BEHAVE Facilitator's Network

BEHAVE Facilitator's Network

Summary

In 2007, we held workshops for facilitators in Washington, California and Montana. This year we trained 62 facilitators for a total of 118 facilitators. Based on evaluations from participants, workshops were well organized and provided new and useful information. We continue to work on the BEHAVE Facilitators Network website http://www.behave.net/BFN/BFN_facilitators.html.

In 2008, we are planning our final workshop in Nevada. We will also send out questionnaires to determine if the materials are being used by agency personnel and if their presentations have resulted in any management changes by producers.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Our primary objective is to educate state extension personnel and personnel from the Natural Resources Conservation Service about the power of using animal behavior to manage animals and agricultural and ecological systems.

To meet that end in 2008 we will:

1. Conduct the final workshop in Nevada by the end of March 2008.

2. Continue to update the BEHAVE Facilitators Network website.

3. Create additional examples and project updates in PowerPoint for recently trained facilitators.

4. Create additional slide shows with notes using less scientific jargon and graphs. The slide shows will use more layman’s terms and appropriate for any audience.

Understanding how to shape animal behavior will ultimately help producers improve animal production, the land, and their economic viability.

Accomplishments/Milestones

1. Finished the BEHAVE Facilitators Handbook

We modified the notebook after receiving comments from state facilitators. The notebook includes: 1) a description of the BEHAVE Facilitators Network, 2) tips and hints for successful presentations and workshops, 3) information about learning styles and adoption of new information 4) copies of PowerPoint slides, 5) 26 fact sheets, 6) examples of applying behavior principles in livestock and wildlife management and 7) step-by step instructions for training animals for demonstrations. It also includes 3 CDs and 4 DVDs. CDs include: 1) 9 annotated slide shows that overview the principles of behavior, 2) an online course about behavior, 3) a video CD designed for producers entitled “Using livestock behavior on your operation”. DVDs include: 1) “Foraging behavior”, 2) “Turning cows into weed managers,” 3) video clips of animals demonstrating behavior principles, and 4) interviews with producers. The materials also include the booklet “Foraging Behavior: Managing to Survive in a World of Change”

2. Held workshops for nine states.

We held workshops for facilitators in Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California and Montana. In addition to the 10 state coordinators we trained in 2005 and 46 facilitators in 2006, we trained 62 in 2007 for a total of 118 facilitators. Based on evaluations from participants, workshops were well organized and provided new and useful information.

3. Created the BEHAVE Facilitators Network website.

We continue to work on the BEHAVE Facilitators Network website: http://www.behave.net/BFN/BFN_facilitators.html. Providing additional examples and materials such as a new fact sheet “Mineral Nutrition: Are animals nutritionally wise?” and Behavior Facts an annotated list of facts about livestock behavior.

The website includes: 1) a list of facilitators by state, 2) research updates from the BEHAVE project, 3) additional examples for facilitators, 4) pdf files of the BFN handbook, 5) presentation tips, and 6) workshop summaries.

Next year we will:

1. Conduct our final workshop in Nevada.

2. Add more information to the BEHAVE Facilitators Website.

3. Create additional slide shows with notes using less scientific jargon and graphs. The slide shows will use more layman’s terms and appropriate for any audience.

4. Follow-up with facilitators to see if and how they are using the information they received at their training.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

By December 2007:
We had trained 10 state coordinators and 108 facilitators.

We had distributed an additional 20 notebooks to various personnel working as educators.

Our workshop reviews have been very positive with several participants commenting that the BEHAVE Facilitators Workshop was one of the best trainings they had attended in a long time.

Educators in Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Montana tell me that they have given several talks on the principles of animal behavior to producer groups in their states.

In 2008, we will follow-up with facilitators to see how the materials are being used and if any new practices are being implemented.

Collaborators: