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ANNIE'S PROJECT NEW JERSEY: A TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED APPROACH

Extension Education

Jenny Carleo
Agricultural Agent
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
Cape May Court House

Abstract

\r\n Female owners account for 21% of New Jersey farmers. (New Jersey has 2,261 women farmers who define themselves as the principal operators on their farms.)  Anecdotal evidence suggests that women are often in charge of the books and marketing, either as the sole owner, or in partnership with their husband or other family members. Thus, a series of targeted workshops were conducted to give them information, ideas and tools related to farm business management, marketing and financial planning. In 2010 grants were secured from The Risk Management Agency and the Northeast Center for Risk Management. Further resources were secured from local agricultural boards and service agencies. A series of listening sessions were conducted in which potential participants were encouraged to share their educational needs on farm risk management. This information was then used to generate a new curriculum for Annie's Project in New Jersey. The curriculum included educational resources from Rutgers Cooperative Extension and other useful Extension publications. Guest lecturers from industry were selected to present on five areas of farm risk management- production risk, financial risk, human/personal risk, legal risk and marketing risk. One of the sessions was held in a computer lab where the women were educated on website marketing, Facebook, Twitter, and social media skills. Participants communicated via various social media tools including a Facebook page “Annie’s Project NJ”. Thirty-nine women participated in the program and were given the tools to develop an in-depth marketing and business plan for their farms.

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Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: J. Carleo, S.J. Skomar, R. Brumfield, R. Mickel, B. O'Neill
  1. Carleo, J. Agricultural Agent, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, New Jersey, 08210
  2. Skomar, S. Agricultural Agent, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Sussex County, New Jersey, 07860
  3. Brumfield, R. Extension Specialist in Farm Business Management, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, New Jersey, 08901
  4. Mickel, R. Agricultural Agent, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, 08822
  5. O'Neill, B. Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, New Jersey, 08901