Progress 05/15/09 to 05/14/13
Outputs
Target Audience: : The target audiences are Indian agriculture producers, tribal staff, tribal leaders and youth on Nevada's reservations. Programs will be specifically targeted toward three participating reservations: the Walker River Reservation, the Duck Valley Reservation and the Pyramid Lake Reservation. These are the largest reservations in Nevada based on acreage and agricultural production. Other Nevada reservations and colonies will not be eliminated from participation in project programs developed and offered through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, but funding limitations are a barrier to providing comprehensive programming to all reservations statewide Changes/Problems: Our scope of work was reduced in some areas due to funding reduction and funding availability. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Nevada FRTEP program personnel have attended workshop training which has enhanced the professional skills and experience of our staff, has included: Ecologically Based Invasive Plant Management (Managing and controlling invasive weed species) Understanding American Indian Land Tenure and the American Indian Probate Reform Act Food Safety Professional Development Training (Keeping Produce Safe on the Farm, Train the Trainer) Federal Income Tax Reporting Webinars (designed for the USDA Keepseagle Settlement Payments) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nevada Indian Country Extension (NICE) This publication is produced three times a year illustrating Nevada FRTEP workshops and projects (picture illustrated), upcoming and past events on Indian Reservations, USDA program announcements, and other events that affecting Indian Country.This publication is distributed as an electronic newsletter that is sent out on our tribal list serve, listed on our website, and a number of hard copies are distributed throughout the state through the tribal office locations and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices. Our results are also disseminated through our workshops which are designed for the concept of train the trainer. (i.e. word of mouth and show me how) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our accomplishments are accounted for in the following categories: Hoop Houses Successes Have constructed eighteen (18) low cost Utah State style hoop houses throughout the state of Nevada. Duck Valley (6) Pyramid Lake (2) Walker River (3) Duckwater (1) Ely (2) Yerington (1) Carson High School (1) Mineral County (1) Logandale (1) Currently have a request for one in Yomba and one at the Reno Sparks Indian Colony Have constructed one (1) metal kit in Duck Valley Have assisted individuals to apply for the NRCS Hoop House cost share program in Duck Valley (3). Successful harvests occurred in 2012 at the hoop house locations providing fresh fruits and vegetables to individual farmers and the community Have conducted various workshops educating hoop house managers on the best methods of growing, operation, plant selection, planting schedules, enterprise budgets for retail options, and providing interaction among growers for discussing successes and failures. FRTEP agents have successfully completed Food Safety Professional Development Training for future workshop and trainings on the Reservations. Veggies For Kids: Grow Strong The Veggies for Kids: Grow Strong (GS) program successfully completed its seventh year. GS objectives directly support a focus on healthy eating and behaviors associated with reduced childhood obesity risk. Its intent is to promote increased vegetable and fruit intakes, whole grains, water and nutrient rich beverages, regular physical activity and increased appreciation and use of healthy traditional American Indian foods. Successes The VFK program has demonstrated significant increases in participating children’s ability to identify and preference for fruits and vegetables, while increasing reported physical activity and lessening reported consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. From pre-testing to post-testing, the increases were seen in: Recognition of the MyPyramid for Kids food groups. Ability to correctly identify several common vegetables. Willingness to taste previously untried vegetables Reported preferences for selected vegetables Reported physical activity Exposure to traditional food sources and gathering techniques (as a means to build cultural pride while promoting less processed foods). The grade 2 and 3 VFK curriculum was taught at the two participating schools, reaching four teachers and 80 students with its grade-specific 10-lessons series. The school wide fruit-tasting event (OCS only) provided an additional educational opportunity for OCS schools’ students and staff.Direct program contacts totaled 1,118. To engage parents, weekly take-home assignments required parent participation. Three newsletters were