Getting a grip on today’s agriculture technology and becoming an effective farm business partner is the focus of Annie’s Project.

Annie’s Project is based on the experiences of a farm wife who spent her lifetime learning how to be an involved business partner with her farm husband. Together they did great things, but it wasn’t easy.

A second Annie’s Project class will held in Jonesboro, Ark., Feb. 13, 20 and March 6.

“This class will be very different than the first,” said Project Director Carrie Hirmer said. “Over the last two years, we have learned a lot about what women really want in regards to educational programs, and this course will be a reflection of that.

“We will be offering more hands-on activities, such as adapting Quicken software to farm and ranch records. Participants will have the opportunity to sit in front of a computer and practice what they are being taught, and they’ll receive a copy of Quicken software to keep.”

Other new topics include online investor education and grants for producers. There will also be traditional Annie’s Project sessions on marketing, business plans, managing input costs, risk management strategy, insurance, and legal issues.

The program will be offered in three Saturday sessions, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, and March 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program is conducted by Arkansas Women in Agriculture in partnership with the University Of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture, and is funded by a grant from the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.

The cost to attend is $30. Class size is limited, and the advance registration deadline is Feb. 6, 2010. It will be held at the ASU College of Agriculture, Jonesboro.

For a registration form and more information on Annie’s Project and/or ARWIA, go to the ARWIA Web site at www.arkansaswomeninag.com or contact Carrie Hirmer via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (870) 653-6258.