Annie's Project

Annie’s Project is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational programs that strengthen the skills of farmers and ranchers in the modern farm enterprise. 

Offered as a series of classes, online or at in-person classes and retreats, Annie’s Project helps farmers and ranchers develop and enhance their own problem-solving, record-keeping, and decision-making skills.

The national program and curriculum are adapted for use with local farmers and ranchers by University of Minnesota Extension educators through trained facilitators. 

In this discussion-based course, participants learn about managing a farm from experts in the five areas of risk: production, financial management, human resources, marketing, and the legal field. There's plenty of time for questions, sharing, reacting, and connecting with presenters and fellow participants. It's a relaxed, fun, dynamic way to learn and meet other farmers and ranchers.

Participants will gain knowledge of business plans, financial documents, human resources issues, property titles, marketing plans, retirement and estate planning, cash and crop share leases, and types of insurance. In addition to these topics, participants will be connected with speakers from various agricultural agencies, organizations, businesses and fellow farmers. 

Whether new or experienced, understanding the five areas of agricultural risk management is key to building business management and decision-making skills.

About Annie’s Project

Beginning, future, and mid-career farmers find value in Annie’s Project, which takes its inspiration from the life of a farm woman in northern Illinois, Annette (Annie) Kohlhagen Fleck, who began farming in 1947 when she married a farmer. 

Annie spent her lifetime learning how to be an involved business partner with her husband by keeping records, learning about new regulations for selling processed food directly to consumers, meeting deadlines, understanding reporting requirements and tax issues, land rent, crop marketing, and, in general, keeping the farm business, as well as her family, running.

Visit the Annie's Project website for more information about their programs offered throughout the country.

For more information about programs in Minnesota, contact Colleen Carlson at [email protected] or Susanne Hinrichs at [email protected].