Progress 08/01/24 to 07/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes a cross-section of students currently registered in the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University (VSU) in addition to future applicants (K - 16 students from schools within our region) and the K- 16 teachers. Tothis point, the project has focused on reaching the VSU college student audience through several methods: faculty engagement through courses, flyers, student club leadership. Faculty engagement in courses - Professors are promoting opportunities for students in their classes to get involved in project activities, and integrating the opportunities into course work. Flyers - Physical and digital flyers are developed and distributed to raise awareness among student body. Student club leadership - The project is working directly with the leadership of student organizations in the College including MANRRS, the horticulture club and the pre-vet club. Dr Neil Brown, the grant coordinator, has been able to facilitate this engagement, as he serves as a co-advisor for both MANRRS and the Pre-Vet club. Changes/Problems:Virginia State University has a significant population of first-generation students and developing experiential learning opportunities that are appropriate for our students that do not assume a certain level of prior knowledge, experiences of interest, requires attention to the factors that motivate students. It has been a challenge therefore to get large numbers of student participation as each student requires a level of attention that does not align with a mass marketing approach. We continue to work through academic advisors and instructors to identify interested students and to be pro-active in reaching out to them early in their academic journey. In addition, we have also had some challenge in finding appropriate leaders for our hack-a-thons and plan to reach out to other 1890s who have had more success in this area to determine if a collaboration may be feasible. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training has taken various forms based on the target group. Undergraduate students have gained training via preparation for various MANRRS competitions. All 14 students that attended the MANRRS regional conference in 2024 participated in various competitions. This was an opportunity for Chapter advisors and other faculty to train students in communication, presentation and various topical areas. Two of our students placed first and second in the Elevator Pitch competition, One placed second in the Impromptu competition. This training continued as six students participated in the MANRRS National Conference competitions. Training for undergrads also took the form of hands-on skills during the Grazing School that also allowed students to develop their systems thinking skills and integrate social, environmental, animal welfare and wellness and ethical topics into various decision-making processes. Teacher training workshop allowed teachers to be trained in the use of educational technologies the incorporation of these technologies into their classroom. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?So far, we have not focused on disseminating results, however, Dr Brown is currently working on an article to be published in the Small Farms Outreach Newsletter regarding one of the field experiences for students and will continue to assess this approach as a mechanism for sharing results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan on repeating all the activities that were conducted in the current reporting period in the next reporting period. In addition, we plan on developing competitions and other mechanisms for engaging students and providing financial support. We are also exploring ways to partner with other 1890s to host a Hack-a-thon and to increase the experiential learning opportunities for our students. There are other grants that have been used to support internship opportunities and non-formal educational activities that are ending. The programs have helped to establish relationships with corporate as well as academic institutions and as we move into the next reporting period, there are opportunities to build upon these successes as part of the NextGen set of deliverables.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Artificial Insemination certification: Students acquired artificial insemination certification that can be used to enhance their resume and make them competitive for internships and the workforce Grazing School: Responses below are a sample from a survey provided to students about the grazing school, in response to the question "Would you recommend this grazing school to other students? If so, explain why." "Yes, I would highly recommend grazing school to other students because it was such a valuable, rewarding learning experience with interactive hands on experiences and activities that made learning so exciting!" "Yes. It's a good way to see your major/concentration in action." "I think this grazing school is beneficial to other students because it gives them the proper opportunity and skills and knowledge to understand about the soil, forage, and animal welfare and how they roles benefit each." Women in hospitality leadership conference: This opportunity led to a number of internship opportunities for students including an internship with the Dallas Cowboys working alongside a well-known chef in the industry. Teacher training workshop: The teacher training workshop has continued to strengthen relationships with schools surrounding the Virginia State University (VSU) campus and has allowed for a mechanism for teachers to be more actively involved in the planning process for future workshops as the learn more about the resources, opportunities and various ways of partnering with VSU.

Publications