1995 Annual Report for ENC95-009
A Comprehensive Educational Program for "Training the Trainers" in Sustainable Agriculture in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa
Summary
The agreed upon, broad working goal of this proposal is to utilize the leadership that exists within the sustainable farming community to influence the future of agriculture, rural and urban communities to achieve socially, environmentally and economically sustainable farms and communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. To that end we have conducted or planned several participatory training activities attended by extension agents and specialists, agency personnel, farmers and other interested parties.
Specifically, 10 decision case workshops on sustainable agriculture topics have been held in Minnesota, two in Wisconsin, and one in Iowa. We have had 135 participants attend the trainings representing Extension, NRCS, local and state water districts and other related agencies; the evaluations have been very positive. A three-state bus tour coordinated by the Iowa project participants in conjunction with participants from Wisconsin and Minnesota was held July 1-2, 1996. The tour was attended by 60 people who participated in facilitated discussions, informal networking and tours of three farms in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Another workshop will be held in Iowa in 1998. In Wisconsin, local workshops have been held and the Farming Systems Workshop was held on September 8-9, 1997. The program focused on cropping systems, with an emphasis on systems analysis tools. The agreed upon, broad working goal of this proposal is to utilize the leadership that exists within the sustainable farming community to influence the future of agriculture, rural and urban communities to achieve socially, environmentally and economically sustainable farms and communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. To that end we have conducted or planned several participatory training activities attended by extension agents and specialists, agency personnel, farmers and other interested parties.
Specifically, 10 decision case workshops on sustainable agriculture topics have been held in Minnesota, two in Wisconsin, and one in Iowa. We have had 135 participants attend the trainings representing Extension, NRCS, local and state water districts and other related agencies; the evaluations have been very positive. A three-state bus tour coordinated by the Iowa project participants in conjunction with participants from Wisconsin and Minnesota was held July 1-2, 1996. The tour was attended by 60 people who participated in facilitated discussions, informal networking and tours of three farms in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Another workshop will be held in Iowa in 1998. In Wisconsin, local workshops have been held and the Farming Systems Workshop was held on September 8-9, 1997. The program focused on cropping systems, with an emphasis on systems analysis tools.
North Central Region SARE 1997 Annual Report.