Ruth Hambleton is the founder of Annie's Project - Education for Farm Women. She currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors. Ruth designed the educational program, commonly known as Annie's Project, based on her life experiences as an educator and growing up on a dairy farm in Illinois. The program based on the education needs of farm women Ruth identified during her years as an educator for the University of Illinois in the area of farm business management and marketing. The Annie's Project approach resonates with women from all backgrounds and levels of experience.

Ruth has a passion for farm women and providing them with the tools to become successful partners or sole proprietors in agricultural business. Annie's Project includes confidence building along with important business skills. Hambleton is the Farm Management instructor for her alma mater, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She also manages the family trust farm in the tradition of her own mother, Annette Kohlhagen Fleck, for whom the program is named.