Kentucky Sheep and Goat Herder Curriculum - Phase I

Kentucky Sheep and Goat Herder Curriculum - Phase I

Summary

NOTE: Due to delays in initial funding, SARE approved a 12-month no-cost extension for this project. A final report will be filed in 2010.

Project work continued as revisions were made to course content based upon peer review, new NRC guidelines, and stakeholder input. An advisory panel and farmer-instructors were selected, and Summit participants reviewed course content. Face-to-face trainings are scheduled for late April, 2009.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Due to delays in funding and staffing, most objectives and performance targets are yet to be met. With the launch of the web-based course, agent/farmer-instructor training, and pilot sessions imminent, these goals are anticipated to be reached within the 12-month extension period.

Summit participants did express “customer satisfaction” with course content at Summit meetings held during a Goat Symposium October 14 – 16, 2008 at Kentucky State University (KSU). “Most folks don’t realize how much time and work is involved in a project like this…we appreciate it,” one producer remarked.

Accomplishments/Milestones

What work has been accomplished?

Since the last report, the 3rd Kentucky Sheep and Goat Summit meetings were held in conjunction with a Goat Symposium at KSU in October. An overview of the project was presented to all symposium attendees during an after-dinner session. The following day, previous Summit participants were presented, and commented upon, slide sets developed from three of the four course modules (Introduction, Forages, and Herd Health). Recommended revisions were recorded and incorporated into course content.

The fourth module – Nutrition – has undergone extensive revisions. The University of Kentucky (UK) beef nutritionist reviewing the module experienced health problems, and a UK dairy specialist replaced him. Additionally, new guidelines from the 2007 “Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants: Sheep, Goats, Cervids, and New World Camelids” (National Research Council(NRE)) were evaluated and incorporated as appropriate. The module was completed in February, and has replaced the original version online. Slide sets for the module are near completion.

Formal in-service trainings have been scheduled for UK Extension agents (Agricultural and Natural Resources and 4-H/Youth Development) and KSU Small Farm Assistants (April 28 in western Kentucky (KY), April 30 in east-central KY). Informal trainings for farmer-instructors (due to part-time nature of operations, they cannot attend during normal business hours) and other interested agricultural professionals will be arranged shortly thereafter.

Course content is being/will be reviewed by the advisory panel, which consists of:

Four farmer-instructors representing three operations (goat producer, east-central KY; sheep and goat producers (couple), northern KY; goat producer, south-central KY); a goat producer from south-central KY; the Executive Director of the KY Sheep and Goat Development Office; and the former President of the KY Sheep and Wool Producers Association.

What work is left to do?

-Completion of face-to-face trainings
-Incorporation of any revisions from trainees and advisory panel
-Public launch of web-based resources
-Facilitation of pilot field presentations
-Completion of evaluation instruments, press releases, surveys, etc.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Despite delays and challenges, we feel the project will ultimately accomplish the original goal:

The online course, professional development training, and field-deliverable curriculum materials will amplify the efforts of a limited cadre of state small ruminant specialists to extend education to producers in KY and other Southern Region states.

The project team appreciates SARE’s understanding of our challenges to meet original timelines, and the extension of the project will allow development and delivery of a quality product.

Since the last report, we have been fortunate to receive ancillary funding, which supports two UK Animal and Food Sciences graduate students’ part-time work. These students are participating in and contributing to the final stages of work.

We intend to engage trainees in a robust discussion of appropriate future steps to build upon this project’s core curriculum.

Collaborators: