Final report for NCKS22-002
Project Information
Initiatives for the Kansas SARE Professional Development Program for 2023-2024 prioritize three broad categories: Adapting to Changing Climate and other Food System Disruptions, Diversification in Agriculture, and Generational Transfer in Agriculture.
Kansas Initiative 1: Adapting to Changing Climate and Other Food System Disruptions
Includes, but is not limited to, outreach and educational opportunities related to crop and livestock production, carbon market potential, drought mitigation, potable water conservation, food waste, small scale meat processing, and rural community development, especially around local food processing.
Expected Outcomes:
- 15 Extension educators increase their knowledge of small scale meat and food processing options for Kansas
- 15 Extension educators increase their knowledge about water conservation and drought resilience
- 5 Extension agents increase their knowledge about carbon markets
- 10 Extension agents increase their knowledge about regenerative practices
- 1 mini grant for climate smart ag workshop
- 2 mini grants for local food/food hub/local food processing workshop
Activities:
- Support workshops and travel scholarships focused on carbon market information
- Mini grants and travel scholarships awarded for small scale meat processing initiative in Kansas
- Support educational programming about climate-smart and regenerative agriculture
- Cooperate with other NCR states on regional programming opportunities
Evaluation: Post-event evaluations will be collected to determine change in knowledge and intended actions based on new information.
Monitor social media activity (i.e. likes and retweets) for sponsored programs
Collect 6-12 month follow-up evaluations after programs to determine short and intermediate outcomes.
Kansas Initiative 2: Diversification in Agriculture
Includes activities related to agricultural systems - urban, suburban, and rural; social justice in the food system; scale and resilience; and soil health.
Expected Outcomes:
- 15 NRCS employees increase knowledge about urban agriculture
- 20 Extension professionals increase their knowledge of equity in the food system
- 10 Extension professionals will increase their knowledge of urban, suburban, and peri-urban agricultural production
- 10 Extension and allied ag professionals will increase their knowledge of social justice in the food system
- 1 mini grant for urban agriculture workshop/farm tour
- 1 mini grant for soil health workshop/farm tour
- 1 mini grant for food system social justice/food sovereignty training
Activities:
- Support Kansas NRCS Technical Sub Committee on Urban Agriculture
- Continue quest to establish relationships with Haskell Indian Nations University and Kansas Tribes
- Travel scholarships to encourage Extension agent participation in workshops, field days, farm tours, and on-farm demonstrations sponsored by KSRE, Conservation Districts, NRCS, and NGOs about non-rural ag production, soil health, resilient production practices
- Cooperate with Kansas Black Farmers Association, New Roots for Refugees, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation on inclusive educational programming.
Evaluation: Post-event evaluations will be collected to determine change in knowledge and intended actions based on new information.
Monitor social media activity (i.e. likes and retweets) for sponsored programs
Collect 6-12 month follow-up evaluations after programs to determine short and intermediate outcomes.
Kansas Initiative 3: Generational Transfer in Agriculture
Includes professional development activities that will expand capacity in the areas of beginning farming, generational transition and transfer; succession planning, and succession especially as the activities relate to transitioning to more sustainable land use practices.
Expected Outcomes:
- 25 Extension and allied ag professionals increase their knowledge about different types of transition and transfer of agricultural land in Kansas
- 10 Extension and allied ag professionals increase their knowledge about working with beginning farmers who are veterans
- 10 Extension and allied ag professionals increase their knowledge of barriers to generational farming experienced by people of color
- 1 mini grant focusing on land transfer/transition and/or succession planning
Activities:
- Travel scholarships to support K-State Extension Kansitions Program with educational opportunities about farm land access, generational transfer, generational transition, succession planning, and land link programming
- Work with Farmer Veteran Coalition of Kansas and Servicemember Agricultural Vocational Education (S.A.V.E.) farm on programming focusing on the unique needs of veterans and transitioning soldiers who want to farm
- Support programming by and cooperate with Kansas Black Farmers Association, New Roots for Refugees, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation on educational programming about barriers encountered by people of color when beginning or transitioning to farming.
Evaluation: Post-event evaluations will be collected to determine change in knowledge and intended actions based on new information.
