Training the Trainers in Community-based Food Systems: a project-oriented case study team approach

Training the Trainers in Community-based Food Systems: a project-oriented case study team approach

Summary

This two year project is focused on training extension-led, county-based teams in community based food systems including project development and implementation. From responses to a call for participation, 6 county-based teams were selected from around the state. Chosen participants attended a two-day initial intensive training covering all aspects of community-based food systems. They are currently receiving specific planning assistance for their own county projects. Our Project Team, and others as needed, are serving as consultants providing ongoing support as each team develops and implements their project.
During year two, the county-based team will select, train, and mentor a county-based team in an adjacent county with a “passing on the gift” approach, ultimately developing a total of 12 counties trained and networked through Extension. At the end of year two, we will conduct a short-course at Southern SAWG to share this approach (successes and challenges) across the Southeast.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• Objective 1. Food Systems Education: for and with extension

  • Hire administrative support, program evaluator and project manager: completed July, 2009
  • Host a Project Team meeting, review farmer needs (based on 1 ½ year long statewide initiative with six regional meetings and statewide summit), develop RFP to select extension, led teams, develop agenda and resources for training: completed January, 2010 (see attached list of Request for Proposals, and Project Teams Selected
  • Develop website for project, provides tools and resources, highlight case studies, and links project teams and collaborators: currently using Base Camp for many of these functions, as county-based projects get underway, we will have public page on CEFS website.
  • Conduct information sessions for cooperative extension upper administration and County Directors about the program: As part of this grant and an additional project to implement a 10% campaign in North Carolina, the NC Cooperative Extension Service has agreed to designate a local food coordinator in every county.
  • Release a RFP for selection of county based teams (released in October, 2009, see attached).
  • Conduct a two-day intensive and comprehensive training about food systems (completed February 25 and 26, see attached agenda)

  Objective 2. Food Systems Project Development: hands-on learning

  • Activities for Objective 2 are just getting underway (including project development, assigning consultative teams, establishing evaluation logic models, monthly conference calls, etc.

  Objective 3, Collaborative Training System: Passing on the Gift

  • This objective will take place wholly in year 2 of the project, however, a grant proposal for $9,000 was submitted to the Alces Foundation to fund the implementation of year 2 projects.

• RFP.doc
• 2010 PDP workshop final agenda.pdf
• Team Overview.pdf

Accomplishments/Milestones

• • Staff hired
  • Project Team conference calls to establish requirements for RFP and training format
  • RFP distributed statewide to all county extension persoonel
  • Evaluated submitted proposals and selected 6 counties to participate
  • Developed and implemented 2 day intensive training
  • Developed an initial set of resources and training materials to be added to as project develops
  • Developed base camp project management site for all teams to communicate among themselves and with other teams, and to share important resources
  • Providing support to county-based teams as they develop their projects (including development of logic models. Consultants to be assigned as project design is finalized

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Most to be determined through current evaluation efforts. However, evaluation from the two-day training showed that for:

90% rated their overall satisfaction with the training from 8-10 (on a scale of 10)
100% believe they gained useful information they will use
100% have confidence in their team’s ability to create a successful project
The number one most valuable aspect of the training was seeing different projects from across the state

Collaborators: