Annie's Project Improves Risk Management
Extension Education
Madeline Schultz
Women in Ag Program Manager
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Ames
Abstract
Annie’s Project is a national non-profit organization with a mission to empower women in agriculture to be successful through education, networks, and resources. One of the programs offered is an 18-hour Annie’s Project agricultural risk management course typically taught over six weeks. There are 1.2 million women producers in the United States, accounting for 36 percent of the country’s 3.4 million agricultural producers (NASS, 2017.) To support women producers, many extension professionals across the nation facilitate local Annie’s Project risk management courses. Educators in 14 states (AL, AR, CO, IA, IL, IN, MN, ND, NE, NH, OH, OK, SD, VA) participated in a standardized survey between 2016 and 2019 to assess the effectiveness of Annie’s Project risk management courses. One purpose of the evaluation was to examine changes in knowledge of agricultural risk management practices in the financial, legal, human resource, marketing, and production areas. Surveys contained knowledge constructs with several questions in each area of risk. Respondents rated their knowledge on a four-point Likert scale. Surveys were designed, collected, and analyzed by the Iowa State University Research Institute for Studies in Education (RISE). To protect respondent identity, participants were assigned ID codes anonymously for matching purposes only. Respondents completed pre-course surveys on week one and post-course surveys on week six. Surveys were offered on-line or as a printed version of the on-line survey. RISE staff entered paper survey data to ensure accuracy. Aggregated data yielded more than 900 matched pre-post responses. These were analyzed by risk area using a compared means analysis. A paired t-test was used to determine significant differences in knowledge from pre- to post- course surveys. The analysis showed statistically significant increases in the mean scores of knowledge in each construct between the pre and post surveys. The results show Annie’s Project risk management courses were effective in achieving the goal of improving women’s knowledge in all five areas of agricultural risk management: financial, human resource, legal, marketing and production. Extension has an important role in educating and empowering women producers. Empowered women in agriculture are change agents who strengthen their businesses, families, and communities.
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: Madeline Schultz, Lisa Scarbrough , Cori Hyde, Abbigail Markus
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Schultz, M. Women in Ag Program Manager, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach , Iowa, 50011-3611
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Scarbrough , L. Communications Specialist , Iowa State Univeristy Extension and Outreach , Iowa, 50011-3611
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Hyde, C. Research Scientist , Iowa State University, Iowa, 50011
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Markus , A. Student , Iowa State University, Iowa, 50011