Progress 07/01/13 to 06/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The Blackfeet Indian Reservation is the third largest reservation with the largest American Indian population in Montana, there are 16,500 enrolled members. The Blackfeet Reservation encompasses 1.5 million acres, 3000 square miles and encompasses about ninety percent of Glacier and Pondera Counties. There are 10,405 people living on the reservation and nearly 35 percent are under the age of 18. Livestock, grain and forage production, oil and gas production, fishing, and forest industries all play a major part in the reservation economy. The primary industry is agriculture with reservation lands supporting 575,256 acres of crops harvested for grain (wheat, barley and oats) and forage production, of which 50,082 are irrigated acres and approximately 1,014,000 acres of grazing lands. There are 50,347 producing beef cows, 6,452 horses and 587 sheep pastured or penned on the reservation. The farms and ranches are owned and operated by 906 agricultural operators; 54 percent are Blackfeet tribal members and 31 percent are female. The target audiences are youth, agricultural producers and community members. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Motivating Leaders Training,Montana Nutrition & Livestock Forum, MT Ag Summit, Blackfeet Ag Summit,Rocky Mountain Region Intertribal Agriculture Council Symposium for Agriculturcal producers,FRTEP Professional Development in MT,FRTEP Annual meeting How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information and results have been shared by regular communication with community members, tribal council, reports and updates at program director meetings, Ag Committee and grassroots organizations like stock growers association, conservation district, fair planning committees;University's Annual Reporting System, Activity Insight Reporting Program, and through newsletters, news releases, community calendars, social media, workshops and seminars. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The priority program areas of the Blackfeet Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program are Tribal Youth and 4-H, and Indian Farmer and Ranch Productivity and Management. To address the program priorities and achieve the goals set forth the Blackfeet Extension Program implemented a variety of activities and several programming efforts Promoted and recruited adult and older 4-H youth participation on the 4-H Leaders Council. The seven member council worked with extension staff to identify program needs, set goals, training, certifications and yearly plan and calendar. Resulting in 92 enrolled 4-H members eleven organizational and project leaders in eight different 4-H clubs building life skills that will result in productive, caring citizens. 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Training: proper care, feeding, drug administration and treatment of the animal to ensure a safe food product through 4-H market animal projects. Fifty-eight youth and their parents were certified and allowed to show and sell their market animal at the fair showmanship and market show. Market animal selection, feed, care, grooming and showmanship clinics: Presented and provided information on raising a finished market animal - selection, care, feed ration guidelines, grooming, showmanship and carcass evaluation for the following species: Beef, Sheep and Swine, pet cat care, grooming and showmanship. 4-H Serve Safe/Food Handlers Certification training provides information on how to prevent foodborne illnesses by proper handling of food, hygiene and customer service during the 4-H Fair. Provided certification training for seventy one youth and their parents were certified making them eligible to work in the 4-H Food Booth during the 4-H fair. All of the money raised in the food booth goes to the youth as a participation incentive program. Resulting in $1742 in premium funds paid out to the 4-H members. Charging Home Stampede 4-H Fair Preparation and Evaluation through committee meetings (livestock, horse, food booth and exhibit) Promoted and increase ownership of local 4-H Fair by encouraging and providing the opportunity for leadership of youth and adult volunteers to plan and implement the four day fair, auction/buyers barbeque and working ranch horse competition. 25 volunteers met quarterly for Livestock, Exhibit Building, Food Booth, Facility, and working ranch horse committee meetings to plan the 4-H Fair on the Blackfeet Reservation. Because of their volunteerism and commitment fair takes place and provides a safe and pleasant environment for 4-H families and community. 4-H Working Ranch Horse Assessment, Clinic and Competition: Provided a hands on learning clinic, 26 youth learned about horses: anatomy, breeds, feed and nutrition, health, equipment, safety, basic roping skills and moving cattle horseback. 19 of participants competed in the event. 4-H Scholarships: Promoted higher education by fundraising and giving an annual $1000 scholarship to one 4-H member planning to college or vocational school. Plus a local private donor gave $3500.00 in scholarships to three youth entering college and 5 continuing college students. Charging Home Stampede 4-H Youth Fair: Sixty three of the ninety two enrolled 4-H members participated at the local 4-H fair where they had opportunity to exhibit and show what they learned through their project work. These youth prepare all year long, preparing their item or animal to completion then exhibit it at the fair. It's very rewarding to see the fear first, then pride when the completed their project interview or showmanship show. They earned $153,102 from market animal sales and $1750 livestock cash awards. Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging was provided to youth and their parents resulting in an increase in knowledge in goal setting, planning, and financial management and responsibility while they build their own agricultural business. As a result three youth completed the application process and funded to purchase $25,500 in pregnant cattle. Currently working with four youth and waiting approval. Re-organized the Blackfeet Nation Stock Growers Association: the group is working on Beef Marketing Options by working with cattle order buyer to ensure a buyer for their calves, grazing policy, and projects that are addressing predator control issues (Bear, mountain lion, wolves and coyotes) the agent serves as the secretary of the Association. As a result of the efforts of the group, $20,000.00 in funds has been secured for predator control and $4500 for 4-H youth scholarships. Private Pesticide Applicators Certification Training: agent worked cooperatively with MSU Pesticide Educational Coordinator and surrounding county agents to provide a seven hour training opportunity designed to teach about pesticides and qualifying for an applicators license. 35 land owners and producers attended, 30 were certified to spray weeds on their lands, for weed management. Blackfeet Tribal Agriculture Planning and Development: agent works closely with the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council by serving on the Blackfeet Agriculture Committee, organized to plan and implement project ideas that will increase the opportunities for tribal Ag producers on the reservation. Cooperatively provided the Blackfeet Ag Summit for producers and public from both sides of the international border (Canada) and a public event introducing youth and public to Ag, Land and Water. There were 80 individuals in attendance. Developed a Blackfeet Ag Calendar for all events throughout the area to inform all of the happenings and learning opportunities available or deadlines Ag producers need to be aware of. Record keeping for the ranch utilizing the Integrated Resource Management Red Books designed to improving the economic efficiency of cattle operations through effective record keeping. Seventy five producers received the record keeping books with instruction, by using the recordkeeping system, the majoring of the producers were able to access USDA funding to offset losses through USDA programs. Weather disaster planning and implementation for livestock producers: worked with a team to assess the damage of a massive snow storm killing hundreds of cattle and horses by organizing an informational session to increase the knowledge of the programs offered for financial assistance from the USDA through their Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Livestock Assistance Programs. These programs have provided financial assistance that will help offset livestock losses as a result of the disastrous snow storms in 2017 and 2018. Annual Farm & Ranch Seminar: provided a one day seminar focusing on current issues in agriculture: Seventy-five producers learned about weather patterns and outlook, weak calf syndrome and cattle nutrition, nitrate toxicity in forages, predator control programs, transition in family farm and ranch operations, how to obtain a pasture authorization and the importance of the USDA Ag Census. Resulting in a better understanding of cattle diseases and nutrition to improve animal health, hay storage and management of forage toxicity before feeding resulting in increased ranch profitability. Blackfeet Agriculture Resource Management Plan Interdisciplinary Team member: met monthly for strategic planning that resulted in the development of the plan for the Blackfeet Nation. The plan that defines current the natural resources and agriculture resources, identify the goals of the Blackfeet People and will aid in the development of policy in agriculture resource, land, conservation, holistic management practices and water resource management, as well as agriculture and livestock regulation for both the Blackfeet Tribe and the United States governments.?