provided (resulting in 1,230 indirect contacts) while the Team Nutrition Smart Choices (TNSC) weekly Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) flyers resulted in approximately 7,480 additional indirect contacts. Risk Management Administration (RMA) Workshops The FRTEP program has collaborated with RMA with participation in a funding request that was submitted by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, which has a primary goal of sustaining farming and ranching businesses activities on the Indian Reservations. Information was disseminated through on reservation workshops covering the following topics: Record Keeping and Credit Availability Hoop House Construction and Demonstration Orchard Establishment and Pruning Techniques American Indian Tax Issue Workshops (Filing Federal Income Tax Returns on Indian Reservations) USDA Fire and Drought Assistance for Nevada Agriculture Products Irrigation Pipeline/Land Leveling/ Stock Water field demonstration projects University of Nevada Cooperative Extension The target audiences of the FRTEP programming also were invited to attend workshops sponsored by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension programs which included: Field Crops Old vs. New (Herds and Harvest Program) Processing & Selling Locally Grown Meat (Herds and Harvest Program) Grow Your Own (UNCE Horticulture Program Specialist) Land Leveling and Pipeline All of the Nevada reservations have water delivery challenges that are produced just by the location and size of the individual farming tracts. The majority of the irrigable land on the reservations is parallel to the river systems where the irrigation water is obtained. This has created a land layout system that is long and narrow. Many of the main delivery ditches are not large enough to allow a sufficient number of irrigator/operators to irrigate at the same time, creating a rotational waiting list for those wanting to irrigate crops and at times allowing crops to dry up while waiting for water. This situation has not been beneficial to the development of utilizing alternative crops as a means of producing higher farming revenues. Successes Parcels of land that have employed the land leveling practice have reduced irrigation times by a third to one half the time taken before the practice was implemented resulting in significant water savings and increased crop production. Parcels of land that have constructed irrigation pipelines have reduced irrigation times by one third to on half the time, especially during the summer months where weeds and plant growth reduce the quantities of water getting to the fields irrigated, andvirtually eliminates the maintenance issues. The Natural Resource Conservation Service through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) also has a 90 % cost share program available to implement the land leveling, irrigation pipeline, and fencing construction practices. Nevada FRTEP has been assisting individual farmers and ranchers to apply and implement approved practices Engaging Youth Serving Communities Program (EYSC) funded through National 4?H Council In collaboration with the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program the community built a Hoop House to start vegetable production. Tribal members were educated in the construction of a Hoop House and then the project was built. This partnership has developed a reconnection between youth and tribal elders and a rekindle pride in the reservation community. The teen leadership group also identified a community clean-up project to eliminate graffiti. Their first project is the painting of a water tank which is a community visual focal point and is covered in graffiti. The teens have designed a mural that will be painted on the water tower which depicts native pride a connection between tribal elders and youth. The teens are working with local artists and tribal elders to develop a common vision. Additionally, teens are working with tribal leadership to incorporate youth voice within the tribal council.. The youth have started working with their tribal leaders and tribal council which wasn’t being done prior. The youth are working towards providing a better living environment, taking small steps to improve their community. Through community beautification and the hoop house project, the youth and adults will be able to work collaboratively to improve their community Funding Leveraging The contact base that Nevada FRTEP established, has created collaboration opportunities to secure additional funding in addition to the available FRTEP funding base. The funding leveraged in 2012 -2013 are: Veggies for Kids: Grow Strong Nevada Food Nutrition Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education. Funding Leveraged $20029 Risk Management Agency (RMA) Funding Leveraged $42328 Western Sare 2011 Funding Leveraged $3000 Engaging Youth Serving Communities Program Funding Leveraged $2000 Nevada Mining Companies Funding Leveraged $7500 Total Funding Leveraged $74857 Number of Farmer Contacts 1327 Number of Acres Improved 868 Number of Youth Contacts 11807 Number of Community Contacts 25935 Number of Volunteers 203 Number of Community Gardens 3
