Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for this project includes current and aspiring small scale farmers and ranchers. One key feature of this audience is that is that they seek learning and self-evaluation resources that will guide them in integrating the physical, biological, family, and business components of farming and ranching. Audience members are largely market wise, and tech savvy. They have access to high speed internet or satellite access, and use social media. Education internet-delivered online courses is within the capability of our target audience and is the most efficient way to reach remote audiences. The four primary objectives of this Beginning Farmer and Rancher project are: Develop a comprehensive online course for Oregon’s BFRs, Integrate support and infrastructure including a low risk marketing tool to encourage BFR success, Create communities of practice to support BFR education and networks, Enhance institutional capacity to effectively educate BFRs in a sustainable manner within routine staff and budget boundaries. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Graduate students—one student was supported for over two year with a Graduate Research Assistantship. She managed the videography portion of the project: interviewing six case study farmers, working with a professional videographer, guiding video editing and interface with educational curriculum. Train-the-trainer workshops about starting and facilitating Farmer to Farmer networks were offered in 4 states. Initial women farmer network meetings at each location. March 2013: Missoula, MT; Moscow, ID; Corvallis, OR. April 2013: Mt. Vernon, WA and Portland, OR. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The various modules have been or are in the process of beta-testing. The full curriculum will be launched spring, 2014 through Oregon State University’s Professional and Non-Credit Education unit (pne.oregonstate.edu) . The availability of the curriculum to the target audience will be made known to them through Professional and Non-Credit Education’s marketing strategies, as well as via press releases, feature media articles including interviews with the faculty concerned, and via social media, email distribution lists, and our rich and diverse small farms and extension networks. National Women in Sustainable Ag Conference workshop on the Farmer to Farmer communities of practice. The grant has supported 4 face-to-face networks with part-time coordinators who plan workshops, classes and gatherings, expanding the reach of the network. Members of these networks number about 450. Dr Stephenson presented a poster on the project at the 2011 BFRDP project director’s meeting and an oral presentation on the project at the 2012 BFRDP project director’s meeting. The full curriculum will be launched Spring, 2014 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will launch the online curriculum and promote it nationally through the University’s news and communications unit, via social media, email distribution lists, and our rich and diverse small farms and extension networks. USDA-NIFA-BFRG support will be acknowledged consistently throughout the launch and beyond. The curriculum will be promoted through PNE marketing arm. The curriculum will be offered in a variety of formats: 1. Online/face-to-face hybrid by Oregon State University Small Farms faculty 2. Online/face-to-face hybrid facilitated by Extension staff in states outside Oregon. 3. Fully online facilitated by OSU Small Farms faculty and offered nationally. 4. Fully online self-paced, independent and offered nationally. 5. Eventually offered as a for-credit university course in the hybrid format.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. We have produced six modules for online dissemination that cut across most farming and ranching systems and were designed around a framework that accounts for differences of motivation and education among the audience. They are: Dream it: Strategic planning Do it: Farm operations Grow it: Production Manage It: Farm finances Sell it: Marketing strategies Keep it: Managing risk and credit 2. Each module consists of a curriculum outline with goals and learner objectives; educational content including exercises, narrated power point presentations, video segments of farmer case studies, text-based materials, additional online and text references; optional assignments; optional quizzes with instant answer key and feedback; self-evaluation opportunities; and a course evaluation form. 3. The online curriculum was created with input from a farmer advisory committee composed of seasoned farmers and face-to-face workshop alumni. 4. The learning management system used to deliver the online course allows us to track student progress, including such data as: time logged in, pages visited and online activities completed. A test at the end of each module will provide another evaluation tool. Participants are requested to complete a course evaluation form at the end of each module. One year after the launch, we will survey students who have taken the course to explore how the course made a difference for them, and capture any impacts related to it. 5. This project has been designed to be sustained beyond project funding. With periodic updates and revisions, the comprehensive course may be used indefinitely. It is replicable and could be adapted to other states. We have created institutional structure within the OSU Small Farms Program that will ensure maintenance, updating, improvement, and expansion of the course materials long after the life of the grant. 6. A marketing plan for the curriculum has been designed and is in process. 7. Website launch press releases are ready for distribution. 