Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:There were several different target audiences reached by this project: 1. Lubbock, Texas (and surroundingarea) agribusinesses, Texas Tech academic departments, and various other businesses in Texas and Oklahoma. The communications service center, Picador Creative, that was established through this project created videos, websites, brochures, logos, business cards, photos and other communications materials for a variety of businesses and individuals. 2. Texas Tech University students. In total, this project employed eight undergraduate students and three master's degree students. These students gained the practical experience of working with a client, creating communications pieces outside of a classroom setting, working in an office, and working as a team, all while building their own professional portfolios. 3. Regional agricultural communicators. Through this funding, agricultural communications professionals from the Southwest were able to develop their skills through various workshops offered. 4. Lubbock community. Through this project, several special events were offered to help educate the public on farm policy, food availability, and climate change. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development for area agricultural communicators and alumni occurred in three workshops: 1. An Adobe Design workshop (Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop) was hosted by the collaborators. Approximately 15 people attended, plus two of the collaborators on the project. The workshop occured in April 2014. 2. A photography workshop was organized in October 2014. Alumni, area photographers and students attended, plus one collaborator from the project. All total, eight participated. 3. A video production workshop was presented by one of the collaborators in April 2015. Alumni, area ag communicators and students attended; 15 total. 4. Professional development for faculty, alumni and other agricultural communications professionals occured through a crisis communications exercise in cooperation with National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Board, American Lamb Board, and Dairy Management Incorporated. Approximatley 60 professionals from Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma attended and worked through different actions that may be needed in the event of an FMD crisis. TTU agricultural communications faculty also attended the exercise, addressing the second goal of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?This was not a research project; therfore, there are no results to disseminate. However, information about the project has been disseminated through social media, brochures, email listservs, magazine advertising, and word of mouth. The student interns have produced outstanding materials for the project's clients. Satisfied customers have let to word of mouth spreading about the quality of the project. The project also has several supporters that have helped identify clients. The project's website ishttp://www.depts.ttu.edu/aged/picador/catt.html, where a sample of the work the interns have completed is available on the portfolio page. The project also has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PicadorCreative?ref=br_tf Information about the innovative nature of this project has been presented at several academic conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final report; however, this project has received additional funding with plans for even more funding in the future. The San Antonio Livestock Show and a Lubbock, Texas philanthropy have donated funts so that the project can continue to hire student interns. Plans for expansion are currently underway.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1a. Communications competencies of TTU undergraduate and graduate students were increased through working with regional businesses and Texas Tech academic units. These students created websites, videos, logos, brochures, photos, and ohter communications materials to assist these organizations in marketing and promotions. Student interns for the program have advanced to careers in equine, food, and medical marketing; real estate; insurance sales; and internships for the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee and for U.S. Representative Mike Conaway. One student was selectived for two high profile study abroad photography courses. 1b. Crisis communications competencies with agricultural communications professionals, alumni, and others occured in October 2015. Because of this funding, the project was able to host a foot and mouth disease crisis exercise in cooperation with National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Board, American Lamb Board, and Dairy Management Incorporated. Approximately 60 professionals from Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma attended and worked through several scenarios and the actions they would take in the event of an animal health crisis. TTU agricultural communications faculty attended the exercise, which also addressed the second goal of this project. 2a. In addition to the foot and mouth disease crisis exercise, faculty used project funds to attend agricultural communications research and professional conferences through the duration of this project to present and adance research, as well as develop professional skills. 2b. A trainer for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator was brought to the TTU campus to train the project directors and other campus communicators on the software. 3a. In March 2014, funds were utilized to host a farm bill forum to help area producers and communicators learn about the 2014 Farm Bill. Several speakers presented on major changes to the bill and thei impacts they would have on producers. Approximately 150 people attended. To further the reach of this project, students in one of the PI's classes assisted in planning, then attended the event. Learning about the farm bill and its implications on production agriculture furthers knowledge of food security. 3b. In April 2014, the PIs hosted an Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesgin workshop that was presented by a professional graphic designer. Approxmiately 15 communications professionals attended the event. 