Publications
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Progress 07/01/16 to 06/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The Blackfeet Indian Reservation is the third largest reservation with the largest American Indian population in Montana, there are 16,500 enrolled members. The Blackfeet Reservation encompasses 1.5 million acres, 3000 square miles and encompasses about ninety percent of Glacier and Pondera Counties. There are 10,405 people living on the reservation and nearly 35 percent are under the age of 18. Livestock, grain and forage production, oil and gas production, fishing, and forest industries all play a major part in the reservation economy. The primary industry is agriculture with reservation lands supporting 575,256 acres of crops harvested for grain (wheat, barley and oats) and forage production, of which 50,082 are irrigated acres and approximately 1,014,000 acres of grazing lands. There are 50,347 producing beef cows, 6,452 horses and 587 sheep pastured or penned on the reservation. The farms and ranches are owned and operated by 906 agricultural operators; 54 percent are Blackfeet tribal members and 31 percent are female. The target audiences are youth, agricultural producers and community members. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Intertribal Agriculture Council Membership Meeting FRTEP Annual Meeting & Professional Development Rocky Mountain Region Intertribal Agriculture Ag Symposium How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Email Blackfeet 4-H Facebooks site Meetings Tours Workshops Ag & 4-H Newsletter Text Messages Newspaper articles What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal - Empowering American Indian Youth: Activities developed will allow youth to foster healthy, meaningful relationships among themselves, adults and elders, assist youth in crisis, help youth continue or revive an agricultural tradition, and support scientific, agricultural and health literacy among youth. • Thirty-five percent of the population on the Blackfeet Reservation is under the age of eighteen. It is important to provide opportunities that will develop leadership and life skills to ensure they mature into healthy and productive members of society. Established a viable 4-H Youth Development Program and implemented a local 4-H Fair on the reservation, the first in 40 years. Over the past four years, 240 youth enrolled in the 4-H program as members, 55 adults as leaders and over 500 volunteers helped with 4-H activities. During this grant cycle continue to recruit and promote 4-H to increase youth enrollment and adult volunteer participation by 50 percent. • Fifty-five is the average age of agricultural producers on the reservation; limited access to credit, capital and ability to provide an appropriate credit history has prevented many youth and beginning farmers/ranchers from returning to the family farm, threatening the sustainability of agriculture on the reservation. Blackfeet extension established a youth and adult agriculture education and loan program to address the situation and plans to increase participation by seven individuals starting as young as nine years of age. Participants will receive one-on-one instruction in production management and business planning, complete a loan application and borrow funds for the purchase of cattle and annual operating expenses. Goal - Empowering the American Indian Producer in the New Economy: Activities developed will help producers find new markets, address food security issues, adapt to new technology, adopt sustainable agricultural practices and support the woman farmer. • There are over 900 agricultural producers on the Blackfeet Reservation who require current and relevant information to ensure sustainability. The Blackfeet Extension Office established an Annual Grazing Seminar reaching over 300 producers over the past three years. The goal is to increase the number of participants by 50 percent and increase their knowledge gained by providing information about practical production management practices and herd health to increase efficiency of production generating high quality products and quality assurance practices to ensure the safety of food products. In addition, participants will increase their awareness of consumer and market demand issues, best management practices to increase marketability and profitability of beef cattle, and establish individual animal identification systems. Financial and production record keeping will also be addressed as well as tribal, state and national policy updates that directly affect producers. • Rangelands represent the most abundant resource on the reservation. The Extension agent facilitated a cooperative effort resulting in a range land inventory of 750,000 acres. According to production data collected more than 50 percent is in fair condition and 30 percent in poor condition. It is imperative that individuals learn and implement range management practices to prevent an increase in poor condition rangeland. The goal is to increase the knowledge, skills and abilities of producers in range management and best management practices to ensure proper utilization of the rangeland resources resulting in a gradual increase in range condition and forage production. • Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle causing severe reproductive and economic losses in test-positive herds. The disease causes early abortions in cows and infertility resulting in repeat breeding costs and a high percent of open cows which is costly to eradicate from a herd. The plan is to continue to increase awareness, promote best management practices and bull testing requirements to eliminate the disease out of all cattle herds on the reservation. SPRING: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), hold two Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Trainings, Market Animal Weigh-In, Feed, Care, Grooming and Showmanship workshops, Working Ranch Horse Clinics and Event, hold two Food Safety and Handling Certification Trainings, 4-H Leaders Council Meeting, preparation of Fair Entry and Exhibiting Packets, Interview and Exhibit Judges Orientation, recruitment and management of volunteers, construction and maintenance of fair buildings as needed, Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. Agriculture: Annual Farm & Ranch Seminar for Ag Producers Workshops -provide beef production, range and weed management, agriculture policy and estate planning learning opportunity. Ag Newsletter and Community Ag Calendar, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. SUMMER: Youth: 4-H Lamb Slick-Shearing and workshop, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), 4-H Fair, Evaluate 4-H market animal carcasses and workshop, Fair business wrap-up and clean-up, Completed 4-H Record Book Review, New 4-H Family Orientation and Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. Agriculture: Beef Quality Assurance and Care Certification Training, Weed Bio-control collection and placement, Regional Intertribal Ag Council Symposium, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. FALL: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, 4-H Leaders Council meeting, Promote & Recruit 4-H Enrollment, National 4-H Week activities, 4-H Achievement and Awards Ceremony, Basics of 4-H workshop, 4-H Record Book Training, Intertribal Agriculture Council National Essay Writing Competition, FFA/4-H Loan Program-funding plan for project, Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging, Jr Ag Week-ranch visits and workshops- record keeping, financial statements, cow body condition scoring and feed ration balancing. Agriculture: Beef Heifer Development workshop, ARMP Planning, Beef Marketing Options workshop, Blackfeet Ag Program Facilitation, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. WINTER: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, Market Beef Weigh-In, Feed, Care, Grooming and Showmanship Workshops, 4-H Project Skill-a-thon, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), Clubs-Councils-Committees Treasurers Training. Agriculture: ARMP planning, Blackfeet Ag Program Facilitation, Ag Newsletter, Beef Record Keeping workshop, Calving Management workshop, Ag Loan Borrowers Training.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
