Photo by kconnors via morgueFile.com
A new program has been developed to assist farm women who are just starting or are direct-marketing their farm products.
The program, called Annie’s Project, is modeled after a widely successful program that started in Illinois and has spread to over 20 states. While the original Annie’s Project focused on traditional farm commodity enterprises, this new program will focus on the risk management educational needs for beginning farm women and/or farm women who are considering a direct marketing or value-added enterprise for their operation.
This six week workshop will help participants:
- Evaluate goals, skills and resources to determine farm business feasibility.
- Learn how to gather market research.
- Prepare to write a business plan.
- Gather information on tax issues and business structures for the farm business.
- Learn about core financial statements and how to use them to make sustainable decisions.
- Learn about state and federal regulations and industry practices for direct marketing farm products and safe food handling.
- Become familiar with valuable resource agencies, organizations, and personnel as they continue writing and implementing their business plans.
The program will be held on six Wednesdays, starting in November through December. The dates are Nov. 3, 10, 17 and Dec. 1, 8 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The classes will meet at the Walworth County Extension Office in the Walworth County Courthouse, 100 Walworth St., Elkhorn, WI. One of the goals of Annie’s Project is to provide networking opportunities for farm women in similar situations or developing similar enterprises.
Costs are $30 per participant for the entire six week course. This fee covers materials, speakers, and lunch for the six sessions. For more information, or to register for the class, contact Rose Skora with Kenosha/Racine Counties UW-Extension at 857-1945 or rose.skora@ces.uwex.edu. A brochure can found at http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/kenosha/ag/index.html
Annie’s Project is partially funded by the North Center Region Risk Management Education Center, the UW Center for Dairy Profitability, UW Agricultural Innovation Center and UW Cooperative Extension and the USDA Farm Service Agency.
