Progress 04/01/06 to 03/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: To date the MBCI FRTEP Agent has enacted an average of 30 educational activities and created four programs unique to the Choctaw Tribe. These programs were created to address needs and reach cliental in ways that relate more to the tribe's culture. These programs may not be successful off reservation land, but have proven to be most beneficial for tribal people. The programs created are: 1. H.E.A.R.T. -"Horticulture Education and Resource Teaching." The H.E.A.R.T. Program shows tribal members the importance of good sound cultural practices, soil fertility, weed management, crop rotation and how to use herbicides correctly. 2. E.T.D. - "Education Through Demonstration." This program places raised beds in high traffic areas of the tribal communities. This demonstrates to tribal members that crops can be grown in small spaces, and produce crops year round with a manipulated environment. This also demonstrates you don't need a traditional garden space to enjoy fresh vegetables. 3. "Play for Goal" - is a program created to combat obesity and other health related topics. The way this programs works is a volleyball or basket ball tournament is organized to boost program participation. Before and after the tournament, educational brochures and speakers are there to give healthy lifestyle information to participants. This program is taken to all tribal communities and has proven to educate an average of 75 tribal members per program. 4. W.I.B. - "Where it Begins" - was created to address the need of exposing tribal children to Agriculture and Natural Resources. This program also addresses the need to expose children that live in rural communities to these things that they may other- wise never see. The program targets children that are enrolled in the 4-H Program, Tribal Schools, or Boys and Girls Club. To date this program has taken approximately 300 children to Mississippi: Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife Management Areas, Forestry Businesses, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Stations, Catfish Farms, Sweet Potato Farms, and various livestock facilities. In addition to creating educational venues, the FRTEP agent is spearheading an idea to get the tribe involved in Niche Market Agriculture. The agent has put together a coalition of tribal members and departments to explore the opportunity to produce hominy corn for retail stores throughout the state. The hope (at this point) is to obtain a grant to secure funds for seed, bags, etc. to get started. Since hominy is a cultural food, the tribe hopes to share its culture and educate others about traditional ways, and expand or create and agricultural based economy for tribal farmers. PARTICIPANTS: To date the MBCI FRTEP Agent has enacted an average of 30 educational activities and created four programs unique to the Choctaw Tribe. These programs were created to address needs and reach cliental in ways that relate more to the tribe's culture. The programs created are: 1. H.E.A.R.T. - "Horticulture Education and Resource Teaching." The H.E.A.R.T. Program shows tribal members the importance of good sound cultural practices, soil fertility, weed management, crop rotation and how to use herbicides correctly. 2. E.T.D. - "Education Through Demonstration." This program places raised beds in high traffic areas of the tribal communities. This demonstrates to tribal members that crops can be grown in small spaces, and produce crops year round with a manipulated environment. This also demonstrates you don't need a traditional garden space to enjoy fresh vegetables. 3. "Play for Goal" - is a program created to combat obesity and other health related topics. The way this programs works is a volleyball or basket ball tournament is organized to boost program participation. Before and after the tournament, educational brochures and speakers are there to give healthy lifestyle information to participants. This program is taken to all tribal communities and has proven to educate an average of 75 tribal members per program. 4. W.I.B. - "Where it Begins" - was created to address the need of exposing tribal children to Agriculture and Natural Resources. This program also addresses the need to expose children that live in rural communities to these things that they may other- wise never see. The program targets children that are enrolled in the 4-H Program, Tribal Schools, or Boys and Girls Club. To date this program has taken approximately 300 children to Mississippi: Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife Management Areas, Forestry Businesses, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Stations, Catfish Farms, Sweet Potato Farms, and various livestock facilities TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences were members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Working closely with the Tribal Departments, for example, Choctaw Tribal Schools, Tribal Recreation Department, Tribal Businesses, Forestry Department, Wildlife Department, and the Department of Natural Resources and Rural Development, FRTEP has made important contacts with these department directors. These departments have been very receptive to Extension Service training for their employees. In conjunction with these audiences, I meet with advisory council members to discuss topics that will interest the general public as well. For all programs, I use advertisements in newspaper, T.V., fliers and face-to-face contacts. Also, one of the more effective strategies that I have found that works is that of audiences of an arranged capacity. Audience members are required to attend by department directors of various tribal agencies. In this manner, meetings are held at their work place during their work hours. The Extension Service in a sense is being taken to the audience. Program delivery methods used are: Lecture with visual aids, hands-on-training, field days, and short-courses. Through important partnerships with the Tribal Department of Natural Resources and Rural Development, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Tribal Forestry Department, the Extension service has been enabled to in-act an average of 30 educational programs each year with an evaluation process that makes each program better or more effective than the one before.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 04/01/07 to 03/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Recruiting is underway to increase membership in 4-H clubs. Forestry is specifically being targeted with a goal of participation in the Forestry Contest at Club Congress.Programs and information are being offered in the area of blueberry production. A series of safety trainings are being offered. Newspaper articles and television segments are promoting local Farmer's Markets. The Horticulture Education And Resource Teaching ( H.E.A.R.T.) program has expanded from one to four communities with enrollment increasing from one or two each year to seven family home gardens with the potential to reach more than 100 people in four of the eight communities. Newsletters with relevant information are published quarterly and other commodity specific information is provided in letter format as needed. The Extension Service has become a valuable resource for training child care providers. PARTICIPANTS: Jim McAdory TARGET AUDIENCES: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No Project Modifications information reported.
Impacts
Overall, the Choctaw Indian Reservation Program is very successful. Program highlights since the grant initiation include visits by more than 100 4-Her's to off-reservation educational sites such as a sweet-potato farm, wildlife refuges, forest product industrial sites, Mississippi State University College of Ag. and Life Sciences, and multiple livestock facilities. Herbicide selection and application programs were offered to both home gardeners and horticulture workers. Casino groundsworkers feel that they are saving more than $1000 per year due to increased use of herbicides. Through Extension programming the Pearl River Resort and the school grounds athletic department has started using preventative measures with fungicides and other cultural practices (watering times,mowing heights, etc).
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 04/01/06 to 03/31/07
Outputs
This grant provides Extension Service programming for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI). The goal is to provide researched-based information, education programs, and technology transfer focused on issues and needs of the people which enables them to make informed decisions about their economic, social, and cultural well-being. The MBCI Extension office is given direction through an advisory council. The program has averaged 24 educational activities since 2000. The year of 2006 stayed on that average by conducting programs as seen necessary by the tribal advisory council. Programs carried out by this office were in areas of 4H, horticulture, forestry, wildlife/fisheries, nutrition, and consumer education. Two-hundred and twelve tribal members and employees participated in a 12 week program. Approximately three-quarters finished the program with a combined weight loss of 309 pounds and 12 members joined local gyms. The HEART program saw gains from 2 to 4
communities represented and membership from 4 to 7 tribal families. The casino grounds department participated in many programs dealing with herbicide use. The Extension Office assisted in conducting hunter education classes. Two classes were conducted with approximately 30 youth attending and a 100% pass rate.
Impacts
The Casino grounds department implemented herbicide recommendations and started spraying areas that were previously maintained by manual labor. They had an annual savings of $5800.00 directly related to education provided by Extension.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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