3c. In October 2014, funds were used to host a photography workshop. Approximately 10 professionals, alumni and students attended. 3d. One of the PIs is an expert in video production and used funds to host a video production workshop for 10 area professionals,alumni, and students. The event occured in April 2015 3e. Also in April 2015, PIs, with assistance from students in an event planning course, hosted a documentary viewing of "Farmland." Farmland was produced by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance; the film features a Texas Tech agricultural communications alumnus, Brad Bellah. The film features young people who chose to return to the family farm or ranch.Bellah attended the event and led a discussion about the fim. Much of the discussion focused on Bellah's decision to continue to farm, and farm succession is a matter of food security. Approximately 60 people attended. 3f. In April 2016, directors, in cooperation with students in an event planning course,hosted a documentary screening for the film produced by this project's interns, "Ranching in the Post Drought Era." Approximately 60 people attended. The documentary addressed issues of climate change and how the ranching industry is adjusting in light of climate change.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by this project was Lubbock, Texas-area agricultural businesses and Texas Tech academic departments. A secondary audience, although small, was a number of undergraduate and graduate students at Texas Tech University. Changes/Problems:No major changes nor problems occured in this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development for faculty, alumni, and other agricultural communications professionals occured through a crisis communications exercise in October 2015. Through this exercise, the directors hosted a foot and mouth disease crisis exercise in cooperation with National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Board, American Lamb Board, and Dairy Management Incorporated. Approximately 60 professionals from Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma attended and worked through several scenarios and actions to take in the event of an animal health crisis. TTU agricultural communications faculty also attended the exercise, addressing the second goal of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?This project was not a research project; therefore, there are no results to disseminate. However, information about the project has been disseminated through social media, brochures, email listservs, magazine advertising, and word of mouth. The student interns have produced outstanding materials for the project's clients. Satisfied customers have led to word spreading about the quality of the project. The project also has several supporters that have helped identify clients. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final report for this project. However, we are proud and excited to report that this project received additional funding from the San Antonio Livestock Show, the CH Foundation (a Lubbock, Texas philanthropic foundation), and the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications at Texas Tech University. The additional funding creates an opportunity to continue hiring a graduate assistant and student interns so that the Picador Creative project can continue. Additional donations and funding are continually being sought. Since Picador Creative charges for the work it does, funds continually come in so that computer, video, photo, and graphic design equipment and software to be updated and replaced. The PIs plan to continue the project as long as possible.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. The communications competencies of TTU undergraduate and graduate students were increased through working with Lubbock-area agribusinesses and Texas Tech academic units. These students created websites, videos, logos, brochures, and other communications materials to assist these organizations in marketing and promotions. Student interns for the program have advanced to careers in real estate and medical marketing, internships for the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee and for U.S. Representative Mike Conaway, and selective study abroad photography courses in Scotland and Belize. Crisis communications competencies with agricultural communications professionals, alumni, and others occured in October 2015. Through this project, the directors hosted a foot and mouth disease crisis exercise in cooperation with National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Board, American Lamb Board, and Dairy Management Incorporated. Approximately 60 professionals from Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma attended and worked through several scenarios and actions to take in the event of an animal health crisis. TTU agricultural communications faculty also attended the exercise, addressing the second goal of this project. 2. In addition to the foot and mouth disease crisis excercise, faculty used project funds to attend agricultural communications research and professional conferences to present and advance research as well as develop skills professionally. 3. In April 2016, projedt directors hosted a documentary screening for the film produced by this project's interns, "Ranching in the Post-Drought Era." Approximately 60 people attended. The documentary addressed issues of climate change and how the ranching industry is adjusting in light of changing weather patterns.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Hamman, K., & Irlbeck, E.G., Meyers, C., Gibson, C.D., Doerfert, D.L., Akers, C.L., Fraze, S., & Brashears, T. (2015). Creating an agricultural communications service center. Innovative idea poster presented at the annual meeting of Western Region AAAE, Corvallis, OR.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
MeLerran, E., Irlbeck, E.G., Hamman, K. (2015) #FarmBill: Using a hashtag to extend the reach of a student-planned forum. Innovative idea poster presented at the annual meeting of Western Region AAAE, Corvallis, OR.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
McLerran, E., & Irlbeck, E.G. (2015). Be our guest. Put our students to the test. Innovative idea poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Agricultural Education, San Antonio, TX.
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