Monitor social media activity (i.e. likes and retweets) for sponsored programs
Collect 6-12 month follow-up evaluations after programs to determine short and intermediate outcomes.
Advisors
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Education
Kansas SARE 2023-2024 PDP Plan of Work awards professional improvement scholarships and mini grants to achieve annual education goals.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Increase knowledge, outreach, and educational opportunities related to crop and livestock production, carbon market potential, drought mitigation, potable water conservation, food waste, small scale meat processing, and rural community development, especially around local food processing.
Many factors impact a fully functioning food system. Understanding how disruption at any point along the continuum can cause ripples throughout the entire system is vital. This objective will help increase the knowledge base about multiple food system disruptors and how ag professionals can assist farmers to minimize negative impacts from disruptive events.
In 2023, awarded 2 mini grants and 23 professional improvement travel scholarships for programming related to adapting to climate change and food system issues.
In 2024, awarded 3 mini grants and 5 professional improvement travel scholarships for programming related to climate change adaptation and food system disruption issues.
Mini Grants awarded:
International Master Gardeners Conference (attendance 500) 2023
Kansas Association of County Agricultural Agents Spring Professional 2023 Improvement Workshop (attendance 30) 2023
Kansas First Local Food Summit (attendance 150) 2024
Urban Food Systems Study Tour (attendance 15) 2024
Food Preservation Training for Extension Agents (attendance 55) 2024
Professional Development Scholarships awarded:
Mountain Plains Farm to Child Nutrition Summit (2 scholarships) 2023
Veggie Van Training: Mobile Market Summit (1 scholarship) 2023
S.A.F.E.R. Controlled Environment Agriculture Conference (1 scholarship) 2023
International Master Gardeners Conference (16 scholarships) 2023
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Summer Meeting (1 scholarship) 2023
Range Beef Cow Symposium (3 scholarships) 2023
Growing School Gardens Summit (1 scholarship) 2024
Soil is a Living System Workshop (1 scholarship) 2024
Food Safety Modernization Act Train-the-Trainer (1 scholarship) 2024
Post Harvest Handling Workshop (2 scholarships) 2024
Increase knowledge, outreach, and educational opportunities related to agricultural systems - urban, suburban, and rural; social justice in the food system; agricultural scale and resilience; and soil health.
In Kansas, debate continues about agricultural specialization vs. diversification, mega vs. large vs. small vs. micro-sized farms, urban vs. periurban/suburban vs. rural, garden vs. farm. This initiative seeks to help promote understanding of all types and sizes of farms and how all types and sizes of farms contribute to and strengthen the whole of American agriculture.
In 2023, 4 mini grants and 2 professional improvement travel scholarships were awarded for programming related to expanding diversification in Kansas agriculture.
In 2024, awarded 6 mini grants and 4 professional improvement travel scholarships for programming related to enhancing and expanding diversification in Kansas agriculture
Mini Grants
Women in Agriculture Conference Nemaha County (150 attendance) 2023
Ottawa County Conservation District Field Day (50 attendance) 2023
Small Ruminant Parasite Control Workshop (25 attendance) 2023
Outreach and Innovations in Precision Ag for Conservation and Sustainability 2023
KSRE Horticulture Program Focus Team Study Tour (22 attendance) 2024
Jewell County Conservation District Soil Health Tour (45 attendance) 2024
Ottawa County Soil Health Bus Tour (50 attendance) 2024
Kansas Association of County Ag Agents Spring Professional Development Workshop (40 attendance) 2024
Kansas Viticulture Summit (35 attendance) 2024
Farming Her Way Workshop Series (15 attendance) 2024
Travel Scholarships
Soil Health Academy (1 scholarship) 2023
National Association of County Agricutlture Agents (1 scholarship) 2023
National Grazing Lands Coalition Winter Meeting (1 scholarship) 2024
MANRRS Annual Training Conference and Career Expo (2 scholarships) 2024
Soil Is A Living System Workshop with Christine Jones (1 scholarship) 2024
Increase knowledge, outreach, educational opportunities, and capacity in the areas of beginning farming, generational transition and transfer; succession planning and succession; especially activities that relate to transitioning to more sustainable land use practices.