• Promoted and recruited adult and older 4-H youth participation on the 4-H Leaders Council. The ten member council works with extension staff to identify program needs, set goals, training, certifications and yearly plan and calendar. • Promoted higher education by fundraising and giving an annual $1500 scholarship to one 4-H member planning to college or vocational school. Plus a local private donor gave $3500.00 in scholarships to three youth entering college and 5 continuing college students. • Presented and provided information on raising a finished market animal - selection, care, feed ration guidelines, grooming, showmanship and carcass evaluation for the following species: Beef (22), Sheep (2) and Swine (27), pet cat care, grooming and showmanship and horse: anatomy, breeds, feed and nutrition, health, equipment, safety, basic roping skills and moving cattle horseback. • 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Training: proper care, feeding, drug administration and treatment of the animal to ensure a safe food product through 4-H market animal projects. All market 4-H members and parents are required to attend the training. Fifty-four youth and their parents were certified and allowed to show and sell their market animal at the fair showmanship and market show. • 4-H Serve Safe/Food Handlers Certification training provides information on how to prevent foodborne illnesses by proper handling of food, hygiene and customer service during the 4-H Fair. Thirty eight youth and their parents were certified making them eligible to work in the 4-H Food Booth during the 4-H fair. All of the money raised in the food booth goes to the youth as a participation incentive program. For every ribbon there's a point value, each point is worth $1.00.In order for youth to be eligible they must be certified and work in the food booth for a minimum of three hours. • Montana 4-H Week of Service is an initiative to encourage Montana 4-H youth to make a positive impact within their communities and share what they are doing during a week in April. The 4-H Clubs on the Blackfeet Reservation joined together to illustrate how BIG a difference Montana 4-H can make by participating in community service projects by making of tie-blankets for critical care children at hospitals. 4-H clubs donated blanket material and supplied the labor. Twenty-four youth and their parents tied 24 blankets. The blankets were donated to the Blackfeet Community Hospital Emergency Room and In-Patient Ward for critical care children and babies. • Promote and increase ownership of local 4-H Fair by encouraging and providing the opportunity for leadership of youth and adult volunteers to plan and implement the four day fair, auction/buyers barbeque and working ranch horse competition. 25 volunteers meet quarterly for Livestock, Exhibit Building, Food Booth, Facility, and working ranch horse committee meetings to plan the Annual Charging Home Stampede 4-H Fair on the Blackfeet Reservation. Through fundraising efforts we raised $17,000.00 that was used to build an addition onto the existing 4-H kitchen, upgraded the kitchen area and exhibit building, enhances wash bays with plumbing for the 4-H steers and sheep and completed the lighting plan throughout the 4-H area. • Jr Ag Loan Program: the loan program is an ongoing program, starting from initial information period to the completion of the project/pay off of the loan. Currently working with ten youth and their parents with planning and loan paperwork, there were three new loans in the reporting period. The three new loan clients ages ranged from nine to fifteen collectively borrowed $14,600.00 for the purchase of thirteen bred cows. Currently managing 10 active loans. • Rural Assistance Loan Program for beginning farmers and ranchers: provided information and assistance with loan application and goals for 11 adults of which 2 successfully completed processes and collectively borrowed $60,294 for the purchase of bred cattle and $ $18,500 in operating loans. Currently managing 12 active loans and working with 8 new applicants. • Financial and Production Record Keeping: promote the importance of and methods of record keeping in agriculture. The first step to increasing production and profitability is setting financial and production goals and keeping accurate record to measure how well the goals have been achieved. A key tool is the pocket-sized Red Book, which cattle producers use "in the field" to record information about their cattle and activity. Fifty adult and junior agriculture producers received the Red Book - Integrated Resource Management record keeping information and instruction. Keeping good records are critical tool when accessing federal disaster programs for producers. • Organized a Farm & Ranch Seminar, 64 producers learned about the local tribal programs and plans: Blackfeet Land Use Plan, Agriculture Resource Management Plan, Blackfeet Land Buy Back Program and Blackfeet Water Compact and its impact on future water projects. Also learned about the Blackfeet Land and leasing procedures, Livestock depredation, Aerial predator control, livestock and crop insurance, financial management and record keeping, range health and livestock fundamental and cattle market outlook. -Cooperatively worked with the Blackfeet Natural Resources Conservation District, Ag Resource Management Plan Manager and USDA NRCS Strike Force effort to learn the real agricultural and program needs and challenges of the producers on the Blackfeet Reservation. • Cooperatively with the Blackfeet Tribe and Blackfeet Conservation District implemented the first phase of the Blackfeet Agriculture Resources Management Plan that will include an environmental assessment. The ARMP will define specific tribal goals and objectives for the agriculture and range resources of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The project was funded $330,000 over a three year period. So far, accomplished the first phase by developing the MOA between tribe and BIA, set up budget line items with tribal finance, developed project manager position description, advertisement and hired the project manager. At the completion of this the project, the Blackfeet Nation will have the information to develop their own tribal policy that will protect their resources and allow tribe producers to thrive. -Cooperatively with the Blackfeet Tribe, USDA and agriculture based programs held a community learning opportunity where we had learning booths for the participants. It information provided was focused on Agriculture, Land and Water and family. -Provided leadership in the reactivation of the Blackfeet Nation Stock growers Association. This group will focus on challenges stock producers deal with and find ways to address the challenges, be it educational or policy.