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension,Native Programs, Nevada Indian Country Extension (NICE)
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Progress 05/15/11 to 05/14/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Financial Workshops:Nevada FRTEP is collaborating with the Office of Special Trustee and existing UNCE extension personnel to conduct four workshops covering record keeping, tax management, enterprise budgeting, credit score management, and IIM account management options on the Duck Valley, Duckwater, Walker River, and Pyramid Lake Indian Reservations. Hoop House (Nine Constructed):Nevada FRTEP has conducted hoop house construction workshops on the Duck Valley and Pyramid Lake reservations with six hoop houses being constructed on the Duck Valley reservation and one was constructed at the Natchez Elementary School on the Pyramid Lake reservation. Goals of the Hoop House Construction program are three fold. The first is to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to individual families. The second is to provide fresh fruits and vegetables community wide. The third goal is to evolve this concept into a sustainable income producing enterprise. Veggies For Kids:Grow Strong:Our program directly supports a focus on healthy eating. Its intent is to promote increased vegetable and fruit intakes, whole grains, water and nutrient dense beverages, an increased appreciation and use of healthy traditional Native American foods and regular physical activity. The VFK curriculum is being taught at two participating schools on the Pyramid Lake and the Duck Valley reservations in 2012. Educational curriculum was developed for second and third grade audiences and is conducted within the Natchez Elementary at the Pyramid Lake reservation, and the Owyhee Combined School on the Duck Valley reservation.Community Gardens: A community garden was established on the Walker River reservation. The produce grown was given to the communities on both reservations and is a major component of promoting and improving food security and health concerns on both reservations. University of Nevada FRTEP programs provided technical assistance in set up and the growing of vegetables produced. 4-H After School Program: The 4-H after school programs aid in developing the knowledge, skills and motivation of reservation youth necessary for them to become successful agricultural producers, natural resource managers and community leaders.Pyramid Lake Orchard: the Pyramid Lake Tribe secured funding through Dreyer's Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension through Nevada FRTEP provided technical expertise and support in designing and planting over 100 trees in November 2011, with plans to provide continued support. As stated by the Pyramid Lake Tribe, "The idea of a community orchard fits the Paiute value of self-sufficiency and sharing. The orchard will be the table where the community will be brought together through education and action and provide environmental benefits such as making oxygen, using carbon dioxide, stabilizing eroding soils, putting nutrients back into the, and providing habitat for small wildlife. A hoop house workshop has been scheduled for March 31, 2012 to construct and 84 foot hoop house adjacent to the current orchard with the intent of complementing current activities. PARTICIPANTS: Project personnel coansists of Frank Flavin, Project Director; Randall Emm, Agent-Project Coordinator; Kathy Frazier, Agent - Pyramid Lake Reservation; Victor Williams Sr., Agent - Walker River Reservation; Leilani Hanchor., Agent - Duck Valley Reservation; Jordan Lubeck, Geo-Spatial Specialist; Sarah Chvilicek, Youth Development Specialist. Collaborators include the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Rural Development, Western Nevada College, Risk Management Agency, and Western SARE. The USDA agencies have provided support and funding to implement workshops and seminars and have provided conservation funding on the reservations served with the Nevada FRTEP providing expertise in desired areas. Western SARE has provided funding for FRTEP peresonnel to obtain necessary training in hoop house irrigation systems and crops. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences are the tribes and tribal members locaated on the Duck Valley, Pyramid Lake, and Walker River Indian reservations. Specific programs have been developed for various groups consisting of farmers and ranchers, youth, gardeners, and the development of tribal and tribal member resources. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: There are no major changes to the project.
