Final report for WPDP21-007
Project Information
PROGRAM
Arizona Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) is in the process of holding 16 professional development workshops over the next two years. Conservation District Supervisors are being trained to become more effective leaders in locally-led conservation efforts; workshops are being used to expand the knowledge base of Supervisors and other invited agricultural professionals about natural resource conservation management best practices. Best practices are scientifically based, developed, and accepted by experts in the field. Workshops are providing effective leadership training and increasing the skills/knowledge of Supervisors and other agricultural professionals needed to educate farmers and ranchers about best practices and technical and financial support programs available to them emphasizing sustainable agriculture and natural resource conservation.
AACD is providing leadership training to District Supervisors so that they may become more effective educators and trainers to producers, as well as increasing the knowledge base, skills, and technical capacity of District Supervisors and other agricultural professionals in best practices suitable to Arizona and, more specifically, to each Supervisor’s specific District, so that they may in turn educate local producers and landowners/managers. In addition to best practices, District Supervisors are becoming proficient in the types of technical and financial assistance programs available to producers so that when advising them around best practices, Supervisors can also effectively guide producers towards which programs may be best for them to find support.
- AACD visited with 30 Conservation Districts to obtain a list of desired training topics.
- AACD secured technical support for seminar and workshop topics
Principles, Assumptions, Beliefs, Project Operations, Achievements:
- Professional development will improve ability of Supervisors to be better leaders and trainers.
- Supervisors will lead the way in effective locally-led conservation and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Ag professionals will leave with the knowledge/skills to educate producers about best practices.
- AACD will organize/operate the workshops; develop leadership training materials for Supervisors; coordinate partner cooperators contributions.
- Cover all Districts, train all Supervisors, and reach as many agricultural professionals as possible to encourage technical knowledge sharing, share information about the Districts, and foster greater collaboration to support sustainable agriculture and conservation.
Resources, Contributions, and Investments:
AACD:
- Organize workshops: identify dates/times that works for presenters, find/reserve workshop locations/lead Zoom-based workshops, develop and share marketing materials, advertise through social media, email, etc.
- Develop training materials for effective leadership; collect/collate materials for specific District regions to educate in best practices (partner contributor materials will be incorporated in training packets).
- Make materials available online through AACD’s website, YouTube channel, social media, eNewsletters, etc.
- Record all workshops and produce e-learning videos.
- AACD Executive Committee will conduct Supervisor outreach to lead and organize participation in trainings.
Project Cooperators:
- Arizona Farm Bureau will assist in outreach efforts, marketing workshops to agricultural professionals within their network. They will also contribute leadership training materials to assist AACD in developing its trainings.
- UA Coop. Extension will present/provide training and educational materials around range management and soil health.
- NRCS will present/provide technical training and educational materials around Local Work Group policy and procedures, soil health, water conservation best practices, and other pertinent area practices.
- AZ Department of Agriculture will present/provide training and educational materials around pesticide safety.
- Mollen Foundation will contribute technical assistance/best practice support for natural resource/agricultural conservation education and professional development training support.
Methodology and Activities:
According to different educational professional sources, the following are effective training methods, and are the methods AACD will utilize: instructor-led; interactive/hands-on; computer-based/e-learning/videos; coaching and mentoring.
Timeline:
Year 1: We will divide the state into eight “team areas” (this coincides with regional groupings of Districts used by project cooperator NRCS) with each area serving approximately five Districts. The year will be divided into quarters (July-Sep, Oct-Dec, Jan-Mar, Apr-May). We will hold two workshops each quarter for a total of eight workshops. For example, in the first quarter we may hold one workshop in August and the second in September, covering two regions and approximately 10 Districts.
Year 2: Repeat Year 1.
Cooperators
Education
EDUCATION/OUTREACH METHODS
AACD education and outreach methods include:
- Instructor-led Zoom seminars
- Interactive/hands-on workshops
- Computer-based/e-learning/videos on website with 24-hour access
- Coaching and mentoring with highly qualified certified agricultural consultants
Education & Outreach Initiatives
AACD is providing leadership training to District Supervisors so that they may become more effective educators and trainers to producers, as well as increasing the knowledge base, skills, and technical capacity of District Supervisors and other agricultural professionals in best practices suitable to Arizona and, more specifically, to each Supervisor’s specific District, so that they may in turn educate local producers and landowners/managers. In addition to best practices, District Supervisors are becoming proficient in the types of technical and financial assistance programs available to producers so that when advising them around best practices, Supervisors can also effectively guide producers towards which programs may be best for them to find support.
