Progress report for FNC24-1435
Project Information
I’m a first-generation livestock farmer and photographer/videographer who was introduced to caring for livestock on my grandparent’s horse farm in the VA area. I was then brought into the world of sustainable agriculture during my short time as an undergrad researcher at UW-Madison with Diane Mayerfeld on the effects of running cattle in silvopasture for the benefit of their heat stress and how the land responds to the additional impaction in areas that once were rain catchment areas. I started a farm-sitting business in 2021 to gain more experience caring for different kinds of livestock, having a behind-the-scenes view of how different farming operations are run, and helping me better understand what kind of farmer I wanted to be. This culminated in being brought on to work with a past farm-sitting client to manage their property, which birthed my land management business. I would fail to obtain my first true farm lease for two years and many close opportunities till 2023, when I signed a lease for an old 28-acre cow-calf operation with more acreage to the fence. I also do sustainability talks at local non-profits and schools to introduce young children to farming and where their food comes from.
I have also been working as a photographer/videographer for the past 7. This skill started when I was in high school and began taking photography/videography classes. This interest in the arts, communication, and educating others was also developed at UW-Madson, where I continued taking photo/videography classes while studying for my educational studies degree. I believe my coursework and experience on the research side of agriculture will help me break down confusing topics into manageable pieces of knowledge.
Update Feb 2025
Overall the project has been going well and the farm has been growing. We have secured an extension on our lease after our introductory period, had our first lambing season, completed our first brush and invasive species removal job for a local landowner and built a solar generator to power our fences and heated water buckets through winter. I have begun the recording process as well and have enjoyed the process of capturing the journey. I have learned it to be very difficult to work a full time job, have a family, run a farm and also record and edit video to be a bit of a challenge. Due to this I'm mainly recording video and editing and publishing will be occurring over the next coming months.
There is a narrow view of what
it takes to be a farmer, who can be a farmer, and how farming
should be done to be profitable. As a novice farmer, you often
aren’t able to understand the true realities and trials that come
with farming but don’t get to experience the joys of living the
lifestyle that farming truly is. There is also a massive gap between the
research in the university agricultural system. However, I seldom
see this information being transformed so the average farmer can
understand and implement these changes into their own
systems.
Solution
This project employs a
multifaceted approach to educate and engage our audience
effectively:
- Multimedia Content: We will
create high-quality videos documenting each aspect of the
farming journey, from business planning to overcoming
challenges. These videos will be detailed and show the
month-to-month running cost of my operation and its challenges.
For this project facet, I will be using cameras, lenses,
microphones, editing software, computers, lighting, and storage
devices to create this content.
- Interviews with Experts:
Collaborating with seasoned farmers will bring a wealth of
practical knowledge. These interviews will be presented as
insightful videos, offering diverse perspectives and
time-tested practices. I will also use the same materials from
the multimedia content portion of this section for this
facet.
- Interactive Workshops: Live
and virtual workshops will provide hands-on experiences for
participants. These sessions will cover topics like solar
setup, automation integration, and sustainable leasing
practices. I will show how to source, buy, size, and execute
the integration of new technologies and levels of automation in
order to reduce farmer labor costs and increase quality of
life.
- Educational Guides:
Comprehensive guides and specific resource data will complement
the video content, offering in-depth information and
step-by-step instructions for aspiring
farmers.
There is a massive gap between
the research being done in the university agricultural system.
However, I seldom see this information being transformed so the
average farmer can understand and implement these changes into
their own systems. I plan to use the knowledge from my
educational studies coursework and my experience being exposed to
college-level research to repackage for the rest of our farming
community.
Objectives
- Put on a workshop at a local
pasture walk that explains how to properly size and set up a
fence energizer using a solar panel and a battery. Also,
explore and explain the use cases using such a setup over just
one large fence energizer and the long-term economic value of
the upfront cost - Explore and showcase
alternatives of what makes a good “farm truck” by examining how
I used my 2000 Outback, VW Passat, and vehicle share apps in
order to overcome and break down the barriers in front of
me. - Explore the use cases for
incorporating technology with integrated grazing
operation - Interview at least 3 innovative
farmers and explore how their systems lead them to the success
or the failures they have faced.
Research
In my experience, the education gap between what farmers depict through social media, books and online courses lack the transparency of their whole operation. While I am glad to know sustainable ag is becoming more popular, there isn't always a true depiction of what it takes to make a living or what challenges can be overcome. In order to combat this I have begun to record and journal my daily experiences to share back with the community through video and newsletter.
My main population for outreach is young farmers who may not have experience running a farm or someone who has the knowledge but not the monetary funds to overcome some of the initial barriers to entry.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
My main method of communication is through my social media pages, YouTube channel and newsletter. I will also be hosting a showing of my solar generator at a local pasture walk this upcoming growing season. I have come to the conclusion in order to balance my life responsibilities along with this project, I'm currently only recording my video work and will be editing and publishing my work this growing season.