Publications
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Progress 07/01/15 to 06/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The Blackfeet Indian Reservation is the third largest reservation with the largest American Indian population in Montana, there are 16,500 enrolled members. The Blackfeet Reservation encompasses 1.5 million acres, 3000 square miles and is located in parts of Glacier and Pondera Counties. There are 10,405 people living on the reservation and nearly 35 percent are under the age of 18. Livestock, grain and forage production, oil and gas production, fishing, and forest industries all play a major part in the reservation economy. The primary industry is agriculture with reservation lands supporting 575,256 acres of crops harvested for grain (wheat, barley and oats) and forage production, of which 50,082 are irrigated acres and approximately 1,014,000 acres of grazing lands. There are 50,347 producing beef cows, 6,452 horses and 587 sheep pastured or penned on the reservation. The farms and ranches are owned and operated by 906 agricultural operators; 54 percent are Blackfeet tribal members and 31 percent are female. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Intertribal Agriculture Council Membership Meeting FRTEP Annual Meeting & Professional Development Rocky Mountain Region Intertribal Agriculture Ag Symposium How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Email Blackfeet 4-H Facebooks site Meetings Tours Workshops Ag & 4-H Newsletter Text Messages Newspaper articles What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal - Empowering American Indian Youth: Activities developed will allow youth to foster healthy, meaningful relationships among themselves, adults and elders, assist youth in crisis, help youth continue or revive an agricultural tradition, and support scientific, agricultural and health literacy among youth. Thirty-five percent of the population on the Blackfeet Reservation is under the age of eighteen.It is important to provide opportunities that will develop leadership and life skills to ensure they mature into healthy and productive members of society. Established a viable 4-H Youth Development Program and implemented a local 4-H Fair on the reservation, the first in 40 years. Over the past four years, 240 youth enrolled in the 4-H program as members, 55 adults as leaders and over 500 volunteers helped with 4-H activities. During this grant cycle continue to recruit and promote 4-H to increase youth enrollment and adult volunteer participation by 50 percent. Fifty-five is the average age of agricultural producers on the reservation; limited access to credit, capital and ability to provide an appropriate credit history has prevented many youth and beginning farmers/ranchers from returning to the family farm, threatening the sustainability of agriculture on the reservation. Blackfeet Extension established a youth and adult agriculture education and loan program to address the situation and plans to increase participation by seven individuals starting as young as nine years of age.Participants will receive one-on-one instruction in production management and business planning, complete a loan application and borrow funds for the purchase of cattle and annual operating expenses. Goal - Empowering the American Indian Producer in the New Economy: Activities developed will help producers find new markets, address food security issues, adapt to new technology, adopt sustainable agricultural practices and support the woman farmer. There are over 900 agricultural producers on the Blackfeet Reservation who require current and relevant information to ensure sustainability. The Blackfeet Extension Office established an Annual Grazing Seminar reaching over 300 producers over the past three years. The goal is to increase the number of participants by 50 percent and increase their knowledge gained by providing information about practical production management practices and herd health to increase efficiency of production generating high quality products and quality assurance practices to ensure the safety of food products.In addition, participants will increase their awareness of consumer and market demand issues, best management practices to increase marketability and profitability of beef cattle, and establish individual animal identification systems.Financial and production record keeping will also be addressed as well as tribal, state and national policy updates that directly affect producers. Rangelands represent the most abundant resource on the reservation. The Extension agent facilitated a cooperative effort resulting in a range land inventory of 750,000 acres. According to production data collected more than 50 percent is in fair condition and 30 percent in poor condition.It is imperative that individuals learn and implement range management practices to prevent an increase in poor condition rangeland. The goal is to increase the knowledge, skills and abilities of producers in range management and best management practices to ensure proper utilization of the rangeland resources resulting in a gradual increase in range condition and forage production. Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle causing severe reproductive and economic losses in test-positive herds. The disease causes early abortions in cows and infertility resulting in repeat breeding costs and a high percent of open cows which is costly to eradicate from a herd. The plan is to continue to increase awareness, promote best management practices and bull testing requirements to eliminate the disease out of all cattle herds on the reservation. SPRING: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), hold two Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Trainings, Market Animal Weigh-In, Feed, Care, Grooming and Showmanship workshops, Working Ranch Horse Clinics and Event, hold two Food Safety and Handling Certification Trainings, 4-H Leaders Council Meeting, preparation of Fair Entry and Exhibiting Packets, Interview and Exhibit Judges Orientation, recruitment and management of volunteers, construction and maintenance of fair buildings as needed, Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. Agriculture: Ag Producers Workshops -provide beef production, range and weed management, agriculture policy workshops, Estate Planning and Bovine Trichomoniasis Prevention Workshops; USDA Animal Disease Traceability Outreach project, Ag Newsletter, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. SUMMER: Youth: 4-H Lamb Slick-Shearing and workshop, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), 4-H Fair, Evaluate 4-H market animal carcasses and workshop, Fair business wrap-up and clean-up, Completed 4-H Record Book Review, New 4-H Family Orientation and Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. Agriculture: Beef Quality Assurance and Care Certification Training, Weed Bio-control collection and placement, Regional Intertribal Ag Council Symposium, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. FALL: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, 4-H Leaders Council meeting, Promote & Recruit 4-H Enrollment, ES237 4-H Statistical Report, National 4-H Week activities, 4-H Achievement and Awards Ceremony, Basics of 4-H workshop, 4-H Record Book Training, Native Women & Youth National Essay Writing Competition, FFA/4-H Loan Program-funding plan for project, Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging, Jr Ag Week-ranch visits and workshops- record keeping, financial statements, cow body condition scoring and feed ration balancing. Agriculture: Beef Heifer Development workshop, ARMP Planning, Beef Marketing Options workshop, Blackfeet Ag Program Facilitation, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. WINTER: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, Market Beef Weigh-In, Feed, Care, Grooming and Showmanship Workshops, 4-H Project Skill-a-thon, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), Clubs-Councils-Committees Treasurers Training. Agriculture: ARMP planning, Blackfeet Ag Program Facilitation , Ag Newsletter, Beef Record Keeping workshop, Calving Management workshop, Ag Loan Borrowers Training.