Sustaining a Desirable Quality of Life through New Agricultural Opportunities for Farm Families on Small Farms

Sustaining a Desirable Quality of Life through New Agricultural Opportunities for Farm Families on Small Farms

Summary

The goal of this program is to enhance the ability of extension agents and other information providers to reach traditionally under-served farm families on small farms with sustainable agriculture information and educational programs. The specific objective was to increase awareness among extension workers and other information providers of information delivery methods and new opportunities for enhancing the economic viability of small farms by focusing on ecologically sound and socially responsible farming and marketing alternatives which fit well with small, family farming operations.

A professional development experience was produced and conducted in conjunction with the national 1996 Small Farm Today (SFT) Magazine Seminar and Trade Show in Columbia, MO. The Trade Show is an annual event sponsored by SFT each November. Seminars include nationally known speakers; however, most speakers are just small farmers making their systems work. Small groups of workshop participants were given team assignments based on case studies representing different small farm situations. Assignments included: 1) listening to seminar speakers, talking with trade show exhibitors and asking questions; 2) making individual and collaborative assessments of the economic, ecological, and social sustainability implications of different ideas, enterprises, methods, or products at the trade show; and 3) developing a team report for new opportunities for families on case study farms.

Each team included two or more Small Farm Family Educational Assistants and at least one Extension Specialist, and each team was as diverse with respect to home-state, farmer/non- farmer and specialization by discipline, commodity or type of farming. The presence of SFFP Educational Assistants on each team helped create a co-learning situation between those with stronger backgrounds in sustainable agriculture and those with more experience in addressing the unique needs of small farm families. Verbal evaluations were solicited at the end of the program, and written evaluations were returned by participants two months later. Evaluations were positive concerning aspects of the program that should not be changed, with good suggestions for improvement.

In the written evaluation, participants were asked to rank on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest): 1) what they gained in understanding and knowledge; and 2) the usefulness of what they learned in carrying out their work back home. Nineteen people responded to an evaluation request a year later (in 1997). They were asked to evaluate the extent to which they ‘used’ what they learned at the program on their farms or with others working in sustainable agriculture. One represented not at all and a 10 meant to a great extent. The average of all responses reported was 7.76, indicating, on average those attending considered the program to have been highly useful in supporting their work over the past year.

North Central Region SARE 1997 Annual Report.

See also ENC97-016.

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