1. Home
2. Conferences
3. 2011 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference

Risk Management Education Across Boundries

Bob Wells

Summary

Successfully managing risk in today’s complex and dynamic agricultural world challenges producers to fully develop their critical decision making skills. Extension educators are still the front line source for risk management education. There is a documented need for targeted risk management education, but it is often considered a public good and offered either free of charge or at highly subsidized rates. Most risk management programs are characterized by a lack of exclusivity and rivalry. That open nature is the dominant characteristic of local programming with the potential to become a successful regional or national program.

Annie’s Project is a successful risk management program first developed and delivered as a county program in 2003. By 2010, Annie’s Project had expanded into more than 22 states and empowered more than 7,000 farm business partners. As part of our work with Annie’s Project we have researched related risk management programs delivered at the local, state or regional level. Many of the programs, after a limited exposure, are relegated to gathering dust on someone’s shelf. Others have been adapted and grow into widely accepted risk management programs. What is the difference between these two types of programs? How many other exceptionally good risk management programs have the potential to cross local boundaries and serve regional or national audiences? Does your program have what it takes? In this session, Annie’s Project leaders gather their experiences and retrospective analysis to share their top ten lists of criteria that define programs with national appeal.

Details

---