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Promoted and recruited adult and older 4-H youth participation on the 4-H Leaders Council. The eight member council works with extension staff to identify program needs, set goals, training, certifications and yearly plan and calendar. Promoted higher education by fundraising and giving an annual $1000 scholarship to one 4-H member planning to college or vocational school. This year Native American Community Development Corporation donated an additional $500 towards the scholarship. Plus a local private donor gave $1500.00 in scholarships to two youth entering college. Presented and provided information on raising a finished market animal - selection, care, feed ration guidelines, grooming, showmanship and carcass evaluation for the following species: Beef (18), Sheep (3) and Swine (36), pet cat care, grooming and showmanship and horse: anatomy, breeds, feed and nutrition, health, equipment, safety, basic roping skills and moving cattle horseback. 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Training: proper care, feeding, drug administration and treatment of the animal to ensure a safe food product through 4-H market animal projects.All market 4-H members and parents are required to attend the training. Sixty-six youth and their parents were certified and allowed to show and sell their market animal at the fair showmanship and market show. 4-H Serve Safe/Food Handlers Certification training provides information on how to prevent foodborne illnesses by proper handling of food, hygiene and customer service during the 4-H Fair.Forty-eight youth and their parents were certified making them eligible to work in the 4-H Food Booth during the 4-H fair. All of the money raised in the food booth goes to the youth as a participation incentive program. For every ribbon there's a point value, each point is worth $1.00.In order for youth to be eligible they must be certified and work in the food booth for a minimum of four hours. Montana 4-H Week of Service was an initiative to encourage Montana 4-H youth to make a positive impact within their communities and share what they are doing during a week in April. The 4-H Clubs on the Blackfeet Reservation joined together to illustrate how BIG a difference Montana 4-H can make by participating in community service projects by making of tie-blankets for critical care children at hospitals. A grant was written to the 4-H People Partner Grant by a 4-H member and parents for the purchase of supplies. Twenty-one youth and their parents tied 17 blankets in just two hours. The blankets were donated to the Blackfeet Community Hospital Northern Rocky Mountain Medical Center for critical care children and babies. Promote and increase ownership of local 4-H Fair by encouraging and providing the opportunity for leadership of youth and adult volunteers to plan and implement the four day fair, auction/buyers barbeque and working ranch horse competition. 26 volunteers meet quarterly for Livestock, Exhibit Building, Food Booth, Facility, and working ranch horse committee meetings to plan the Annual Charging Home Stampede 4-H Fair on the Blackfeet Reservation. We wrote a $500 grant that was funded for the purchase of much needed lights in the show barn.Through fundraising efforts we raised $5900 that was used to build an addition onto the existing 4-H kitchen, upgraded the countertops and sinks, and built new wash bays with plumbing for the 4-H steers and sheep. Jr Ag Loan Program: the loan program is an ongoing program, starting from initial information period to the completion of the project/pay off of the loan. Currently working with six youth and their parents on planning and loan paperwork, there were no new loans in the reporting period. Currently managing 8 active loans. Rural Assistance Loan Program for beginning farmers and ranchers:provided information and assistance with loan application and goals for 11 adults of which 2 successfully completed processes and collectively borrowed $60,294 for the purchase of bred cattle and $ $18,500 in operating loans. Currently managing 10 active loans and working with 4 new applicants. Financial and Production Record Keeping: promote the importance of and methods of record keeping in agriculture. The first step to increasing production and profitability is setting financial and production goals and keeping accurate record to measure how well the goals have been achieved. A key tool is the pocket-sized Red Book, which cattle producers use "in the field" to record information about their cattle and activity.Fifty adult and junior agriculture producers received the Red Book - Integrated Resource Management record keeping information and instruction. Keeping good records are critical tool when accessing federal disaster programs for producers. This year the Livestock Feed Program was made available in August 2015 for livestock producers affected by drought. There were about 190 producers who received $1.74 million in program benefits because they could provide good production and financial records. Organized a Beef Cattle Conference, 30 producers learned about the biological cycle of the beef cow, how to select, grow, and manage replacement heifers, body condition scoring and mineral supplementation of beef cattle, and an overview of the Blackfeet Tribe Agriculture Program goals and agent facilitated a input from producers for project development. Cooperatively with the Blackfeet Tribe and Blackfeet Conservation District strategically planning the completion of the Blackfeet Agriculture Resources Management Plan that will include an environmental assessment. The ARMP will define specific tribal goals and objectives for the agriculture and range resources of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.The project was funded $330,000 over a three year period.So far, accomplished the first phase by developing the MOA between tribe and BIA, set up budget line items with tribal finance, developed project manager position description, advertisement and hired the project manager. At the completion of this the project, the Blackfeet Nation will have the information to develop their own tribal policy that will protect their resources and allow tribe producers to thrive. Working with the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council on the development of the Blackfeet Tribe Agriculture Program. This project is the first step in renewing tribal agriculture production as part of a comprehensive economic development strategy. We are working with the Blood Tribe and Blackfoot confederacy in Standoff Alberta, Canada to develop sustainable growth through farming and ranching projects that protect and enhances the environment through best manage practices.Cooperatively coordinated a producer's informational meeting about the program for 61 producers. Twenty-five Blackfeet producers attended the tour of the Blood Tribe Ag Program, Farm, Feedlot and Hay Compaction Business in Canada.There are about 480 individuals producing about 50,000 beef cows on the reservation that can benefit from a marketing project like this. Currently working with Tribe by organizing and facilitation strategic plans and in initial stages of developing memorandum of agreement for the project between all parties including the Blackfeet Beef Producers and farmers. To assist the Blackfeet Nation, coordinated a brainstorming and goal session between the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and USDA Rural Development staff to identify projects and funding that could assist in the realization of the goals of the tribe.