• AACD visited with 30 Conservation Districts to obtain a list of desired training topics.
• AACD secured technical support for seminar and workshop topics
EDUCATION/OUTREACH METHODS
AACD education and outreach methods include:
· Instructor-led Zoom seminars
· Interactive/hands-on workshops
· Computer-based/e-learning/videos on website with 24-hour access
· Coaching and mentoring with highly qualified certified agricultural consultants
TIMELINE
AACD has divided Arizona into eight team areas that coincide with regional groupings of Districts used by project cooperator NRCS. Each area is serving approximately five Districts. AACD is providing two (or more) workshops each quarter for a total of eight workshops.
Year 1 – FY 21-22:
QRT 1 – August, September 2021
Completed: August 11, 2021 – Landscape Level Conservation Planning
QRT 2 -October, November, December 2021
Completed: November 9, 2021 – Threatened & Endangered Species Conservation Practices
Completed: November 10th, 2021 – Threatened & Endangered Species Conservation Practices
Completed: November 15th, 2021 – Arizona Department of Water Resources Water Law
QRT 3 – January, February, March 2022
Completed: January 20th, 2022 – Business Administration in the 21st Century
Completed: January 21st, 2022 – Conservation Districts & MOUs
Completed: March 21st, 2022 – USDA Regulatory Responsibilities
QRT 4 - April, May, June 2022
Completed: April 27th, 2022 – Soil Health Education
Completed: May 3rd, 2022 – Climate Smart Practices
Completed: May 5th 2022 – Archeology Compliance and Consultation Basics
Year 2 FY 22-23:
QRT 1 - July, August, September 2022
Completed: July 15th, 2022 – Fire Mitigation
Completed: August 4th, 2022 – Climate Change and Agriculture
Completed: August 4th, 2022 – Water limitations and How they Impact Us
Completed: August 4th, 2022 – Multiple Use and Federal Lands
Completed: September 21, 2022 – Grazing Lands Coalition
QRT 2 - October, November, December 2022
Completed: October 10th, 2022 – Lobbying Laws for Elected Officials
Completed: November 3rd - Local Conservation Planning with Stakeholders
Completed: December 19th, 2022 – Whitewater Draw Conservation Preserve
QRT 3 - January, February, March 2023
QRT 4 - April, May, June 2023
Closing - July, August 2023
EDUCATION/OUTREACH PRODUCTS
- Professional development workshops: 16 workshops are being completed over two years.
- Training materials: materials needed to educate producers are being developed and provided to agriculture professionals at time of seminar and/or workshop and are available on website for 24-hour access.
- Technical Training Manuals are posted at https://aacd1944.com/library/
- AACD has produced 15 online videos, of “e-leaning modules,” based on workshops and training materials which will be available for 24-hour access on website.
- AACD is utilizing its information sharing platforms that are already in place – Instagram, Facebook, website, LinkedIn, emailed Weekly Updates, and monthly e-Newsletters – to advertise workshops and uploading new training/educational materials as they become available.
- August, September 2021 – 4 Website posts, 8 Instagram posts, 8 Facebook posts, 4 Weekly Updates, 2 Monthly E-Newsletters, 1 ConserveAZ Magazine
- October, November, December 2021 – 3 Website Posts, 12 Social Media Posts, 6 Conservation Updates, 2 Monthly E-Newsletters, 1 ConserveAZ Magazine
- January, February, March 2022 – 3 Website Posts, 12 Social Media Posts, 8 Conservation Updates, 1 E-Newsletter, 1 ConserveAZ Magazine
- April, May, June 2022 - 3 Website Posts, 12 Social Media Posts, 8 Conservation Updates, 1 E-Newsletter, 1 ConserveAZ Magazine
- July, August, September 2022 - 3 Website Posts, 12 Social Media Posts, 8 Conservation Updates, 1 ConserveAZ Magazine
- October, November, December 2022 - 3 Website Posts, 12 Social Media Posts, 8 Conservation Updates, 1 ConserveAZ Magazine
LEARNING OUTCOMES & PROJECT OUTCOMES
- District Supervisors are becoming better informed leaders who are now able to provide knowledge and skills around locally-led conservation and sustainable agricultural practices.
- AACD has produced and added educational materials and e-learning videos to the online library to be used by agricultural professionals.
- Supervisors are being trained to be effective Local Work Group leaders, bringing together all local stakeholders to address resource concerns.
