Fifteen Big Horn County woman complete Annie’s Project
Fifteen Big Horn County woman complete Annie’s Project
BY GRETTY GASVODA
Annie’s Project brought together 15 women who share one common passion – agriculture in Wyoming. Annie's Project is an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in agriculture. The program is designed to help build connections with peers in the community. Annie's Project has been successfully conducted in over 30 states reaching over 12,000 women. It came to Wyoming in 2011 and has been offered more than 25 times. Annie's Project is a multi-session course that covers the five areas of agricultural risk: financial, human resources, legal, marketing, and production. The program provides an opportunity to learn from agriculture professionals and interact with other women in similar situations.
Numerous educational opportunities were shared over the six-week course, kicking off with Real Colors, a unique four-color personality assessment and workshop designed to be entertaining and user-friendly.
The four-color personality assessment is based on the premise that you can take left-brain (linear) information, and turn it into an exciting, interactive right-brain experience. The right-brain style uses colors, pictures, and interactive activities to hook the participants. It allows participants to learn a great deal of information more quickly. They leave the four-hour workshop with tools they can use and apply to their own life.
Through right- and left-brain activities, small group interaction, and large group discussion, participants take an active role in learning. A portion of the workshop involves the participants teaching each other. This not only cements the new information for the participants, but in fact adds to the instrument’s validity.
Hands-on vaccinating experience with Mandy McKim, DVM from Cloud Peak Veterinary Clinic, was life impacting for several participants. Participants also received information on family estate planning from Andrea Earhart with McCarty, Reed and Earhart LC Attorneys At Law; insurance opportunities and benefits from LoriLyn Beck and Kelly Annend. Brenda Miller, county executive director, shared knowledge how to utilizes Farm Credit Agency; Farm Credit Services associate Andi Cloaninger shared the importance and benefits of crop insurance and Julie Volker shared programs FSA has available. University of Wyoming Educator Bart Stam shared grazing tips, University of Wyoming Associate Director Bridger Feutz provided niche marketing tools, while ShayLe Stewart’s excitement and passion resonated through the cattle market. Finding dependable farm and ranch labors is a challenge for many; Kay Neves provided some insight to the H2A Laws. Laura Galloway, from Natural Resources and Conservation District, provided a fun, hands-on Web Soil Survey activity.
Annie’s Project was supported and funded by Briess Malt and Ingredient Company in Ralston, Farm Credit Services, and University of Wyoming Big Horn County Extension. If you are interested in participating in the 2023 Annie’s Project class, contact University of Wyoming 4-H Educator Gretty Gasvoda-Kelso at 307-272-0576 or 307-568-4160.