The number of women involved in farming in Arkansas is on the rise, as is the need to provide those women with educational programs. The successful risk management education workshops for farm women entitled “Annie's Project” have been scheduled for January and February in central Arkansas.

The program, led by Arkansas Women in Agriculture, Inc., in collaboration with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, is for farm and ranch women with a passion for business involvement.

The mission of Annie's Project is to empower farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and organizing critical information.

Professionals from ARWIA and the UA Cooperative Extension Service and local businessmen and businesswomen will discuss business plans, women and money, cash/crop share leases, marketing, insurance, estate planning, record-keeping, Internet resources and tools and more.

The program will be conducted over three Saturdays — Jan. 12, Jan. 26 and Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be held on the campus of Arkansas State University-Beebe.

There is a minimal fee to attend the workshops. Participants will be receive software and other materials to use as resources upon completion of the course.

Space is limited to 25 participants.

Funding for the program was made possible by a grant from the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center and by local sponsors.

Arkansas Women in Agriculture is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to provide educational programming and a network of support for women involved in agriculture in the state. For more information on Annie's Project and/or ARWIA, visit the ARWIA Web site at www.arkansaswomeninag.com or contact Carrie Hirmer, project director, at carriehirmer@yahoo.com or (870) 653-6258.