- AACD is increasing the number of producers who take advantage of the knowledge and resources available to them regarding resource conservation and land management best conservation practices.
- AACD is increasing the number of conservation practices implemented across Arizona’s agricultural lands.
- AACD is promoting sustainable, profitable agricultural operations in Arizona.
- District Supervisors and agricultural professionals are Increasing efficiency in production which is resulting in more, healthier food; an increase in resource conservation; and economic improvement in the community – more production means more jobs, means stable, sustainable agricultural/rural communities.
EVALUATION PROCESS
- Recording number of workshop trainees and their affiliations.
- August 11, 2021 – Landscape Level Conservation Planning:
- 85 Supervisors (81 are producers), 25 NRCS Staff, 10 Agricultural Consultants, 5 Conservation District Administrators
- November 9, 2021 – Threatened & Endangered Species Conservation Practices
- 25 Supervisors, 3 Forest Service, 3 NRCS, 2 AZ Game & Fish, 4 Agricultural Consultants, 2 District Administrators
- November 10th, 2021 – Threatened & Endangered Species Practices
- 8 Supervisors, 1 AZ Game & Fish, 3 Producers, 3 NRCS
- November 15th, 2021 – Arizona Department of Water Resources Water Law and Agriculture
- 22 Supervisors, 12 AZ Cattle Growers, 2 Farm Bureau, 5 Agriculture Consultants, 3 District Administrators, 2 County Supervisors, 3 NRCS
- January 20th, 2022 – Business Administration in the 21st Century
- Supervisors, 8 District Administrators, 5 NRCS, 2 University of Arizona, 1 County Supervisor
- January 21st, 2022 – Conservation Districts & MOUs
- 45 Supervisors, 20 District Administrators, 8 NRCS, 6 County Supervisors, 5 BLM, 2 University of Arizona, 2 Forest Service, 1 AZ Game & Fish
- March 21st, 2022 – USDA Regulatory Responsibilities
- 65 Supervisors, 15 NRCS
- April 27th, 2022 – Soil Health Education
- 15 Supervisors, 2 District Administrators, 6 NRCS, 3 AZ Land & Water Trust, 8 University of Arizona, 15 Producers, 2 County Supervisors, 1 Flood Control District, 1 Cochise Garden Club
- May 3rd, 2022 – Climate Smart Practices
- 18 District Supervisors, 1 District Administrator, 2 NRCS, 3 University of Arizona, 2 Society for Range Management, 3 Tribal Council, 3 County Supervisors, 1 Flood control
- May 5th 2022 – Archeology Compliance and Consultation Basics
- 65 Supervisors, 5 District Administrators, 5 Flood Control, 8 County Supervisors, 10 NRCS, 4 TC Archeologists, 8 State Archeologists, 2 BLM, 1 Forest Service, 2 AZ Game & Fish, 22 Producers, 4 AZ State Legislators
- July 15th, 2022 – Fire Mitigation
- 12 Supervisors, 5 Forest Service, 3 NRCS, 10 AZ Dept Fire & Forestry, 50 producers, 8 BLM, 3 AZ Legislators
- August 4th, 2022 – Climate Change and Agriculture
- 158 attendees of AACD annual conference – 89 Supervisors, 12 District Administrators, 3 NRCS, 3 National Association of Conservation Districts, 48 NGOs, 3 AZ State Legislators
- August 4th, 2022 – Water limitations and How they Impact Us
- 158 attendees of AACD annual conference – 89 Supervisors, 12 District Administrators, 3 NRCS, 3 National Association of Conservation Districts, 48 NGOs, 3 AZ State Legislators
- August 4th, 2022 – Multiple Use and Federal Lands
- 158 attendees of AACD annual conference – 89 Supervisors, 12 District Administrators, 3 NRCS, 3 National Association of Conservation Districts, 48 NGOs, 3 AZ State Legislators
- September 21, 2022 – Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
- 10 District Supervisors, 5 District Administrators, 2 Farm Bureau, 3 University of Arizona, 2 NRCS, 2 Society of Range Management, 2 AZ Cattle Growers, 2 Southwest Soil Society
- October 10th, 2022 – Lobbying Laws for Elected Officials
- 102 District Supervisors, 15 District Administrators, 1 County Supervisor, 2 Lobbyist Consultants, 2 AZ State Legislators
- November 3rd - Local Conservation Planning with Stakeholders
- 32 District Supervisors, 2 District Administrators, 12 NRCS, 3 County Supervisors
- December 19th, 2022 – Whitewater Draw Conservation Preserve
- 15 District Supervisors, 2 District Administrators, 3 NRCS, 50 Producers, 5 AZ Ducks Unlimited, 3 AZ Game & Fish, 5 WWD Wildlife Managers
- January 10, 2023 – Archeology Compliance and Consultation Basics PT 2
