2024 SARE Model State Program for Professional Development Program-Program Assistant at Virginia State University

Progress report for SVA24-A02

Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2024: $33,000.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2025
Grant Recipient: Virginia State University
Region: Southern
State: Virginia
State Coordinators:
Dr. Sanjun Gu
Virginia State University
Co-Coordinators:
Dr. Eric S. Bendfeldt
Virginia Cooperative Extension
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Project Information

Abstract:

Virginia SARE is a collaborative effort between Virginia State University (VSU) and Virginia Tech (VT). SARE at VSU focuses on providing train-the-trainer opportunities for educators in agriculture and natural resources (ANR) who help small-scale farmers, especially the undeserved farmers. VSU SARE, in general, provides travel scholarships, offers mini-PDP grants, sponsors field days and workshops, organizes sustainable agriculture tours, and provides SARE publications of various formats to educators engaged in sustainable agriculture. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, VSU SARE will offer competitive scholarships for ANR educators to receive sustainable agriculture related trainings, with a focus in the areas of healthy soils, urban agriculture, climate smart technologies, and overall market diversification for meat, milk, vegetable, and fruit producers. These scholarships will cover event registration and travel expenses. Educators at all levels of expertise may apply for the scholarship towards trainings that best address the needs in their service regions/counties. VSU SARE will consider scholarship applications for both in-state and out-state trainings. Possible training opportunities include, but not limited to, those offered by Virginia Biological Farming Association, Future Harvest, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Small Farm Program, American Forage & Grassland Council, Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention, Southern SAWG, and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. VSU SARE will also sponsor sustainable agriculture field days and workshops taking place on VSU’s Randolph Farm. The VSU SARE Program Assistant will assist the SARE Coordinator in all activities stated above for the 2024 fiscal year and help with program evaluation and reporting.

Project Objectives:

The objectives of VSU 2024 Model State Program continue to be the professional development for ANR educators and educational outreach regarding sustainable agricultural practices reflected in Southern Region SARE programs, partnering agencies’ (i.e., NRCS, FSA, SWCD, Farm Credit) existing training programs, and other planned events by sustainable agriculture related organizations. Much of the efforts will be concentrated on offering travel scholarships for SARE-defined agricultural educators to attend in-state and/or out-state trainings. Additional effort will be placed on engaging mentor farmers in sustainable agriculture practices during the Randolph Farm Day at Virginia State University. 

Advisors

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Education

Educational approach:

Offered education on SARE and its programs, organized a sustainable ag. tour, and promoted scholarship opportunities to extension educators.

Education & Outreach Initiatives

2024 Sustainable Agriculture Tour
Objective:

To educate and train extension professionals from Virginia Stat Extension in USDA SARE, and Research and Extension programs from other institutions.

Description:

As part of the venue to promote SARE at Virginia State University, VSU SARE program assistant helped initiate a sustainable agriculture bus tour during the VSU Extension Professional Week. This 2-day tour (Nov. 21-22) included a visit to the college of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences of University of District Columbia (UDC), and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC) of Virginia Tech in Hampton VA. At UDC, participants learned a great deal of the unique urban ag programs designed and thrived in the D.C. area. AT the Sea Food AREC, VSU extension educators received wealth knowledge and information about sustainable sea food production in VA and the VA ARECs in general. On the way back, the entire team visited the Extension Center at James City County where VSU SARE Coordinator and program assistant delivered a 30-minute introduction on SARE and its programs in the Southern Region.

Outcomes and impacts:

Most VSU Extension educators became extension taskforce within the last three years. Majority of them do not know or are not familiar with the SARE program and other institutions promote sustainable agriculture and its practices. The visit to UDC opened their eyes to sustainable urban agriculture in large metropolitan areas. The sustainable sea food production, including the control of invasive blue catfish in Chesapeake Bay, surprised most of the participants. The introduction of SARE made the participants fully aware of the SARE programs and their existence in VA, and more importantly the SARE funding and resources (publications). Our informal evaluation showed that 100% of the participants became aware of SARE and SRE programs. They became interested in SARE and will participate in SARE program including seeking funding support from SARE.   

Educational & Outreach Activities

3 Consultations
2 On-farm demonstrations
1 Tours
2 Webinars / talks / presentations
2 Workshop field days

Participation Summary:

34 Extension
5 Researchers
1 Nonprofit
1 Agency
5 Farmers/ranchers

Learning Outcomes

34 Participants gained or increased knowledge, skills and/or attitudes about sustainable agriculture topics, practices, strategies, approaches
20 Ag professionals intend to use knowledge, attitudes, skills and/or awareness learned

Project Outcomes

3 Grants received that built upon this project
3 New working collaborations
5 Agricultural service provider participants who used knowledge and skills learned through this project (or incorporated project materials) in their educational activities, services, information products and/or tools for farmers
200 Farmers reached through participant's programs

Face of SARE

Face of SARE:

The SARE Assistant helped the coordinator organize the sustainable ag. tour and present the general SARE information and programs.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.