GILBERT – Creating a transition plan to make sure a farm continues as a productive business can be challenging.

Farm women can learn how to plan a successful farm transition in a five-session course offered by the Iowa State University Extension in Boone and Story counties.

The “Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning” program, a new Annie’s Project course, is scheduled at 6 p.m., starting Feb. 1, 2016 in Gilbert.

The other four classes will be succeeding Mondays through Feb. 29, 2016.

The cost is $75 per person, which includes a 300-page workbook with fact sheets, hands-on activities, and presentations. A light supper will be served before each class beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Course size is limited, so please register soon.

Farm women will learn about business, estate, retirement and succession planning from ISU Extension specialists and area professionals.

In addition to brief presentations, there will be discussions based on participant questions and follow-up activities for family members to complete at home.

“We’re happy to be a partner in bringing this valuable program to Boone and Story counties,” said Kelvin Leibold, an ISU Extension farm management specialist. “This farm transition course is an opportunity for farm women to meet with others who share similar issues and concerns.

“We limit the size of the class to make it comfortable for everyone to speak up and get questions answered.”

Annie’s Project, an agricultural risk management education program for women, has successfully reached more than 9,000 farm and ranch women in 30 states.

“This new Farm Transition program emphasizes the role women play in helping transfer farms from one generation to the next,” said Leibold. It “will empower women to take ownership of the future of their farms.

“Farm Credit Services of America is a statewide sponsor of Annie’s Project courses.”

For more information contact the Boone County Extension office at (515) 432-3882 or via e-mail at xboone@iastate.edu, or the Story County Extension office at (515) 382-6551 or via e-mail at xstory@iastate.edu.

Farm women can also register online at www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag.

More information can be found on the Annie’s Project website at www.AnniesProject.org.