Sixteen Women Complete Annie’s Project in Delaware & Clayton Counties

Sixteen women successfully completed Annie’s Inspired: Grain Marketing, a multi-session educational program offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Clayton and Delaware County.

The course was designed to help women involved in agricultural operations gain confidence, tools, and practical skills to make informed grain marketing decisions in today’s volatile markets.

Participants explored a range of grain marketing strategies and decision-making tools, including forward contracts, futures and options contracts, alternative marketing contracts, and crop insurance. The program offered hands-on experiences in developing marketing plans and using online decision-support tools, all delivered in the supportive, interactive learning environment characteristic of Annie’s Project-inspired programming.

Instruction was provided by a distinguished group of speakers representing both industry and Iowa State University Extension expertise, including:

• Melissa Schuman, Innovative Ag Services
• Joseph Lensing, Farm Management Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
• Alison Ryan, River Valley Cooperative
• Steve Cook, Backbone Insurance Group
• Marilyn Sullivan, Kelchen Grain
• Chad Hart, Economist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
• Elizabeth Brinkman and Greg Hellman, Sukup

“The program equipped our participants with a deeper understanding of how to manage price risk and construct personalized marketing strategies for their operations,” said Jade Schneider, Delaware County Program Director. “By bringing together specialists in economics, cooperative marketing, insurance, and farm management, the course offered diverse perspectives that women can apply directly to their farms and businesses.”

Participants reported gaining confidence in strategic decision-making, increased familiarity with essential grain marketing concepts, and valuable connections with peers and industry professionals.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach delivers research-based education and resources to help Iowans solve today’s challenges and build a resilient future for agriculture, families, and communities. For more information about our programs and resources, visit extension.iastate.edu/Delaware.

photo courtesy of ISU Extension Delaware County