Risk management and planning focus of program
Contact: Dr. Jason Johnson, 254-968-4144, jljohnson@tamu.edu
Marian Ross, 817-884-1294, m-ross@tamu.edu
Laura Miller, 817-884-1296, lmmiller@ag.tamu.edu
FORT WORTH – New U.S. census data indicates that more women in Texas are managing farms today than since 2007, and a series of workshops is scheduled in Fort Worth to help cater to this trend, according to an expert.
Annie’s Project is an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in the modern farm enterprise, said Dr. Jason Johnson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist, Stephenville. The series will be offered in six sessions, from 6-9 p.m. each Tuesday beginning April 9 through May 14, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden – Garden Center, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.
Designed to help educate on the fundamentals of maintaining a farm, Annie’s Project, a women’s workshop series, empowers farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and organizing critical information, Johnson said.
“Often farm women do not feel comfortable in the coffee shop network that is so familiar to farm and ranch men,” Johnson said. “Annie’s project provides a place where farm women can learn both from the perspectives of local agricultural professionals as well as the experiences of other class members.”
Cost is $50 per person, and class size is limited to 30, he said. Registration slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The conference is sponsored by AgriLife Extension, with program support provided by Farm Credit Bank of Texas.
Interested participants with questions about the program can request a brochure and registration form by contacting Johnson at 254-968-4144 or the AgriLife Extension office for Tarrant County in Fort Worth at 817-884-1941. The registration form is available at http://bit.ly/1JmMUG9 .
Scheduled speakers include a broad spectrum of local professionals, practitioners and experts fromTexas Farm Bureau insurance, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency, U. S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, crop insurance, farm credit, as well as an agricultural attorney, family financial management specialist and a registered investment advisor.
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, there has been a 10 percent increase in the number of farms principally operated by women since 2007. Women now manage 15 percent of the nation’s farms and about 38,500 farms in Texas. Gaining confidence to understand the complex agricultural business surrounded by the support of other farm women is the foundation of Annie’s Project, Johnson said.
“The program is based on the experiences of farm women who spend their lifetime learning how to be an involved business manager or partner with their farm husbands and other family members,” Johnson said. “The reality is that over 90 percent of farm women usually end up managing their personal and farm business finances at some point in their lives as a result of death, divorce or disability.”
Participants will receive training in critical decision-making and information areas addressing risk management in the areas of production, marketing, financial, legal and human resources, as well as estate planning.
Additional information about the program and how other farm women nationally have benefitted is available at: www.extension.iastate.edu/annie .
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