Impacts
Our program outputs have generated 290 farmer contacts resulting in 911 acres that were inproved through land leveling and pipeline cost share practices and UNCE extension expertise available through the Natural Resource and Conservation Service on the Duck Valley, Pyramid Lake, and Walker River Indian reservations. Community contacts amounted to 23,227 and Tribal government contacts amounted to 2892. Youth programming has generated 11,992 contacts. The hoop house programming has been presented at the Inter Tribal of Nevada annual convention in Reno, Nevada, the Indian Agriculture Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada, a local radio show in Reno, Nevada, the Diversified Agriculture Conference in Utah, and various reservation workshops in Nevada. In this funding cycle nine (9) hoop houses have been constructed on the Duck Valley and Pyramid Lake reservations with an additonal (3) to be constructed before the end of this funding cycle. Additional funding was leveraged through the State of Nevada and the Risk Management Administration amounting to $71542 aiding in our programming efforts.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 05/15/10 to 05/14/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Nevada FRTEP organized and hosted two Nevada Indian Agriculture and Rural Summits. The first conference was held on May 25 - 26, 2010 at the Fallon Convention Center, in Fallon, Nevada and on April 28 - 29, 2011 at John Ascuaga's Nugget, in Reno Nevada. The May 2010 conference included a pre conference "People of the Land" workshop on May 24, 2010. The following day conference tracks included Natural Resources, Food Safety, Youth Development, Small Scale Hoop House Production, Business Management and Marketing, and a Hoop House tour of a successful vegetable production business located in Fallon.The April 2011 conference included a pilot "Nevada People of the Land "workshop on April 27, 2011. Nevada FRTEP collaborated with Utah State Coopeerative Extension to conduct four workshops covering record keeping, tax management, and crop establishment strategies on the Duck Valley, Duckwater, Walker River, and Pyramid Lake Indian Reservations. These workshops were presented beginning in February 2011 with the last occurring in April of 2011. Nevada FRTEP personnel collaborated with Western Nevada College and Utah State Cooperative Extension to set up a workshop to construct a low cost hoop house on the Yerington Paiute Indian Reservation as a train the trainer workshop. A follow up land leveling and pipeline workshop was conducted on the Duck Valley Indian reservation on June 16, 2010 to provide for the sustainability of Nevada Indian Reservation agriculture by improving the ability of Native American farmers and ranchers to effectively, efficiently and profitably manage their agricultural enterprises. In August of 2011 a seed saving workshop was presented by Heidi Kratsch on the Pyramid Lake Reservation. On May 17, 2010 and August 31, 2010 Weed Identification and Pesticide Training workshops were conducted on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation and in the Western Area office for members of the Pyramid Lake and Fallon Tribes.The Veggies for Kids: Grow Strong (VFK) program directly support a focus on healthy eating. Its intent is to promote increased vegetable and fruit intakes, whole grains, water and nutrient dense beverages, an increased appreciation and use of healthy traditional Native American foods and regular physical activity. Community gardens were established on the Pyramid Lake and Walker River reservations. The produce grown was given to the communities on both reservations and is a major component of promoting and improving food security and health concerns on both reservations.The 4-H after school program facilitated by FRTEP personnel includes 1) Science Night Outreach, 2) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, 3) Fun Friday, 4)Public Education Fair, and 5) UNR Global Kids Program.Through the efforts of Pyramid Lake Tribal Administrator, Della John, the Pyramid Lake Tribe secured funding through Dreyer's Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension through Nevada FRTEP provided technical expertise and support in designing and planting over 100 trees in November 2011, with plans to provide continued support. PARTICIPANTS: Frank Flavin is the listed as the primary contact for grant implementation. Frank currently serves as the Western Area Director for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE). Through project funding UNCE has provided a program coordinator and reservation community based instructors on the Duck Valley and Pyramid Lake reservations. Randy Emm is the program coordinator has a B.S degree obtained from the University of Nevada Reno, has extensive experience in farming and ranching on the Walker River Indian Reservation, and has previously worked with many of the reservations in Nevada as an Economic development planner while employed by the Inter Tribal of Nevada. Dehan Dominguez is the community based instructor on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation is a tribal member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and has been employed in that position for the last three years. Shana Thomas is the instructor based on the Duck Valley Reservation, has obtained a Bachelors Degree from the Universtiy of Nevada Reno, and is a tribal member of the Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Tribe. Shana returned to get a Master Degree and Leilani Hanchor and Ashley Rose were employed to continue FRTEP programming on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. Victor Williams was employed to conduct summer gardening activities on the Walker River Indian Reservation and assist in our Hoop House construction programming. Partner organizations and collaborators include resources within University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe,University of Nevada College of Agriculture, Utah State University Cooperative Extension, Western Nevada College, Western Sare, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Available training and professional development