Nine women involved in value-added agriculture graduated on Dec. 3 from a special Annie’s Project workshop sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and held in Boone. At graduation, each woman had a business plan created by applying information they received during the course.

Farm women can learn how to plan a successful farm transition through a four-session course offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Farm Credit Services of America. “Managing for Today and Tomorrow,” will be held on Monday evenings Feb. 27 through March 19 in Ames and Shenandoah; and Thursday evenings in Carroll beginning March 8.

Women farmers and ranchers wanting to learn more about transition planning will benefit from a program that recently received USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Annie’s Project proposal, Farm Transition and Business Management Training for Women Farmers and Ranchers, was awarded $675,750 for curriculum development and delivery of courses.

College students and graduates who have had experiences with cooperatives see them as a way to gain valuable work experiences, scholarships and the means to addressing community needs. Student involvement in cooperatives is one aspect of the eXtension.org website containing educational materials about cooperatives.