Annie’s Project retreat at Frog Tree Farm supported women’s farm journeys
Annie’s Project, a national program facilitated in Minnesota by Extension, provides education for women on management and decision-making in the complex, dynamic world of agriculture. More than 500 Minnesota women have participated.
The curriculum provides an overview of farm risk management, human resources and production skills as well as financial, marketing and legal topics.
“Participants often form bonds during the six-week course, and they appreciate these connections and friendships that support them in their farming journey for years,” said Susanne Hinrichs, an Extension educator in agricultural business management and the Women in Ag Network. Beyond the six-week course, there are opportunities to go deeper. A retreat at Frog Tree Farm north of Wadena, owned by Peace Mitchell, is the longest Black-owned farm in Minnesota.
So who is Annie? Ruth Hambleton, a now-retired University of Illinois Extension educator, launched Annie’s Project in honor of her mother, Annette Kohlhagen Fleck, who was an active partner in the family farm.
Highlights
- RSDP impact: Working with the Region 5 Development Commission, a short-term Empowering Small Minnesota Communities project worked to identify the definitions of “rural” used by federal and state agencies. Work is also underway to create a grants and data library to support smaller communities in securing state and federal funding opportunities.
- The U of M Tourism Center featured Rockford Maple Farm, owned by Les Schwartz, in a series of profiles highlighting Minnesota farms that host on-site experiences as part of a statewide initiative to support agritourism.
- Ashley Kovar, a Wadena Juniors 4-H Club member, earned Community Impact recognition at the State Fair for her project, “Ashley’s Funny Farm.” She brought her goats and sheep to a senior living community where Ashley works as a dietary aide. Residents enjoyed feeding and petting the animals.
- Wadena hosted the final show of the 2025 4-H Buckle Series, a statewide equestrian competition that offered participants a chance to earn buckles.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: The Horstmann family
- The Climate Adaptation Partnership is making available new resources on future groundwater and soil moisture conditions for Wadena County, allowing communities to address issues like irrigation needs and drinking water availability based on long-term precipitation changes.
Wadena County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Wadena County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.