8. We have established four women’s farmer-to-farmer networks in four regions of the state; there are 450 participants statewide. These integrate characteristics of face-to-face and virtual communities of practice and augment curriculum materials for participant training with hands-on activities. 9. Through non-profit partner EcoTrust, we have created and launched a cutting-edged, low-risk online marketing tool. FoodHub is a marketing corollary to social media in which buyers and sellers create and maintain business profiles, provide details such as certifications held and products available, giving buyers and sellers a direct line of sight to one another. A detailed, interactive tutorial and integration into modules provide participants immediate access to this low-risk marketing tool. 10. In concert with development of these efforts for online education, face-to-face educational programs that inspired the online modules have been offered at geographically dispersed locations in Oregon each year. Funds from the grant WERE NOT USED to support this activity. 11. We have acknowledged the support of USDA-NIFA-BFRG in all outputs of this project.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The online Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management project is meeting its process goals on time. The curriculum will be available fall, 2013. MOU with Professional and Non-credit Education at Oregon State University finalized in 2012. They provide technical aspects of course development, professional videography, other graphic inputs, administration via Blackboard, and course promotion. Six case study farms selected; these will provide course content through interviews and farm visuals. Each of six modules will provide 4 to 5 hours of instruction. Curriculum is presented as text, video, interactive multi-media. Primary mode of delivery is hybrid online/face-to-face. Face-to-face discussions and farm visits will enhance online material. Where required the course can be offered as self-paced individual study. Module titles are Dream It: Strategic Planning; Do It: Farm Operations; Grow It: Production Systems; Manage It: Farm Finances; Sell It: Marketing Strategies; Keep It: Managing Risk. Each module passes through writing and review, a technical production phase (media incorporated; module is added to course shell), and testing/review/revision with beginning and experienced farmers. Current production status of the six modules: Two modules have completed writing and internal review, one of these is in technical production; two modules are in internal review; two are being written. Women's farming networks operate in three regions of Oregon. A fourth network is under organization. Over 350 women participate in networks and activities. These women farmers have support and solidarity to counteract social isolation. EcoTrust FoodHub team engaged beginning farmers and ranchers on development of FoodHub to make the site practical and effective for them. FoodHub has been shaped through input received via direct outreach, support services, feedback sessions, presentations, trainings, member survey. FoodHub team has attended more than 70 conferences, workshops to provide information, facilitate member registration, training, support. Telephone help 45 hours/week and email help 24/7 are available. Tutorial videos are on FoodHub and at vimeo.com/foodhub. Fresh Sheets and How-to FoodHub guides are emailed https://food-hub.org/news/. Knowledge Base (https://food-hub.org/knowledgebase) is 8 tutorial videos detailing best FoodHub practices, weekly Fresh Sheet and How-to FoodHub newsletters, 4 FoodHub testimonials. Mercy Corps: 24 page Manage It module and 5 worksheets are written and in review. Supplemental budget tables are important farm planning resource. Manage It chapters: production costs, pricing, budgeting, financing, accounting systems, cash flow, financial statements. Two oral presentations to academic peers: Stephenson, et al. 2012 (September). Growing Farms Online: Increasing the Accessibility of Comprehensive Beginning Farmer Education. 5th National Sustainable Agriculture Education Association Conference. Corvallis, Oregon. Stephenson, et al. 2012 (September). Growing Farms Online: Comprehensive Education for Beginning Farmers in an Online Environment. 6th National Small Farms Conference. Memphis, TN. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Documented impacts of the women's network include the creation of mentoring relationships between new and seasoned farmers; increased exposure to niche and alternative marketing and production systems; and collaborative relationships between network members in marketing, production, equipment-sharing, and distribution. Oregon State Small Farms team leveraged experience in development of women's farming networks into a $90,000 WSARE Professional Develop Program grant that will develop a toolkit and training for agricultural professionals in four northwest states. Ongoing evaluation reveals that 40% of new and beginning Ecotrust producer members have 5 years of experience or less. The tool is engaging beginning farmers and ranchers. Several new and beginning farmer success stories are also documented in our blog (http://food-hub.org/news/category/member-spotlight/). We continue to engage this group to develop and improve site features to meet their needs. How-To videos and email campaign have engaged members. Weekly How-To emails have the second highest traffic driving email after the weekly Fresh Sheet Member newsletter.