Final report for SNC23-A001
Project Information
We expect to offer scholarships for trainings for agents, personnel with government agencies and non-profits and/or mentor farmers focused on Sustainable agriculture. Trainings will be chosen based on SARE priority areas of educations in sustainable agriculture, the strength and practicality of the training, and how many agents can participate. NC SARE travel/registration scholarships provide NCCE educators and other agriculture resource professionals the opportunity to receive relevant trainings, which suite the unique needs of the individual educators, their counties and their constituents. These diversified trainings provide learning opportunities that cover the broad scope of sustainable agriculture. The primary expected outcome is to have a broader base of NCCE educators trained in sustainable agriculture. Topics for these training events could include, but not be limited to, cover crops, organic production, season extension, no-till/ conservation tillage, local food production and safety, etc.
NC SARE plans to: provide scholarships for registrations/travel to approximate 15 professionals to attend CSFA SAC; approximately 15 professionals to attend North Carolina Association of County Agriculture Agents meeting; approximately 5 professionals to attend NC Choice Meat workshop; approximately 20 professionals to the Organic Commodities and Livestock Conference; provide funds to produce training materials or provide for presenter costs; and provide scholarships for approximately 6 professionals to attend other sustainable agriculture trainings that become available that meet the SARE mission.
The focused sustainable agriculture training for professionals will be selected by the NC SARE Advisory Committee and Coordinator through competitive process in order to select who received the training funds. The training will be chosen based on SARE priority areas for education in sustainable agriculture, the strength and practicality of the training, and how many can participate.
Promoting the availability of support and the sustainable agriculture training opportunities will be promoted through NCCE website, NC Extension portal/Intranet; partner mailing lists, through relationships with training providers, listservs, and NC SARE promotional/marketing materials.
NC SARE provides NCCE educators and other agriculture resource professionals the opportunity to receive relevant trainings which suit the unique needs of the individual educators, their counties, and their constituents. These diversified trainings provide learning opportunities that cover the broad scope of sustainable agriculture, fulfilling the goal of the SARE program to provide diverse education in sustainable agriculture. The primary expected outcome is to have a broader based of well trained NCCE educators in sustainable agriculture serving our states farmers, produces, land owners and public.
Advisors
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Researcher)
Education
Our program encourages continuing education by providing funds for extension agents and other agriculture professionals to attend well respected, well run programs hosted in North Carolina. Due to our program 61 ag professionals that support farmer/growers/producer in our state were able to attend training. Being able to attend these programs they are able to commit to ongoing learning by exploring and implementing advanced, innovative methods that improve workflows, increase impact, and align with evolving best practices, thereby benefiting all North Carolinians.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
We support our agriculture professionals by providing funding so they may have the opportunity to attend conferences and workshops.
We mainly provide travel scholarships with registration fees and lodging costs.
We also provide support at larger conferences by providing for expert speakers, farm/facility tours and hands on learning sessions.
The outcomes are far and wide as the information learned at the these conferences are incorporated into local programming, field days, and client visits in the agriculture communities around the state.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
We supported 30 agricultural educators in attending the Carolina Farm Stewardship Conference by covering their registration costs, and provided lodging for 12 participants. In addition, we funded 12 expert speakers and farmer-presenters, helping to create more engaging, hands-on learning opportunities.
The impact was significant: 100% of respondents reported that they plan to use the information gained to enhance their programming and share it through newsletters and other media outlets. Additionally, 50% of respondents indicated they were able to form new connections and collaborations through the conference.
We were able to support 29 agriculture professionals by lodging to attend the Carolina Meat Conference.
In regard to the North Carolina Meat Conference, the information gained fostered increased professional interactions across multiple sectors. Attendees reported expanded connections and valuable insights that they are applying in their work with producers, processors, retailers and distributors, restaurants, educators, and non-profits. The overall impact was substantial, with 90% of attendees indicating that the conference was informative and will support their work in their communities.
We also supported an agricultural professional from Western North Carolina in attending the Organic Seed Growers Conference. This individual will present at the next CFSA conference, sharing the knowledge gained and further extending the reach and impact of this opportunity.
We supported one extension agent to attend the SOWTH conference.
Face of SARE
Our program provides support to agriculture professionals and extension agents so that they have the opportunity to attend conferences, workshops and other learning opportunities, so that they may provide a higher level, modern advanced support to their ag communities.
We were able to provide travel support for a total of 61 people. They, of course, then interact with their local farmer, growers, and producers.