opportunities are available through University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) specialists and other classes and programs where Western Sare funding was utilized. Randy Emm, the UNCE Indian Extension agent attended a Quick Books training in the operation and functioning of the quick books system. Continuing access and application of this system on various Indian reservations will allow reservation farmers and ranchers to attain needed record keeping objectives, providing needed information for filing income tax returns, and furnish needed records for those individuals participating in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs. FRTEP personel organized and attended a train the trainer workshop on the Yerington Indian Reservation. The construction and operation of Hoop Houses would extend the growing seasons in both the spring and fall, address needed health concerns (diets), and provide income potential through selling in Farmers Markets and CSAs. As of the end of the 2010-2011 fuinding year six hoop houses have been constructed on the Walker River, Duckwater, Yerington, and Ely Indian Reservations. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are Indian agriculture producers, tribal staff, tribal leaders and youth on Nevada's reservations. Programs will be specifically targeted toward three participating reservations: the Walker River Reservation, the Duck Valley Reservation and the Pyramid Lake Reservation. These are the largest reservations in Nevada based on acreage and agricultural production. Other Nevada reservations and colonies will not be eliminated from participation in project programs developed and offered through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, but funding limitations are a barrier to providing comprehensive programming to all reservations statewide. UNCE will utilize its core state and county funding to supplement project programming wherever possible. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes in approach have been anticipated or planned to achieve the desired objectives set forth in the grant proposal.
Impacts
The NV Indian Ag Conference (May 2010)included a pre conference People of the Land, Natural Resources, Food Safety, Youth Development, Small Scale Hoop House Production, Business Management and Marketing, and a Hoop House tour. The April 2011 conference included a pilot Nevada People of the Land with conference tracks on lawsuit settlements in Indian Country (Cobell v. Salazar & Keepseagle v. Vilsack), Business Management and Marketing, Culture and Youth Development, Hoop House Construction, Irrigation, Aquaponics,Seed Saving, USDA program presentations, Moapa Valley Paiute Tribal Wood to Mulch Enterprise, and Niche Production and Marketing Strategies for Cattle. Nevada FRTEP collaborated with Utah State to conduct four workshops covering record keeping, tax management, and crop establishment strategies on the Duck Valley, Duckwater, Walker River, and Pyramid Lake Indian Reservations. Sessions included crop establishment budgeting and record keeping, cropping patterns and alternatives, information concerning the Cobell and Keepseagle lawsuits, presentations of USDA programming, agricultural taxes and tax issues, hoop house construction, and a follow up session on the quick books workshop presented the previous year. Nevada FRTEP personnel collaborated with Western Nevada College and Utah State Cooperative Extension to set up a workshop to construct a low cost hoop house on the Yerington Paiute Indian Reservation. This initial workshop was a train the trainer workshop that enabled Nevada FRTEP to set up additional workshops at Walker River, Duckwater, Ely, and Mineral County. Six hoop houses were constructed through the Nevada FRTEP program. Land Leveling and Pipeline items covered included field staking, surveying methods,field Design (Slope and Grade), procedure steps from staking through planting, pipeline construction (including pipe size, drop structures,pipeline grade, irrigations valves, and installation requirements),and water quantity measurement for pipelines and canals. Additional workshops focused on the advantages of saving seeds(differences between hybrid) and open pollination was explained, and an actual demonstration of saving seeds from heirloom tomatoes was given. The weed pesticide/ identification class focused on learning to identify and control weed species and the use of pesticides and how to safely use these chemicals with CE units earned for pesticide licensing. The Veggies For Kids curriculum was taught at two participating schools on the Pyramid Lake and the Duck Valley reservation in 2011. Educational curriculum was developed for second and third grade conducted at Natchez Elementary at the Pyramid Lake reservation, and the Owyhee Combined School on the Duck Valley reservation. Community gardens were established on the Pyramid Lake and Walker River reservations with produce given to the communities on both reservations and, which promotes and improves food security and health concerns on both reservations. The 4-H after school program facilitated by FRTEP personnel includes Science Night Outreach, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Fun Friday,Public Education Fair,and UNR Global Kids Program.