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Evolution of Annie’s Project: Celebrating 20 Years of Change and Growth

Karisha Devlin and Doris Mold

Summary

In 2003, Ruth Hambleton established Annie’s Project with a $2,000 grant from Deb Rood’s NC-RME Women in Agriculture program. Over the last 20 years, Annie’s Project has grown to 38 states and one US Territory. Annie’s Project uses a methodology that builds confidence, develops networks, and creates lifelong learners among women farmers, ranchers, and growers. In Annie’s Project programs, trained facilitators provide safe harbor, connection, discovery, and shared experiences utilizing locally vetted instructors and presenters who deliver unbiased research-based information to small, dynamic groups of women in agriculture. The introductory Annie’s Project course addresses topics from the five areas of risk as identified by USDA. The Managing for Today and Tomorrow course addresses developing business plans, retirement, succession, transition, and estate planning. Know Your Numbers - Know Your Options takes a deeper dive into financial literacy and helps participants develop a better understanding of their numbers and using those numbers to make better business decisions and manage risks. Inspired by Annie’s courses are connected to Annie’s Project programming and may be one time program offerings, a course focused on particular interests of an audience, conferences, or hands-on events. Looking to the future, Annie’s Project will be introducing new curriculums, rolling out a leadership program, and creating more opportunities for alumni engagement. By spreading the methodology of Annie’s Project throughout the United States and eventually the world we can improve the lives, businesses, and families of women in agriculture and the communities in which they live.

Details

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