Publications
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Progress 07/01/14 to 06/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The Blackfeet Indian Reservation is the third largest reservation with the largest American Indian population in Montana, there are 16,500 enrolled members. There are 10,405 people living on the reservation and nearly 35 percent are under the age of 18. Livestock, grain and forage production, oil and gas production, fishing, and forest industries all play a major part in the reservation economy. The primary industry is agriculture with reservation lands supporting 575,256 acres of crops harvested for grain (wheat, barley and oats) and forage production, of which 50,082 are irrigated acres and approximately 1,014,000 acres of grazing lands. There are 50,347 producing beef cows, 6,452 horses and 587 sheep pastured or penned on the reservation. The farms and ranches are owned and operated by 906 agricultural operators; 54 percent are Blackfeet tribal members and 31 percent are female. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Animal Nutrition Conference Intertribal Agriculture Council Membership Meeting FRTEP Annual Meeting & Professional Development Rocky Mountain Region Intertribal Agriculture Ag Symposium Extension Planning & Reporting Webinar 4-H Volunteer Screening Webinar How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Emails Blackfeet 4-H Facebook site Meetings Tours Workshops Text messages What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal - Empowering American Indian Youth: Activities developed will allow youth to foster healthy, meaningful relationships among themselves, adults and elders, assist youth in crisis, help youth continue or revive an agricultural tradition, and support scientific, agricultural and health literacy among youth. Thirty-five percent of the population on the Blackfeet Reservation is under the age of eighteen.It is important to provide opportunities that will develop leadership and life skills to ensure they mature into healthy and productive members of society. Established a viable 4-H Youth Development Program and implemented a local 4-H Fair on the reservation, the first in 40 years. Over the past four years, 240 youth enrolled in the 4-H program as members, 55 adults as leaders and over 500 volunteers helped with 4-H activities. During this grant cycle continue to recruit and promote 4-H to increase youth enrollment and adult volunteer participation by 50 percent. Fifty-five is the average age of agricultural producers on the reservation; limited access to credit, capital and ability to provide an appropriate credit history has prevented many youth and beginning farmers/ranchers from returning to the family farm, threatening the sustainability of agriculture on the reservation. Blackfeet Extension established a youth and adult agriculture education and loan program to address the situation and plans to increase participation by seven individuals starting as young as nine years of age.Participants will receive one-on-one instruction in production management and business planning, complete a loan application and borrow funds for the purchase of cattle and annual operating expenses. Goal - Empowering the American Indian Producer in the New Economy: Activities developed will help producers find new markets, address food security issues, adapt to new technology, adopt sustainable agricultural practices and support the woman farmer. There are over 900 agricultural producers on the Blackfeet Reservation who require current and relevant information to ensure sustainability. The Blackfeet Extension Office established an Annual Grazing Seminar reaching over 300 producers over the past three years. The goal is to increase the number of participants by 50 percent and increase their knowledge gained by providing information about practical production management practices and herd health to increase efficiency of production generating high quality products and quality assurance practices to ensure the safety of food products.In addition, participants will increase their awareness of consumer and market demand issues, best management practices to increase marketability and profitability of beef cattle, and establish individual animal identification systems.Financial and production record keeping will also be addressed as well as tribal, state and national policy updates that directly affect producers. Rangelands represent the most abundant resource on the reservation. The Extension agent facilitated a cooperative effort resulting in a range land inventory of 750,000 acres. According to production data collected more than 50 percent is in fair condition and 30 percent in poor condition.It is imperative that individuals learn and implement range management practices to prevent an increase in poor condition rangeland. The goal is to increase the knowledge, skills and abilities of producers in range management and best management practices to ensure proper utilization of the rangeland resources resulting in a gradual increase in range condition and forage production. Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle causing severe reproductive and economic losses in test-positive herds. The disease causes early abortions in cows and infertility resulting in repeat breeding costs and a high percent of open cows which is costly to eradicate from a herd. The plan is to continue to increase awareness, promote best management practices and bull testing requirements to eliminate the disease out of all cattle herds on the reservation. SPRING: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), hold two Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Trainings, Market Animal Weigh-In, Feed, Care, Grooming and Showmanship workshops, Working Ranch Horse Clinics and Event, hold two Food Safety and Handling Certification Trainings, 4-H Leaders Council Meeting, preparation of Fair Entry and Exhibiting Packets, Interview and Exhibit Judges Orientation, recruitment and management of volunteers, construction and maintenance of fair buildings as needed, Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. Agriculture: Ag Producers Workshops -provide beef production, range and weed management, agriculture policy workshops, Estate Planning and Bovine Trichomoniasis Prevention Workshops; USDA Animal Disease Traceability Outreach project, Ag Newsletter, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. SUMMER: Youth: 4-H Lamb Slick-Shearing and workshop, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), 4-H Fair, Evaluate 4-H market animal carcasses and workshop, Fair business wrap-up and clean-up, Completed 4-H Record Book Review, New 4-H Family Orientation and Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. Agriculture: Beef Quality Assurance and Care Certification Training, Weed Bio-control collection and placement, Regional Intertribal Ag Council Symposium, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. FALL: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, 4-H Leaders Council meeting, Promote & Recruit 4-H Enrollment, ES237 4-H Statistical Report, National 4-H Week activities, 4-H Achievement and Awards Ceremony, Basics of 4-H workshop, 4-H Record Book Training, Native Women & Youth National Essay Writing Competition, FFA/4-H Loan Program-funding plan for project, Junior Ag Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging, Jr Ag Week-ranch visits and workshops- record keeping, financial statements, cow body condition scoring and feed ration balancing. Agriculture: Beef Heifer Development workshop, ARMP Planning, Beef Marketing Options workshop, Blackfeet Ag Program Facilitation, Rural Assistance Loan Program-business planning and loan packaging. WINTER: Youth: 4-H Newsletter, Market Beef Weigh-In, Feed, Care, Grooming and Showmanship Workshops, 4-H Project Skill-a-thon, Fair Preparation through organized planning committees (livestock, exhibit, food booth, horse), Clubs-Councils-Committees Treasurers Training. Agriculture: ARMP planning, Blackfeet Ag Program Facilitation , Ag Newsletter, Beef Record Keeping workshop, Calving Management workshop, Ag Loan Borrowers Training.