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.

sdill@umd.edu 2Extension Educator, AGNR, University of Maryland Extension,

Queen Anne’s County, 505 Railroad Avenue Suite 4, Centreville,

MD, 21617. jrhodes@umd.edu