Agricultural transfer involves more than land changing hands. Knowledge must to be transferred as well. Maintaining a healthy agricultural system means keeping land in production and helping connect those who want to farm with the means to achieve their goals. Ag professionals play an important role in the transfer process, especially facilitating knowledge transfer.
In 2023, awarded 1 mini grant and 5 professional improvement travel scholarships for projects related to farm transition planning and infrastructure planning for historically underserved/unserved farmers.
In 2024, awarded 1 travel scholarship for training on agricultural leases and tenure.
Mini Grant
Farm Transition Planning Workshop (80 attendance) 2023
Travel Scholarships
Kansas Cooperative Council Coop Board Development Training (5 scholarships) 2023
Negotiation in Agriculture: Ag Leases Workshop (1 scholarship) 2024
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Ever since NCR funds were made available for tribal colleges during the pandemic, KS SARE has tried - unsuccessfully - to make contact with Haskell Indian Nations University and the tribes in Kansas. Persistence finally paid off in 2024 with a contact made at the First Kansas Local Food Conference. We are now well on our way to establishing a relationship with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Mayetta, Kansas. The PBPN has a huge presence in northeast Kansas because of their casino. They also are highly organized on their reservation and have been searching for ways to strengthen community by growing their community garden. With an invitation from the Meadowlark District Extension Horticulture Agent, KS SARE is collaborating with PBPN on their community garden/farm project. Tribal Extension Master Gardeners with assistance from their Extension Horticulture Agent have already submitted a KS SARE Mini Grant Application for 2025. Interaction with the PBPN resulted in contacts with Haskell Indian Nations University students and members of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas. Tribal members are now more aware of SARE and are seeking out educational material and guidance for their projects. We all look forward to maintaining strong relationships into the future. While we missed the tribal college food sovereignty mini grants, the encouragement to work with tribal communities is paying off.
Face of SARE
SARE promotion at conferences and other educational venues in 2023:
- Great Plains Growers Conference, St. Joseph, MO, January 13-14
- No Till On The Plains Winter Conference, Wichita, KS, January 23-25
- Women Managing the Farm, Manhattan, KS, February 16-17
- Local Meat Marketing Workshops, Olathe, KS and Parsons, KS, February 23 and March 3
- Hosted session for 8 Brazilian ag professionals and 4 interpreters through Global Ties KC for discussion about sustainable agriculture in Kansas and the U.S., April 3, 2023
- K-State Commercial Vegetable Field Day, Olathe, KS, August 28
- Kansas Black Farmers Association Annual Meeting, Manhattan, KS, October 19
- K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference, Manhattan, KS, October 25
- Kansas Rural Center Farm and Food Conference, Topeka, KS, November 10-11
- Kansas Farmers Union Convention, Salina, KS, November 28-30
- Soil Health for Urban Farmers, Kansas City, KS, December 16
SARE promotion at conferences and other educational venues in 2024
- Great Plains Growers Conference, St. Joseph, MO, January 12-13
- No Till On The Plains Winter Conference, Wichita, KS, January 22-24
- Kansas Black Farmers Association Quarterly Meeting, Olathe, KS, January 26
- Women Managing the Farm Conference, Manhattan, KS, February 15-16
- Cultivate KC Annual Farmers and Friends Meeting, Kansas City, MO, February 17
- U.S. Lavender Growers Association Gathering, Great Bend, KS, March 23
- Kansas Association of County Ag Agents Spring Training, Lawrence, KS, March 27
- S.A.V.E. Small Farm Expo, Riley, KS, June 29
- Kansas Local Food Summit, Wichita, KS, August 28
- Farmer Veteran Coalition Stakeholders Conference, Kansas City, MO, October 27-29
- Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Garden Work Day, Mayetta, KS, November 8
- Kansas Rural Center Farm & Food Conference, Wichita, KS, November 16
- Kansas Farmers Union Pre-Conference and Convention, Lawrence, KS, November 18-21
- Kansas Hemp Conference, virtual, December 6
SARE Grant Writing Workshops in 2023
- April 4 – virtual
- September 19, Wichita, KS
- September 26, Seneca, KS
- September 28, Salina, KS
SARE Grant Writing Workshops in 2024
- March 23, Great Bend, KS
- June 27, Lawrence, KS
- June 29, Riley, KS
- November 16, Wichita, KS