CANTON – A course aimed at strengthening women’s roles in modern farming will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

Annie’s Project is now open for registration for the St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties area.

This program is for experienced farm and ranch women from all types of farm operations. T

The courses will be held at 2043 State Highway 68, Canton.

Annie’s Project, created in 2003 by Ruth Hambleton, University of Illinois Extension, is an agricultural risk management program that is dedicated to strengthen women’s roles in the modern farm enterprise.

The curriculum is designed to empower women farmers in managing information systems used in critical decision making processes and to build local networks throughout the state. This program was recognized in July of 2011 by the White House, named as Champion of Change with Ms. Hambleton appointed to the White House Rural Committee.

Ms. Hambleton has modeled her program after the life of her mother, Annette Kohlhagen Fleck, who was married to a farmer for 50 years before her passing in 1997.

Host site representative Anita Figueras, Finance Manager and Farm Business Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, said, “Annie’s Project has outstanding testimonials from both participants and educators, and promises to be a very rewarding experience for women farmers and ranchers in our area.”

Those interested in registering should contact Anita Figueras at 315-379-9192 or by email at arf22@cornell.edu, or visit the website (www.nyanniesproject.org) to register. The course is $60 per person with limited scholarships available to those who inquire. The deadline for registration is January 31, 2014.