Performing Department
Extension
Non Technical Summary
Flathead FRTEP will work with farmers/ranchers in pasture/range management, water utilization, and livestock production. Strategies include one-on-one visits, publications and local trainings in research, technology and information on Federal programs. New knowledge and tools enable farmers/ranchers to make informed decisions to improve financial and environmental sustainability. We will provide outreach and education to families in workshops and one-on-one in yard and garden, food and nutrition, food preservation, estate planning and trust property ownership options. Extension education will increase each family's ability to improve year around access to healthy food, understanding probate, trust ownership, wills, and managing and reducing indoor/outdoor pests. We will also continue to develop 4-H clubs and leaders who provide ongoing youth development in clubs, afterschool settings and school enrichment. Adults, teens and elders mentor elementary-aged youth, foster healthy, meaningful family relationships, deliver homework help, and complete 4-H projects and cultural crafts. Mentors empower youth through leadership development and by using the essential elements of youth development.
Animal Health Component
34%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
33%
Applied
34%
Developmental
33%
Goals / Objectives
· Enable American Indian farmers and ranchers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices through research-based Extension education and access to federal programs (REE Goals 1, 6 & 7). · Empower American Indian families through education and outreach in horticulture, food and nutrition, housing and environmental health, estate planning and the U.S. Department of Interior's Land Buy-Back program (REE Goals 1, 5, 6 & 7). · Empower American Indian youth through youth development programs that combine the 4-H experience with youth mentoring, and cultural activities (REE Goals 1, 6 & 7).
Project Methods
AMERICAN INDIAN PRODUCERS: During the next four year grant cycle, Flathead Reservation Extension Office (FREO) will provide research-based education and information to American Indian producers currently available through the state university system and other federal agency programs and continue to share new information as it becomes available. MSU, FREO and Tribal Lands Department have discussed and decided on the following Extension programs in their priorities. Range/Pasture: Tribal leases for agricultural tracts encourage lessees to manage weeds, improve stock water and irrigation. Improving pasture may increase animal AUMs on lease land. Many MSU and federal resources can help lessees improve pastures through a variety of integrated weed management and revegetation strategies. FREO will hold an annual class series for Indian Producers to help improve lease land, including calculating AUMs, identifying and managing weeds, grazing management, monitoring pastures and irrigation waters. FREO EA will make site visits and offer resources and information throughout the year in the FREO newsletter on federal, state and Tribal programs. Livestock Production and Herd Health: FREO Extension Agent (EA) will provide livestock production and herd health information to Indian Producers. Current plans for educational programs include making available Beef Quality Assurance certification offered nationally on-line for youth and adults. This includes providing resources and printed material to livestock producers with or without computers. As funding provides, EA will also include beef topics in the range management seminars, including technology and software, MSU updates, hay sampling, nitrate testing, interpreting hay analysis, ration balancing, animal disease prevention and updates provided by the state veterinarian. EA will continue to work with CSKT TLD and MSU Extension veterinarian on animal health projects that improve outreach and health alerts. Pesticide Applicators: FREO EA will continue to attend Pesticide Safety Education Committee meetings on behalf of Montana reservations to communicate reservation needs to both MSU and Montana Department of Agriculture (DOA). FREO will partner with MSU, CSKT and DOA to provide annual licensing and accredited pesticide applicator education for private/farm applicators, commercial and government (Tribal employee) applicators. AMERICAN INDIAN FAMILIES During the next four year grant cycle FREO will provide research-based education and information important to American Indian families currently available through the state university system and other federal agency programs and continue to share new information as follows: Home Food Security (Horticulture/Food Preservation): FREO EA will continue to provide horticulture and gardening education in schools, Gardening 101 for homeowners, Master Gardener Level 1 and Master Gardener Level 2, food preservation and Master Food Preserver classes. American Indian families who participate in gardening classes and food preservation classes learn to understand their soil, how to grow their food and how to safely preserve food, including game meat. Families who grow their food, hunt, fish and preserve their food safely, live healthy lifestyles and can provide healthy food for families year around. Food Safety: FREO EA will continue ServSafe certification to teach and proctor ServSafe classes. CSKT and local communities have many businesses and Tribal departments serving food to the public. FREO EA, as needed, will provide ServSafe 4-hour employee/8-hour manager trainings to Head Start, Elders Program, KwaTaqNuk Resort, Grey Wolf Casino and Job Corps staff as well as powwow food vendors. Estate Planning and U.S. DOI Land Buy-Back Program: During the next four years FREO EA will work with TLD staff to provide educational classes to American Indian families. These classes help families understand AIPRA, how AIPRA affects them and the importance of leaving a will. EA and TLD will provide education on the DOI Land Buy-Back Program where funding has been set aside by DOI to reduce fractionated interests on reservations and pay Tribal members for their fractionated ownership. Purchased fractionated interests will be transferred to the CSKT. Home Environment and Home Health: EA will provide education and resources to Tribal families and homeowners. EA will meet with homeowners one-on-one and attend new home buyer classes offered through CSKT Housing to provide information on Extension programs and opportunities, including healthy homes, pest control, and yard and garden information. EMPOWERING AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH: FREO Extension staff will train its volunteers in the Eight Essential Elements and develop caring adults to lead 4-H activities. Extension staff and volunteers will lead Afterschool 4-H and 4-H club activities in schools and the Boys and Girls Club during school, during afterschool hours, on field trips and during the summer activities. 4-H volunteers are teachers, afterschool directors, Master Food Preservers and Master Gardeners who have signed up as 4-H volunteers to pass their knowledge on to youth. Pulse volunteers from Tribal Natural Resources and other Tribal and non-Tribal agencies teach youth a variety of topics, lead club activities, community engagement projects and cultural projects. Methods for youth engagement include: 4-H Clubs - During afterschool hours. Afterschool 4-H - During afterschool hours. 4-H School Enrichment - Activities will be provided during the school day. Activities occur in the classroom and during field trips. FREO will provide a range of activities during the school day in riparian education, agriculture education, weed science and gardening. 4-H gardening clubs use the Texas A&M Jr. Master Gardener curriculum, including Nutrition in the Garden and Reading in the Garden. These projects fit into school curriculum and meet many Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) education benchmarks in science, health, nutrition, reading and art. To achieve school garden sustainability, FREO and a local Food Corps volunteer provided a curriculum to develop and teach school teams how to develop sustainable school gardens SNAP - FREO activities include SNAP education in first, third and fifth grades in nine schools reporting between 50 percent and 90 percent of their student body receiving free or reduced price meals. The SNAP nutrition assistant began classes in 2006 and will continue education to students while grant funding exists for SNAP. Six lessons taught in each classroom provide youth an opportunity to experience nutritious snacks, engage in physical activity and learn about nutrition. These lessons create positive nutritional impacts in the lives of students and families as evidenced by student, teacher and parent comments. 4-H Mentoring - To work with the reservations underserved youth population, FREO is working with the Boys and Girls Club and School District #30 to bring mentors, youth and families together in a safe, structured environment. Students will be receiving scholastic tutoring with teachers, mentors and volunteers on a weekly basis. Youth will participate in a weekly and/or monthly 4-H group activity. Mentors, youth and their families attend a monthly dinner where relationships between all three entities will be strengthened. Events include field trips, day and weekend camps along with guest speakers and other cultural activities. Mentoring priorities include establishing a caring adult relationship with the youth, promoting a stronger family unit and working towards scholastic and social achievement. The Mentoring program is supported by grant funding from the Department of Justice and the National 4-H Council.