The number of Texas women managing farms has grown by 10 percent over the last decade, according to U.S. census data, and a workshop series will be offered this fall to help empower them through shared experiences, according to AgriLife Today.

Through Annie’s Project , an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in modern farm and ranch enterprises, participants will receive training in decision-making and addressing the management of production risks, marketing risks, financial risks, personnel risks and estate planning.

“The program is based on the experiences of farm women who spend their lifetime learning how to be an involved business manager or partner with their farm husbands and other family members,” Dr. Jason Johnson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist in Stephenville, said. “The reality is that over 90 percent of farm women usually end up managing their personal and farm business finances at some point in their lives as a result of death, divorce or disability.”

The series will be offered in six sessions from 6-9 p.m. each Thursday evening beginning Sept. 7 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Stephenville. The class will meet on Sept. 7, 14 and 21 and Oct. 5, 12 and 19.

Johnson said the cost of the program is $50 per person for the entire series and class size is limited to 30 to facilitate discussion among participants.

Registration slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals and refreshments will be provided at each session.

The conference is sponsored by AgriLife Extension with program support provided by Farm Credit Bank of Texas.

Speakers will include a variety of local professionals, practitioners and experts from AgriLife Extension, Texas Farm Bureau, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, including an agricultural attorney, family financial management specialist and a registered investment advisor.

“Annie’s Project provides a place where farm women can learn from the perspectives of local agricultural professionals, as well as the experiences of other workshop members without the pressure of sales pitches or solicitations,” Johnson said.

Interested participants can request a brochure and registration form by contacting Johnson at 254-968-4144 or Lonnie Jenschke and Donna White, AgriLife Extension agents in Erath County, at 254-965-1460.

The registration form is also available at http://Stephenville.tamu.edu by clicking on the Annie’s Project link.