- 45 Supervisors, 3 District Administrators, 2 Flood Control, 2 County Supervisors, 8 NRCS, 2 TC Archeologists, 6 State Archeologists, 4 BLM, 15 Producers
- January 29, 2023 – Public Lands, Stakeholder Use and Rangelands
- 25 Producers, 7 Supervisors, 10 NRCS, 2 BLM, 2 USFS, 1 USGS
- February 1, 2023 – NRCS Programs Roll Out
- 68 Conservation Supervisors, 68 Producers
- April 14, 2023 – Conservation Stewardship Program
- 48 Producers, 12 NRCS, 12 Leadership
- April 24, 2023 – Climate Smart Practices – (Missing In Action)
- 12 Supervisor Leadership, 15 Producers, 5 Legislators
- April 26, 2023 – Soil and Water Monitoring Tour
- 10 Supervisor Leadership, 12 NRCS State Leadership, 5 Producers
- August 7-8, 2023 – AACD Annual Conference – Conservation Planning Panel
- 172 Attendees - District Supervisors, Producers, NRCS, AZGF, USFS, BLM, Sentinel Landscape, UofA, ASU
- Repeating numbers of applicants to NRCS assistance programs after each year.
- Year 1 – 56, Year 2 - 72
- Producers who are adopting or intending to adopt new practices.
- 122
- Grants Leveraged
- NRCS Conservation Planning - $20,000
- EPA Conservation Education Best Practices - $45,000
- NRCS Conservation Planning II – $20,000
- BLM Resource Rangeland Management Program - $30,000
- AZ Fire Mitigation Program - $20,000
- NACD Technical Assistance Grant - $50,000
- New Professional Collaborations
- Agribusiness Water Council
- Arizona Center for Rural Leadership
- Arizona Food Marketing Alliance
- Bayer Crop Science
- Intertribal Agriculture Council
- SW Vegetation Management Society
- Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Arizona Department of Fire and Forestry
- Counties – Gila, Cochise, Pima, Yavapai, Mohave, Apache, Graham, Yuma
- Kroger Foods
- Arizona Game & Fish
- Ducks Unlimited
- National Bank of Arizona
- US Forest Service
- AZ Archeologists
- Arizona State Historic and Preservation Office
- Arizona State Legislators
- Sentinel Landscape
- Resolution Copper
- Bayer
- Babbit Center
- Western Skies Advisory
- AgWest Farm Credit
- The Nature Conservancy
- Water Infrastructure Finance Authority
- Local First Arizona
- Arizona Land and Water Trust
- Summarizing results and sharing with NRCS and other interested stakeholders.
- All of our completed educational efforts in the form of videos are posted on our website library. We have held quarterly meetings with the NRCS leadership and quarterly with the BODs supervisors and updates at the annual conferences.
- How our project has affected sustainable agriculture.
- Over $20 million in conservation practices have been implemented due to outreach and education provided by the funding of this grant.
- Knowledge gained.
- Partnerships and stakeholders are needed to provide leveraging and support in order to get more landscape conservation work implemented on the ground. Education and outreach is necessary to help producers form the partnerships and find the proper funding pools to get the work done.
- We believe that this grant program is essential to provide support to organizations that help producers and ag professional leaders understand available funding programs and the science behind conservation practices
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
- District Supervisors are becoming better informed leaders who are now able to provide knowledge and skills around locally-led conservation and sustainable agricultural practices.
- AACD is in the process of uploading online library materials and e-learning videos to be used by agricultural professionals.
- Supervisors are being trained to be effective Local Work Group leaders, bringing together all local stakeholders to address resource concerns.
- AACD is increasing the number of producers who take advantage of the knowledge and resources available to them regarding resource conservation and land management best conservation practices.
- AACD is increasing the number of conservation practices implemented across Arizona’s agricultural lands.
- AACD is promoting sustainable, profitable agricultural operations in Arizona.
- District Supervisors and agricultural professionals are Increasing efficiency in production which is resulting in more, healthier food; an increase in resource conservation; and economic improvement in the community – more production means more jobs, means stable, sustainable agricultural/rural communities.