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 05/15/09 to 05/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Tribal Budgeting and Record Keeping workshops were offered in response to requests by tribal members and leaders in order to help educate tribal producers in managing their businesses and to learn adequate record keeping and budgeting. Topics included 1)Overview of livestock industry trends and marketing 2)Selling livestock through video/Internet auctions 3)Livestock records management and record keeping 3)Creating enterprise budgets 4)Reducing risk through federal insurance programs and 5)Providing one-on-one enterprise budget consultations. This workshop programming took place from March 2009 through September 2009. A land leveling and pipeline workshop was conducted on the Duck Valley Indian reservation in October 2009 to provide for the sustainability of Nevada Indian Reservation agriculture by improving the ability of Native American farmers and ranchers to effectively, efficiently and profitably manage their agricultural enterprises through the application and use of USDA cost share programming. Items covered included field staking,surveying methods, field Design (Slope and Grade),proceedure steps from staking through planting, pipeline construction (including pipe size,drop structures, pipeline grade, irrigations valves, and installion requirements), and water quantity measurement for pipelines and canals.The Veggies for Kids: Grow Strong (VFK) program directly support a focus on healthy eating. Its intent is to promote increased vegetable and fruit intakes, whole grains, water and nutrient dense beverages, an increased appreciation and use of healthy traditional Native American foods and regular physical activity. To that end, the VFK curriculum was taught at two participating schools at Walker River and Pyramid Lake reservations in 2009 and is planned for the Duck Valley reservation in 2010. Educational curriculum was developed for second and third grade audiences and is conducted within the Natchez Elementary at the Pyramid Lake reservation, the Owyhee Combined School on the Duck Valley reservation, and the Schurz Elementary School on the Walker River reservation. Community Gardens. Community gardens were established on the Pyramid Lake and Walker River reservations. The produce grown was given to the communities on both reservations and is a major component of promoting and improving food security and health concerns on both reservations. University of Nevada FRTEP programs provided technical assistance in set up and the growing of vegetables produced.4-H After School Program. The 4-H after school program facilitated by FRTEP personnel includes 1) Healthy Snacking Program, 2) Family Science Night, 3) Heat and Heating, 4) Fish in the Classroom, and 5) UNR Global Kids Program. These after school programs aid in developing the knowledge, skills and motivation of reservation youth necessary for them to become successful agricultural producers, natural resource managers and community leaders PARTICIPANTS: Frank Flavin is the listed as the primary contact for grant implementation. Frank currently serves as the Western Area Director for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE). Through project funding UNCE has provided a program coordinator and reservation community based instructors on the Duck Valley and Pyramid Lake reservations. Randy Emm is the program coordinator has a B.S degree obtained from the University of Nevada Reno, has extensive experience in farming and ranching on the Walker River Indian Reservation, and has previously worked with many of the reservations in Nevada as an Economic development planner while employed by the Inter Tribal of Nevada. Dehan Dominguez is the community based instructor on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation is a tribal member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and has been employed in that position for the last three years. Shana Thomas is the instructor based on the Duck Valley Reservation, has obtained a Bachelors Degree from the Universtiy of Nevada Reno, and is a tribal member of the Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Tribe. Partner organizations and collaborators include resources within University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe,University of Nevada College of Agriculture, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Western Sare, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Available training and professional development opportunities are available through University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) specialists and other classes and programs where Western Sare funding was utilized. Range Management Grazing - This training was conducted by UNCE specialists and Extension agents beginning with classroom instruction at Wells, Nevada and then resumed with first hand examination which took place at the Cottonwood Ranch in Northeastern Nevada. By adopting the concepts of holistic range management, grazing was doubled and could be tripled if desired. Randy Emm, the UNCE Indian Extension agent attended a Quick Books training in the operation and functioning of the quick books system. Application of this system on various Indian reservations will allow reservation farmers and ranchers to attain needed record keeping objectives, providing needed information for filing income tax returns, and furnish needed records for those individuals participating in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs. FRTEP personel attended educational tours of Hoop Houses located in Caliente, Alamo, Logandale, and Silver Springs. All locations are in Nevada. The construction and operation of Hoop Houses would extend the growing seasons in both the spring and fall, address needed health concerns (diets), and provide income potential through selling in Farmers Markets and CSAs. In cooperation with Western Nevada College, the Elko County School District, and the Owyhee Combined School, and UNCE extension, funds have been generated to construct a hoop house at the Owyhee Combined School. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences are Indian agriculture producers, tribal staff, tribal leaders and youth on Nevada's reservations. Programs will be specifically targeted toward three participating reservations: the Walker River Reservation, the Duck Valley Reservation and the Pyramid Lake Reservation. These are the largest reservations in Nevada based on acreage and agriculture 7 production. Other Nevada reservations and colonies will not be eliminated from participation in project programs developed and offered through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, but funding limitations are a barrier to providing comprehensive programming to all reservations statewide. UNCE will utilize its core state and county funding to supplement project programming wherever possible. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes in approach have been anticipated or planned to achieve the desired objectives set forth in the grant proposal.
