Train the Trainer: a holistic approach to Integrated Resource Management and Grassland Revitalization

2004 Annual Report for ES04-073

Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2004: $93,908.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2006
Region: Southern
State: Mississippi
Principal Investigator:
Charles Flowers
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Co-Investigators:
Jane Parish
Mississippi State University Extension Service

Train the Trainer: a holistic approach to Integrated Resource Management and Grassland Revitalization

Summary

The trainer the trainer concept has met with tremendous success during the first 6.5 months of the Mississippi beef and forage focused project. Livestock/forage specialists, area agents, and county directors from the Mississippi State University Extension Service, staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, veterinarians, and numerous other leaders and educators in the Mississippi beef and forage industry have gained valuable information via the train the trainer program. Program efforts included educational information disseminated via face-to-face training sessions, field days, short courses, Extension and popular press articles, PowerPoint presentations, satellite-based distance education, radio, news releases, e-mail, and the internet. Topics addressed included forage management and utilization, cattle nutrition, marketing, NRCS programs, herd health, and financial management. Multi-county local groups or sustainable beef teams were formed throughout the state and promoted as “Cattlemen’s Exchange” groups. They interact as a group on a regular basis (usually monthly) and share research and production information. There is a growing demand to create additional Cattlemen’s Exchange groups. Program evaluations were been very positive and provided good suggestions for future training efforts.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Project Objectives
1) Recruit participants for sustainable beef teams.
2) Conduct seminars and workshops on a variety of relevant production and marketing topics for sustainable beef teams.
3) Develop educational materials to support training efforts for sustainable beef teams.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Major educational events for area and local trainers:
May 21, 2004 – Beef short course addressing genetic improvement, marketing options, national animal identification system attended by over 150 participants
August 17-18, 2004 – Cattle short course addressing in-depth cattle nutrition topics attended by over 130 participants
August 31, 2004 – Intense cattle marketing and economics workshop attended by over 25 participants
October 21-22, 2004 – Grazing school offering environmentally responsible research-backed forage production and utilization training attended by over 40 participants
October 22-24, 2004 – Artificial insemination school offering intensive classroom and hands-on education on a variety of topics attended by over 25 participants

Trainers produced detailed educational materials for each educational event as well as educational materials on additional topics for reference purposes.

Multi-county sustainable beef teams (Cattlemen’s Exchange groups) developed across the state began meeting regularly starting in May 2004 and continue to expand. Topics addressed in group meetings included nutrition, herd health, forages, marketing, bio-security, genetics, cost of production, building alliances, retained ownership, ultrasound, culling cow marketing, cattle facilities and handling, group purchasing, and alliance marketing. Cattlemen’s Exchange efforts were endorsed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Beef Cattle Improvement Association, and the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The educational success of training efforts has increased in visibility and support throughout Mississippi. Local sustainable beef teams or Cattlemen’s Exchange groups are gaining attention of major industry organizations and leaders, and participation is increasing. Information transfer to beef cattle and forage producers as a result of training efforts is widespread. Additional training needs were identified based on response to initial training programs and trainee and producer input. As a result, a variety of raining programs utilizing several different delivery methods are scheduled for 2005 to build upon the foundation established by initial training efforts.

Collaborators:

Richard Watson

rwatson@pss.msstate.edu
Assistant Extension/Research Professor
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Box 9555
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Office Phone: 6623255463
Blair McKinley

bmckinley@ads.msstate.edu
Extension Professor
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Box 9815
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Office Phone: 6623253691