Master Farmer Workshop Series

Master Farmer Workshop Series

Summary

This project is a series of field-based workshops featuring Master Farmers at their farms. Each workshop includes a farm tour and a presentation by the Master Farmer on their experiences in sustainable agriculture. Topics include: Organic Farming, Agri-Tourism, Value-Added Products, Direct Marketing and Aquaponics. Each workshop includes additional specialist speakers on a related topic (e.g. marketing, food safety, etc.). Workshops target beginning and established farmers interested in learning more in order to improve their own operations, as well as other professionals from government, academia, agricultural consultants, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and concerned nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• Provide a forum to promote dialog between farmers and ranchers and specialists in the community, particularly those from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) at the University of Hawaii and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Foster a knowledge transfer among agricultural producers and professionals on O?ahu.
• Increase the understanding of agricultural professionals (government agents, ag consultants, SWCDs, NRCS, etc.) of diversified, sustainable agricultural businesses on O?ahu.
• Introduce farmers, especially beginning farmers and ranchers, to innovative and successful methods of sustainable agriculture.
• Provide opportunities for producers to visit farms and farmers they may have heard of and gain a first-hand understanding of how these successful businesses operate.
• Share information and successful sustainable agriculture techniques among those likely to use them via fact sheets, demonstrations, presentations and site visits.
• Build our existing e-bulletin subscriber list to further on-going communication with farmers, ranchers and agricultural professionals about programs, opportunities, information and issues.
• Establish a web-based forum for questions and answers concerning farming techniques, business strategies, pest control issues and other challenges facing O?ahu farmers.
• Post Questions and Answers on our website, along with fact sheets from workshops to provide broader reach for the information.

Accomplishments/Milestones

• Developed fact sheets for each of the Master Farmers’ operation and area of expertise

• Held five workshops in summer 2012

• Promoted opportunities to ask the master farmers questions

• Increased subscribers to our e-bulletin

• Received questions for and initial responses from the Master Farmers which need to be posted to the website. We will continue monitoring questions and responses and share important information with the community

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

237 attendees over the course of five workshops. Many people attended more than one, and six people attended all five workshops. (106 discreet individuals)

The information shared by our Master Farmers was well-received by the attendees. Many people commented that they enjoyed the farm tours and were inspired by the possibilities. The Master Farmers shared valuable insights, and the guest presenters offered additional information that can be useful to producers.

Consumer attendees also benefited by learning more about local agriculture production techniques and identifying ways they can support local farmers.

Collaborators: