2021 Tennessee Model State Program - Program Assistant

Commodities

Practices

The University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University wish to continue the sustainable agriculture training the SARE program offers to Extension agents, specialists and other agriculture professionals.  In meeting training needs we will look to gather input from regional agriculture program leaders, Extension agents, program partners, producers and continued input from the state SARE Advisory Committee.  The program assistant will continue to focus upon promoting/awareness of the SARE program and developing programs impacting sustainable agriculture.  The state co-coordinators will continue to work with and support the program assistant to implement programs promoting and having an impact on sustainable agriculture.   All training opportunities offered will continue to be in line with the mission of SARE to include: 

Profitability for the farm

Taking care of the water and land resources on the farm

Providing a quality of life that looks to research and education

Emphasizing Production 

We will also work with agriculture professionals that find other training opportunities to participate in as long as these trainings relate to the mission of the SARE program.  These will be treated on a case-by-case basis and the determination of these trainings in meeting the mission of SARE will be determined by the state co-coordinators and the program assistant.  All trainees will be required to report on their training opportunities so program impact can be determined and reported.  Impacts will be provided in the annual SARE report and the proper Extension reporting areas.

Extension Agents, Specialists and other agriculture professionals (trainers) will be provided training that relates to and teaches them about sustainable agriculture. These teaching methods will be via in-service trainings, tours, conferences, educational meetings, participation in professional development activities that will center around the message of sustainability in today's agriculture environment and possible ZOOM sessions if COVID restrictions remain in place.  The expected outcomes of participants will be an increase in knowledge and awareness levels relating to sustainable agriculture, thus enabling the trainers to better communicate the benefits of sustainability to the clients they serve.  Over time, practice changes will be noted to farming operations thus showing the adaptability farmers/producers have made due to the level of knowledge gained on various subject matters.  Practice changes will be noted via informal interviews with producers and by farm and on-site visits.  The overall objective of this program is to relate to the producer/landowner the ideas of SARE: profitability of the farm over time; taking care of the soil, water and other resources; the overall quality of life to be enjoyed while involved in agriculture pursuits and focusing on productivity of the farm.