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal: increase youth enrollment and adult volunteer participation by 50 percent. Promoted, recruited and provided information increasing the participation and knowledge of youth and adult volunteers. Activities included development of brochures, 4-H Facebook page, 4-H quarterly newsletters, newspaper articles, community meetings, club organizational and 4-H Record Book training. Maintained youth enrollment and increased adult volunteer leaders from 8 to 12 and clubs from 6 to 9 clubs. Presented and provided information on raising a finished market animal - selection, care, feed ration guidelines, grooming, showmanship and carcass evaluation for: Beef, Sheep and Swine, pet cat care, grooming and showmanship and horse: anatomy, breeds, feed and nutrition, health, equipment, basic roping skills and moving cattle horseback. Increased horse project enrollment from 7 the first year to 30 enrolled currently. 4-H Serve Safe/Food Handlers training: preventing foodborne illnesses by proper handling of food, hygiene and customer service during the 4-H Fair. Twenty-four youth plus their parents were certified during one workshop. 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Training: proper care, feeding, drug administration and treatment of animals to ensure a safe food product through 4-H market animal projects. Twenty-one youth plus their parents were certified. Promote and increase ownership of local 4-H Fair by encouraging leadership of youth and Adult Volunteers to plan and implement the 4-H fair, auction/barbeque and working ranch horse competition: 30 volunteers meet quarterly for Livestock, Small Animal, Exhibit Building, Food Booth, Facility, and working ranch horse committees to plan the 6th Annual Charging Home Stampede 4-H Fair on the Reservation. Promote and recruit adult and older 4-H youth participation on the 4-H Leaders Council to identify program needs, set goals, training, certifications and yearly plan and calendar.Promote higher education by fundraising and giving an annual $500 scholarship to a 4-H youth planning to go to college or vocational school. Jr Ag Loan Program: this ongoing program starts from initial information to the completion of the project/pay off of the loan. Working with 21 youth and their parents on planning and loan paperwork, at this time 4 completed the loan application process and successfully borrowed $8500 each for the purchase of 28 bred cattle. Managing 9 active loans. Develop the theme, writing prompts and ranking matrix for a national youth agriculture essay contest; which included the development of a national review committee, essay advertisement, collection and review essays, and selections of top three finalists then assist them with public speaking preparation to read their essays at the national Intertribal Agriculture Council membership meeting. Four Blackfeet 4-H members and their parents were selected to attend the meeting. Montana 4-H Week of Service was an initiative to encourage 4-H youth to make a positive impact within their communities and share their activities during a week in April. The 4-H Clubs joined to illustrate how BIG a difference they can make by participating in community service projects making tie-blankets. A grant was written to the 4-H People Partner Grant by a senior 4-H member for the purchase of supplies. Thirty-seven adults and youth tied 27 blankets. All were donated to the Blackfeet Community Hospital to critical care children and babies. Native Youth in Food & Agriculture Summer Summit: Agent is on the planning committee and application reviewer. Three youth from the Blackfeet Nation applications were approved and will participate at the 2nd annual summit in Arkansas in July 2015. The summit is for Cooperatively with the Blackfeet Transportation and Safe on All Roads Program, organized a community Christmas coat drive for children in need, 60 coats were donated. Goal - Empowering the American Indian Producer in the New Economy: Rural Assistance Loan Program for beginning farmers and ranchers: educated and assisted with loan application and goals for 18 adults of which 7 successfully completed and collectively borrowed $288,232 to purchase bred cattle and operating loans. Managing 9 active loans. Financial and Production Record Keeping: promoted the importance and methods of record keeping in agriculture. The first step to increasing production and profitability is setting goals and keeping accurate record to measure how well those have been achieved. Forty adult and junior agriculture producers received one on one consultation utilizing Integrated Resource Management tools. Facilitated, recorded, prepared the final publication of the third five year strategic plan for Blackfeet Natural Resources Conservation District, a planning tool to aid in wise use of natural resources on the reservation. Regional and National Outreach Efforts: Conference planning team member for the Rocky Mountain Regional Ag Producer Symposium and Intertribal Agriculture Council National Membership Meeting where all of the presentations are focused marketing, food security, new technologies, sustainable agricultural practices. Presented to 58 producers: Blackfeet Youth Development and Agriculture Program. Presented to a Montana Senator and Aides: FRTEP Blackfeet Extension Successes in youth development and agriculture on the Blackfeet Reservation. 21 attendees. Presented at the Intertribal Agriculture Council Membership meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada: FRTEP Blackfeet Extension Junior Ag Intern and loan program to 350 attendees. Master of Ceremonies: Intertribal Agriculture Council National Membership Meeting Banquet and awards for the IAC Youth Essay Finalists. 500 participants Assisted the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council with the development of the Blackfeet Tribe Agriculture Program. This is the first step in renewing tribal agriculture production as part of a comprehensive economic development strategy. Worked with the Blood Tribe and Blackfoot confederacy of Alberta, Canada to develop sustainable growth through farming and ranching project that protects and enhances the environment through best managed practices. Cooperatively coordinated a producer's informational meeting about the program for 61 producers. Twenty-five Blackfeet producers attended the tour of the Blood Tribe Ag Program, Farm, Feedlot and Hay Compaction Business in Canada. Currently organizing and facilitating strategic plans for the project. Organized two 2014 Farm Bill Informational and Computer Workshops where 65 producers learned about the new Farm Bill programs: Price Loss Coverage, Ag Risk Coverage, Non-Insured Crop Disaster Program utilizing a new decision making tool develop by MSU Extension Econ Specialist. Organized an estate planning and will writing workshop where 30 individuals learned from MSU Extension Family Economics Specialist why everyone needs a will and what happens if you don't have one when you pass away. Presenters from the BIA and Blackfeet Tribe presented the AIPRA (American Indian Program and Reform Act) and Indian Buy-Back for Tribal Nations project
Publications
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Progress 07/01/13 to 06/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for extension programming includes but not limited to youth,adults, community members, and agriculture producers that are residents of the Blackfeet Reservation. Programs and information are delivered in classroom, workshop settings, hands on demonstrations, field visits, face to face, newsletters, direct mail outs and social media. Changes/Problems: Changes/Problems: A major change has been the decreased staffing because of decreased FRTEP funding. This creates a problem because of the projected goals of the project were written with the assistance of a full-time program aid/administrative associate. I did obtain amount of funding that allowed me to hire a much needed .45 FTE Administrative Associate whose main responsibilities are to assist with the youth development programming. This didn’t allow as much time for more agricultural programming as planned. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Opportunities included participation at the MSU Extension Annual Conference, Statewide 4-H Update, 4-H Volunteer Certification and On-line 4-H Enrollment Webinars, Rocky Mountain Regional Agricultural Council Symposium for producers, Intertribal Agricultural Council National Membership Meeting, and New Farm Bill Workshop. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Youth activities information and updates provided in newspaper articles and 4-H Newsletters, general activities report presentation at Ag producers meeting, monthly activities report BNRCD meetings and face to face update to tribal council. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Promote 4-H & recruit to increase participation Provide training to leader training to 4-H leaders to develop leadership skills Continue to implement Annual 4-H Fair Continue to promote and implement 4-H Working Ranch Horse Program & Competition Promote participation at the Youth in Agriculture Summit in the summer of 2014 Plan and implement Jr Ag Week: Ranch Visits & Workshops Promote Jr Ag Loan Program to increase participation Promote Rural Assistance Loan Program to increase participation Provide 2014 USDA Farm Bill information & update as information becomes available Grazing Seminar: provide information in the following areas: Building the Cow Herd: Heifer Replacement Program, Trichomoniasis: The disease and bull testing results, When Wildlife (Bear, Wolf, Mountain Lion) Kills your livestock: what should you do, Tribal & BIA Grazing Regulations, Grazing Management Plans
