Success StoryAnnie's Project: Empowering Farm Women
Annie's Project: Empowering Farm Women
Author: Joanna Coles
Planning Unit: Warren County CES
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Plan of Work: Ag Awareness, Marketing & Leadership 2025
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Women in agriculture play a vital role in farm operations, yet they often face unique challenges. The Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agents in Logan and Warren County and the Horticulture Extension Agent in Warren County partnered to design, coordinate, and implement the 2025 Logan/Warren County Annie’s Project. This program served as a beacon of empowerment for women in agriculture, aiming to enhance their understanding of financial, human, legal, production, and marketing risks. The program's educational objectives included strengthening decision-making skills, improving legal and compliance awareness, and advancing marketing and business skills.
The six-week program provided a comprehensive learning experience, covering topics such as personality types and communication, farm succession planning, crop insurance, financial management, and business planning. Through a combination of workshops, hands-on activities, group discussions, and guest speakers, participants engaged in an interactive learning environment designed to strengthen their farm-business management confidence and skills.
The impacts of Annie’s Project extended beyond personal knowledge growth and directly benefited the participants’ families and farm operations. As a result of the program, 89% of the ladies expressed feeling more comfortable about discussing farm succession with their families; 100% learned something new about the legal processes, including probate, trusts, and liability issues crucial for protecting farm assets; 75% learned new cattle marketing strategies; 100% gained new crop insurance knowledge; 95% have a better understanding of farm taxes and how the different types of taxes apply to their operations; 100% feel more confident in farm first aid; 4 indicated they created additional first aid kits to fit their farm operations – ensuring the safety of their families and workers. Additionally, six ladies completed their personal goals they set at the beginning of the program, where 100% of the participants made progress towards their goals.
The program also significantly increased participants' overall farm management knowledge, communication skills, and community engagement. As a result of the skills learned during Annie’s Project, 100% of the ladies expressed growth in their confidence in the farm decision-making process and felt better equipped to participate in farm decisions. Nineteen women from Logan and Warren Counties, representing 56,738 acres, participated in the program and collectively valued it at $43,500, emphasizing its considerable benefits and reaffirming its success.
Stories by Joanna Coles
Annie's Project: Empowering Farm Women
Women in agriculture play a vital role in farm operations, yet they often face unique challenges. Th... Read More
Empowering Refugees through Nutrition Education
Since 1981 the International Centerof Bowling Green, KYhas helped resettle over10,000 refugeesand im... Read More
Stories by Warren County CES
Annie's Project: Empowering Farm Women
Women in agriculture play a vital role in farm operations, yet they often face unique challenges. Th... Read More
4-H Summit
4-H Summit is a transformative event for middle school youth, and this years Summit was a success. W... Read More
Stories by Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Bull Breeding Soundness Exams Proves More Successful in Year 2
After successful BSE Clinics last year, area Ag agents applied for and received funding to host two ... Read More

Leaving Your Legacy
Regardless of your net worth, estate planning will protect and help ensure that your personal and fi... Read More
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment