Mark Your Calendar

March 6, 2008  Illinois Agriculture Legislation Day, Springfield, IL

March 6-7, 2008  IAW Annual Meeting, Peoria, IL

March 28-30, 2008  AAW Mid-Year Meeting, Columbus, OH

April 21-25, 2008  AAW Syngenta Leadership Training, Greensboro, NC

June, 2008  IAW Quarterly Meeting, National Trail Biodiesel Facility, Newton, IL

June 8-11, 2008  AAW Fly-In, Washington, DC

September, 2008  IAW Quarterly Meeting, Wind Farm, Rochelle, IL

November 5-9, 2008  IAW Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX

News

For upcoming IAW meeting information and for previous meeting highlights, go to the State Meetings Tab.

For AAW meeting and convention information, go to the National Meetings Tab.

Illinios Ag Legislative Day--IAW members will join over 60 agricultural organizations in sponsoring the 38th Annual Illinois Ag Legislative Day on March 6 and spread the unified message that Illinois Agriculture is alive and better than ever.  See the State Meeting page for more details.

New American Agri-Women Website--American Agri-Women has launched a new website. Check out the fresh new look.  www.americanagriwomen.org  The AAW website is a great source to keep in touch with the organization efforts, ag news, registration information for Mid Year and Fly-IN.

IAW Membership Dues--IAW annual membership dues are due in March.  Dues can be paid at the annual meeting or mailed to the Membership Chair Susan D.  Please note the dues have increased to $50.  Thank you for your continuous support of IAW.

Women play an important role in running farms nationwide--The National Agricultural Statistics Service's most recent agricultural census, done in 2002, showed women were the principal operators of 7,353 Wisconsin farms, up about 27 percent from 1997. There was about a 13 percent increase nationally during the same period. The percentage of Wisconsin's female principal farm operators increased from 6.7 percent in 1997 to 9.5 percent in 2002. Wisconsin had the ninth-highest number of women who were the principal operators of farms, a category led by Texas and California. Younger women also are entering the profession more than they did 30 years ago. December 31, 2007 By JOHN HARTZELL Associated Press Writer

Scholarships available for Agri-Women events--Scholarships are available for members interested in going to AAW events throughout the country.  Contact IAW Treasurer Linda G. at lindag@jisp.net for information.  Print out a copy of the form HERE.  Application forms for AAW scholarships can be found at the www.americanagriwomen.org website.  Any application for an AAW or AAW Resource Center-sponsored scholarship, must be reviewed by the Illinois Agri-Women Executive Committee prior to submittal because in some cases they are limited to the number of applicants each affiliate state can submit.  Please submit your applications to the IAW Executive Committee, through Heather H., at least 30 days ahead of the AAW deadline.

IAW offers Annie's Project incentive--Annie's Project is a multi-session program designed to teach farm women how to manage important information used by decision makers on the farm.  Each course consists of five classes organized by the following themes: Human Resources and Time Management; Women and Money; Business Plans; Mastering Spreadsheets; and Managing and Marketing Grain.  IA W member and Extension Ag Business Educator Ruth Hambleton has worked with IA W member Trenna G.and others to found the program in Illinois. It is now moving to other states in the Midwest.  IA W has been a sponsor of the program since its inception.  IAW members voted on March 2 to provide a $20 rebate to those existing voting members of IAW who participate in one of the current sessions of Annie's Project being offered in Bond/Mongtomery and Livingston counties and submit a completed rebate form.  Participants in Annie's Project who are not yet IAW voting members, but who submit a membership application with $50 annual voting member dues along with a completed rebate form (attached as an MSWord file) are also eligible to receive the $20 rebate.  For more information on Annie's Project, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/annie or contact Ruth H. at (618) 242- 9310, rhamblet@uiuc.edu.

IAW has opportunities to get involved--Choose from three ways to increase your involvement in IAW.  1. Participate in any of the calendar of events listed above.  2. Serve as a committee chair for the next 24 months.  3. Serve as a regional coordinator for the next 24 months.  If you have a passion for a topic related to agriculture, contact IAW President Cheryl D. to discuss your interest and your background.

AAW Country Store--Available items include gold pins and charms with AAW logo, imprinted shirts and sweaters, and Christmas ornaments.  All items can be mailed to you for only $5.  Contact Vicki M. at maaskewsfarm@powercom.net.