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major goals of the project to increase youth enrollment and adult volunteer participation by 50 percent. The following are activities facilitated and/or presented by the agent to increase youth and adult participation in the 4-H Development Program: 4-H Project Work, 4-H Fair and Working Ranch Horse Competition and beginning farmer/rancher programming. Promoted, recruited and provided information increasing the participation and knowledge of youth and adult volunteers. Activities included development of brochures, 4-H Facebook page, 4-H quarterly newsletters, newspaper articles, community meetings and face to face, club organizational and 4-H Record Book training. Resulting in an increase in youth enrollment from 77 to 106, adult volunteer leaders from 8 to 12 and clubs from 6 to 9 clubs. Presented and provided information on raising a finished market animal – selection, care, feed ration guidelines, grooming, showmanship and carcass evaluation for the following species: Beef, Sheep and Swine. Presented and provided information about on pet cat care, grooming and showmanship. Presented and provided information on the working ranch horse: anatomy, breeds, feed and nutrition, health, equipment, basic roping skills and moving cattle horseback. Increased horse project enrollment from 7 the first year to 26 enrolled currently. 4-H Serve Safe/Food Handlers training: preventing foodborne illnesses by proper handling of food, hygiene and customer service during the 4-H Fair. Forty-five youth plus their parents were certified during the three workshops provided. 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Certification Training: proper care, feeding, drug administration and treatment of the animal to ensure a safe food product through 4-H market animal projects. Thirty-five youth plus their parents were certified. Developed and currently manage fundraising efforts for operational money for the 4-H Fair called the 4-H Advertising Banner Program; encourage local and area businesses to support the 4-H youth fair by promoting their businesses in the 4-H barn by purchasing a banner that hangs on the walls of the show barn. All proceeds are used or awards and operations. $3400 was raised. Promote and increase ownership of local 4-H Fair by encouraging leadership of youth and Adult Volunteers to plan and implement the 4-H fair, auction/barbeque and working ranch horse competition: Livestock, Small Animal, Exhibit Building, Food Booth, Facility, and working ranch horse committees increased by 8 for the 4th Annual Charging Home Stampede 4-H Fair on the Blackfeet Reservation. Youth, volunteers and extension staff planned, built and managed another successful 4-H Fair and auction. Hosted the first annual 4-H Fair appreciation awards ceremony, fair history and current fair photo slide show presentation and barbeque for the youth, volunteers and community. There were approximately 150 in attendance. Promote and recruit adult and older 4-H youth participation on the 4-H Leaders Council. The council works with extension staff to identify program needs, set goals, training, certifications and yearly plan and calendar. Promote higher education by fundraising and giving an annual $500 scholarship to a 4-H youth planning to college or vocational school. Promote and encourage young artists to develop skills in the community by assisting with the 1st Annual DE LaSalle Catholic School Art and Talent Show. Provided information and hands-on identification at a workshop for 10 participants at the middle school summer program on native plants and weeds Developed a nomination form for an equitable process to select youth to participate at the Annual Intertribal Agricultural Council Membership Meeting in Las Vegas. The scholarship included all expenses paid for travel, registration fees, hotel and per diem for youth and guardian to attend a national agriculture meeting with several sessions specifically for youth in agriculture. Three youth and their guardians participated. Promote the importance of agriculture to youth by collaborating with Intertribal Agriculture Council on the 1st Annual Intertribal Agriculture Council Essay Contest: a national writing contest for native youth in agriculture, the top three finalists receive an all-expense paid travel to the meeting in Las Vegas to present to their essay and receive national recognition and awards. The following year they are considered Ag Ambassadors promoting agriculture. Developed the essay topic, writing prompts, and ranking matrix. Worked with the essay review team to choose top three essays, reviewing 60 essays from youth from all over the United States. Emceed the awards banquet where there were approximately 500 individuals in attendance. Jr Ag Loan Program: the loan program is an ongoing program, starting from initial information period to the completion of the project/pay off of the loan. Worked with 15 youth and their parents on planning and loan paperwork, 4 of which completed the loan application process and successfully borrowed $8500 each for the purchase of 28 bred cattle. Currently managing 9 active loans. Goal - Empowering the American Indian Producer in the New Economy: Activities developed will help producers find new markets, address food security issues, adapt to new technology, adopt sustainable agricultural practices and support the woman farmer. Rural Assistance Loan Program for beginning farmers and ranchers: provided information and assistance with loan application and goals for 17 adults of which 7 successfully complete process and collectively borrowed $225,418 for the purchase of bred cattle and operating loans. Currently managing 9 active loans Biological control of weeds: A cooperative weed management effort with the Rocky Mountain Weed Round Table and Blackfeet Natural Resources Conservation District. Assisted with identify weed infested areas on the reservation best suited for bio control to manage further spread. Beef Marketing: Provided information to 12 beef producers on Age and source verified, non-hormone grass feed beef programs to capture the best price for their products. Of the 12 beef producers, 5 enrolled in Verified Beef Programs for certification. Financial and Production Record Keeping: promote the importance of and methods of record keeping for agriculture 65 producers. Pregnancy testing cows: Palpation compared to Ultra sound: provide information about the two methods and adopting practices to save money. Facilitated and recorded the third five year strategic plan for BNRCD. The plan is a planning tool for the board to aid in the conservation and wise use of natural resources found on the reservation. Regional and National Outreach Efforts: Conference planning team member for the Rocky Mountain Regional Ag Producer Symposium and Intertribal Agriculture Council National Membership Meeting where all of the presentations are focused marketing, food security, new technologies, sustainable agricultural practices. Community requests: Provided information to community members on a daily basis, from Fruit leather, rhubarb jam, insect identification, honey bees, forage analysis, efficient hay feeding methods, and tree types for windbreaks, gardening to Farm Bill information.
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