Impacts
The Tribal Budgeting and Record Keeping Workshops. During each workshop, participants were given a pre and post-seminar evaluation. These evaluations tested participant knowledge and understanding of workshop material. Each location differed in the amount of improvement, ranging from 33.60% up to a 79.96% increase in score. Ninety-one percent (91%) of respondents answered that they were familiar with the requirements in contrast to the 44% responding affirmatively in the pre-workshop evaluation. On average participants scored 5.63 out of 7 indicating that they could use a good deal of the material from the workshops. A total of 55 producers attended the workshops while 21 participated in the one-on-one enterprise budget workshops. The Duck Valley Land Leveling and Pipeline Workshop educated the participants as to the available fencing, land leveling, and pipeline programs offered through NRCS and FSA which offers greater profitability and resource utilization in farming and ranching enterprises on the Duck Valley reservation. Current applications have greatly increased to take advantage of the 90 per cent cost share rate offered by NRCS cost share programming. Veggies For Kids (VFK). The VFK program successfully completed its third year. Based on outcome and impact measures, the VFK program has demonstrated success in the following areas - the first three of which are associated with reduced childhood obesity risk: 1)An ability to increase children's willingness to taste, their preference for, and ability to correctly identify several common vegetables. 2)An increase in students' reported physical activities. 3)An increase in students' reported water consumption. 4)Increased recognition of the MyPyramid for Kids food groups. 5)Increased exposure to traditional food sources and gathering techniques (as a means to build cultural pride while promoting less processed foods). The VFK curriculum was taught at the two participating schools on the Pyramid Lake and Walker River reservations, reaching three teachers and 55 students with its 2nd and 3rd grade-specific lessons series. The VFK school wide fruit tasting events provided additional educational opportunities for the two schools' students, schoolteachers and staff. Direct program contacts totaled 868. To engage parents, weekly take-home assignments required parent participation, three newsletters were provided (resulting in 733 indirect contacts) and parent focus groups were offered at both school sites. Community Gardens have attained an increasing amount of interest that is increasing interest in extending growing seasons through the use of Hoop Houses or High Tunnels. Current plans include constructing these Hoop Houses on the Duck Valley, Pyramid Lake, and Walker River reservations in 2010. Universtiy of Nevada FRTEP programs is providing the expertise for set up, plant selection, and operation of these Hoop Houses. The 4-H After School Program is important youth programming that aids in the development of community pride and leadership qualities for reservation youth. Program contacts include making 1020 youth contacts and 145 adult contacts.
Publications
- Seymour, K., Dibble, J., Allen, L., Domingues, D., Emm, R., Freed, T., and Graham-Williams, H. 2009. Veggies for Kids: Grow Strong-Grade Three Lessons. UNCE Special Publication 09-18. 82 p.
- Seymour, K., Dibble, J., Allen, L., Dominguez, D., Emm, R., Freed, T., & Gram-Williams, H. 2009. Veggies for Kids: Grade 3 Curriculum. July 13, 2009. Poster and Abstract presented at the Society for Nutrition Education, 42nd Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
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