Since 2009, five Annie's Project classes in East Central and Southeast Missouri reached 57 farm women from diverse agricultural backgrounds, including row crops, cattle, equine, poultry, and more. To effectively teach participants with different farm types and needs, facilitators utilized methods like split sessions, individual attention, and tailoring some topics. Overall, 61% of participants reported implementing behaviors like updating property titles, and participants rated the program highly at 4.75 out of 5 for satisfaction and value of topics covered.

1. Reaching Diverse Annie’s Project Audiences in
East Central and Southeast Missouri
Hambleton-Heins, L.1
1. Hambleton-Heins, Lynn, Regional Agriculture Business Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Potosi, Missouri 63664, Washington County, HambletonL@missouri.edu
Abstract
Since 2009, five Annie’s Project—Education for Farm Women classes (57 participants) have been taught in East Central and Southeast Missouri. Missouri is known for its
diverse agricultural commodities. In the region of interest, the lay of the land largely influences agricultural production. Shallow topsoil is the basis for the large number of
livestock and forage operations near the Ozark Mountains, while fertile farm ground near the Mississippi River is abundant with row crops. Annie’s Project participants in
East Central and Southeast Missouri are equally as diverse as the terrain, and they represent approximately 12 farm types. Many Annie’s Project facilitators have been
faced with the challenge of reaching these diverse audiences while maintaining the goals of the program. On the other hand, the diversity of the participants is a great
strength of Annie’s Project because farm women love to draw from others’ experiences. Many methods were introduced to effectively teach participants, such as split
sessions or one-on-one contact. Overall, 61% of the participants reported implementing or changing a behavior, such as checking or changing how property is titled, or
adding POD/TOD on titles and accounts. Participants rated the value of the topics covered in Annie’s Project at 4.33 on a scale of 1 to 5, indicating satisfaction with the
material received. Overall, participants rated the program 4.75.
Program Organization Teaching Methods
Level I Annie’s Project—Education for Farm Women Programs Participants complete a demographic intake form during the first
are typically 18 hours in length, held over a period of six weeks. session, giving facilitators insight about the educational needs of the
Participants receive education and materials on the five areas of audience. Many of the risk area topics covered in class are
agricultural risk as defined by the USDA: Production, marketing, universal, applying to all participants, however; some topics may
financial, legal and human resource. A typical class format may need to be adjusted depending on the audience. For instance, a
include guest speaker lectures, class activities, discussion time class comprised of row crop-only farm women will not require a
and peer mentoring. Cape Girardeau County, MO Graduating piece on livestock risk protection. Split sessions may be offered if
Annie’s Project Class – Spring 2011
resources are available, but this can be problematic if participants
Program Audience wish to hear both sessions. Individualized attention may be given to
Since it’s inception in 2003, over 7,000 farm women from 25 participants with unique educational needs, such as a shitake
states have participated in Annie’s Project. How can mushroom venture or petting zoo business.
facilitators maintain the goals of the program while
effectively reaching participants from such diverse farm Program Impacts
types? One of the great strengths of the Annie’s Project • 100% of participants completed personality profiles to enhance
program is it’s ability to adapt to the educational needs of a communication with various personalities
diverse agricultural nation. The region of interest for this • 100% of participants completed a fabricated balance sheet and
poster is Southeast and East Central Missouri. Five Level I calculated financial performance ratios
Annie’s Project—Education for Farm Women Programs • 100% of participants wrote a mission statement for their business
have been held in East Central and Southeast Missouri plan, and many women began writing a business plan
since 2009, reaching 57 farm women from very different
farm backgrounds. The chart below summarizes the • 60% completed a set of written goals for their business
percentage of participants by farm type. • 67% located various documents such as insurance policies,
Warren County mother and daughter
prepare a balance sheet during a 2012
POD’s, and beneficiaries
Annie’s Project Program
“Knowledge of the information you provided eased
Participants by Farm Production Type my mind about passing our beef business to the next
Agritourism
generation. I can do it.”
-Ste. Genevieve County participant 2011
Equine
Poultry
“I have been taking ideas from Annie's Project
Goats/Sheep
home and bringing up topics about how to do a
Horticulutre better job with records, cost, and marketing.
Hay/Pasture [Annie’s Project] has given me a drive to
Row Crop
succeed.”
-Cape Girardeau County participant 2010
Cattle
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%