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Project Management The focus of Year 1 has been on process and management. Subcontracts were created with non-profit partners Ecotrust and Mercy Corps NW. A personal services contract was created with the project online curriculum specialist. Meetings have been held with each of the project partners to review budget reductions, timetables, and create a common vision for the online curriculum. The OSU segment of the project is managed at two levels: A project management team consisting of all faculty who will contribute to the project; and a curriculum team consisting of faculty who are leading development of specific modules. Options for the most efficient delivery of the course are being explored. Options for most effective and advanced software environment for the course are being explored. Online Curriculum Team The project will create six curriculum modules with approximately four hours of content each. OSU is responsible for creating five of the modules; Mercy Corps will create one. The OSU curriculum team consisting of four faculty plus the online curriculum specialist, selected three modules to work on during year 1. The online curriculum specialists ded the facultyto create learning objectives and outcomes, and to write for the online course environment. Learning objectives and learning outcomes for the three modules in production. The OSU curriculum team has produced three "storyboards" outlining the content and media needs for the modules. The OSU curriculum team schedules regular meetings to achieve interim goals and maintain a collaborative atmosphere. Online Curriculum Project Partners Ecotrust has made significant progress on developing the FoodHub tutorial for beginning farmers. Video segments have been shot; applications for the tutorial are being created. Mercy Corps NW is responsible for producing the module "Manage It" on farm financial systems. They have worked with the project online curriculum specialist to develop learning objectives and learning outcomes. A draft outline of the module has been produced. Communities of Practice: Project communities of practice consist of women's agricultural networks to support Growing Farms workshop participants; we will establish electronic networks to support Growing Farms Online participants as the curriculum is delivered. Two previously formed women's agricultural networks in southern Oregon and southern Willamette Valley were expanded with project funds and offered a total of 15 educational events. One new women's agricultural network in the northern Willamette Valley was formed with project funds. This network conducted formative meetings and has had two educational events. Reductions to the original budget request prevented formation of an additional network in central Oregon. The non-NIFA Funded eight-week, face to face Growing Farms workshop series, the inspiration for this project, readily reached its enrollment maximum of 90 new farmers at three sites in 2011 in less than two weeks. PARTICIPANTS: Mercy Corps Northwest was established in 1998 as a program of the international humanitarian organization Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps Northwest is a community development financial institution. Staff members have broad skills sets including business administration, finance, law, and agricultural management. It assists low-income populations by increasing their economic self-sufficiency and community integration through micro-enterprise development and self employment. Significant activities include: a "Business Foundations" course for small and farm businesses, a New American Farmer Program which is a farm incubator for immigrant farmers, and financial support for small businesses including small loan programs, and individual development accounts. Ecotrust's mission is to inspire thinking that creates social, environmental, and economic value. Their initiatives include fisheries, forestry, food, farms, and children's health, and they develop new scientific and information tools to improve social, economic and environmental decision-making in the region that extends from Northern California to Alaska. For the past decade Ecotrust has successfully forged market connections between food buyers and sellers. FoodHub is a logical extension of Ecotrust's work to build a regional food economy and represents one of the most dynamic and promising marketing tools in the region today. Ecotrust is widely known for its ability to incubate and nurture projects that are replicable in other contexts. FoodHub is no exception; FoodHub will be fully developed and tested in the Northwest, then made available in other parts of the country. Faculty from the OSU Small Farms Team include members with academic homes in crop science, horticulture, and agricultural education. Their academic backgrounds are diverse and include livestock and forage management, soil science and plant nutrition, agroecology, urban and community horticulture, anthropology, and environmental science. The Austin Family Business Program will augment training regarding the business aspects of farming. Established in 1985, the program was one the first university educational programs specifically designed to support family businesses. David Chaney, the project's online curriculum development specialist has more than 20 years experience coordinating education and information projects for extension programs; has experience working with teams to develop effective information products for particular audiences; has experience in strategic planning, project administration, evaluation and reporting; has experience adapting traditional content for web distribution. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
No outcomes or impacts to report at this time.
Publications
- Martin, D., et. al. 2011. Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management Planning Book. EM- 9043. Oregon State University Extension Service, Corvallis OR.
- Fery, M., et. al. 2011. Growing Farms: Successful Whole Farm Management. Proceedings of the 2011 National Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference. Kansas City, Kansas, August 2011.
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