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Oklahoma farm women can learn from ‘Annie’
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma farm women with an interest in business and agricultural networking can now take advantage of special classes devoted to helping them manage information used in making critical decisions.
The classes are part of a program called “Annie’s Project,” named in honor of a woman who spent a lifetime helping to manage a family farm, constantly learning new skills to deal with both opportunities and adverse times.
“Annie’s Project is designed to empower farm women involved in an agri-business they married into, inherited, have been a part of their whole life or wish to start on their own,” said Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension farm management specialist.
Annie’s Project in Oklahoma is made possible by a grant from the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center and sponsorship from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, part of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
“Given the benefits and relevance of the program, other in-state sponsors will eventually be lending their support as well,” said Bill Burton, OSU Cooperative Extension area agricultural economist. “I’ve been in conversation with several organizations.”
Participants will receive practical training in such diverse areas as financial records, production records, marketing plans, risk management, legal and regulatory records and documentation, business communication, human resources and time management.
The program will be offered in six sessions, each lasting three hours. Cost is $50 per person and class size is limited. Pre-registration is required.
“Annie’s Project will be offered in seven locations during the coming year,” Doye said. “Information about specific class sites and times will be made available to participants as it becomes available.”
Classes will take place Oct. 25 – Dec. 13 in Guthrie. To register, contact the Logan County Extension Office at 405-282-3331.
Sessions will take place Nov. 6 – Dec. 11 in Kingfisher. To register, contact the Kingfisher County Extension Office at 405-375-3822.
Annie’s Project will kick off 2008 in Tulsa with sessions scheduled for Jan. 8 – Feb. 19. To register, contact the Tulsa County Extension Office at 918-746-3705 or the Wagoner County Extension Office at 918-486-4589.
Classes will take place Jan. 24 – Feb. 11 in Bartlesville. To register, contact the Nowata County Extension Office at 918-273-3345, the Osage County Extension Office at 918-287-4170 or the Washington County Extension Office at 918-534-2216.
Sessions will take place Jan. 15 – Feb. 19 in Walters. To register, contact the Cotton County Extension Office at 580-875-3136.
“Two additional sets of six sessions are scheduled to take place beginning in January, but the host city sites have not yet been assigned,” Burton said. “One is set for the west-central part of Oklahoma and the other will be in the southeastern part of the state.”
Registration for the west-central classes will be handled through the Blaine County Extension Office (580-623-5195) and the Major County Extension Office (580-227-3786).
Contact and registration information for the eastern classes will be through the LeFlore County Extension Office (918-647-8231) and the Pushmataha County Extension Office (580-298-5563).
Annie’s Project began in 2003, with the first class taking place at Kaskaskia College in Illinois. The program has since expanded into Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kansas and, now, Oklahoma.
The project was started by Ruth Fleck Hambleton, the daughter of “Annie,” full name Annette Kohlhagen Fleck, who was married to a farmer for 50 years. Annie passed away in 1997, a successful business woman who survived lean times by doing things her way, but always learning from and adapting to life’s challenges.
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REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Donald Stotts
News and Media Relations Manager
Agricultural Communications Services
143 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State
University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-4079
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: donald.stotts@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating. Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.
