Progress 09/01/19 to 06/03/24
Outputs
Target Audience:In the last year of the grant, the project reached 135 high school students, 20 parents, and 24 undecided students at Columbia Basin College (CBC). It also extended outreach to six high school instructors across Benton, Franklin, and Yakima school districts through instructional videos and departmental tours. Additionally, it involved four CBC agricultural students and four graduate students at Washington State University's Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (WSU-IAREC) within the CBC service area. The participants were diverse in terms of ethnic backgrounds, genders, and age groups, including a notable representation of Hispanic students, with some having prior exposure to agricultural pursuits. The main event occurred during the High School Student and Parent Field Day on March 11, 2023, with 21 registered participants (16 students, five parents, and two instructors). They received kits with program materials and pepper seasoning made by CBC Agricultural students. The event featured speakers like Dr. Naidu Rayapati of WSU-IAREC and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) at IAREC. Attendees enjoyed a tour of the CBC Ag farm and greenhouse, learned about new agricultural equipment, and participated in a guided session on plant virus testing. Current CBC Agricultural students were available to answer questions about the program, discuss summer internships, and highlight the program's relevance to local careers. The CBC's Agriculture Program and Outreach Department collaborated with WSU-IAREC in Prosser for a campus tour event on April 18, 2023, attracting 81 participants. Local high school students explored both the CBC agriculture facility and the WSU-IAREC facility, engaging with staff, faculty, and graduate students. They participated in hands-on activities and explored modern agricultural technologies. The event's success suggests potential increased participation in future events, aiming to encourage prospective students in STEM fields. Continuing outreach efforts, the CBC Agriculture Department welcomed 15 undecided CAMP students on May 12, 2023, offering a tour of the WSU IAREC research facility in Prosser. Students interacted with the Director of Recruitment and Retention for WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), discussing pathways to Agricultural Sciences and gaining exposure to advanced agricultural technologies. A notable impact was the preparation of a summer internship facilitated by the project leads and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS. Four CBC students secured positions for a 10-week internship from July to September 2023. During the no-cost extension from October 1, 2023-March 31, 2024, a final payment was made to WSU-Tri cities for their work in the no-cost extension in tying up the student work with the internships. CBC also had one last event, called Holiday Hustle, that included 10 high schools competing to solve agriculture problems and expose them to the agriculture program at Columbia Basin College. Overall, the events organized by the CBC Agriculture Program resulted in increased enrollment and strengthened partnerships with high schools, Washington State University, and the local agriculture industry. This collaborative effort has improved communication channels, benefiting the regional agriculture community. Changes/Problems:Because of past issues created from the Pandemic, meeting grant deliverables was delayed. Having the no-cost extension provides us with the time to further educate CBC students and the public on agriculture opportunities at CBC and in the community. The no-cost extension allowed us to host another agriculture event with high school students to compete to solve an agriculture problem. It was well attended by over 10 high schools. The NCE also allowed WSU-Tri cities to complete their work with the agriculture student interns. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project was scheduled to conduct training and professional development as part of Activities 3-5. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops The agricultural department continues its efforts in outreach activities to increase student enrollment in agriculture programs. On May 12, 2023, the CBC Agriculture Department welcomed 15 undecided CAMP students to a tour of the joint (USDA/WSU) research facility in Prosser. Students were greeted by Dr. Naidu Rayapati, IAREC Director and co-PD, and went over the various opportunities at WSU research facilities across the state. The Director of Recruitment and Retention for CAHNRS spoke with students about educational opportunities, scholarships, internships, transfer programs, and enrollment procedures in Agriculture Sciences. Students were exposed to advanced agricultural technologies in action, Robotics, UAVs (drones), and the future of irrigation systems. Visiting ROZA, scientists talked about photosynthesis and orchard management. Students also enjoyed a lunch served by WSU, with ice cream especially made by the Cougars! As always, students were given a pre and post-event survey questionnaire. Two of the most important questions were answered unanimously Yes. The questions were: Did you gain valuable information about agricultural sciences? 100%-Yes Do you feel more knowledgeable about the agricultural degree programs and career options? 100%-Yes. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops These activities were conducted during the previous year's cycle. This year focused more on the student agricultural experience. ?A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program There were two groups of interns over this reporting period. A spring group and a summer internship group. The four spring interns worked for both CBC and WSU from April-June. The summer internship, coordinated by the PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS, successfully hosted four students from July to September 2023, providing a valuable 10-week experience. The interns were strategically placed at the USDA ARS, working under various scientists specializing in genetics, physiology, pathology, and breeding. Additionally, the interns gained hands-on experience at the Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center at Washington State University, collaborating with experts in viticulture, breeding, physiology, entomology, and agricultural engineering. This diverse exposure allowed interns to enhance their communication, teaching, research, and collaboration skills while gaining insights into multiple facets of the industry. The internship program proved highly successful in propelling students toward their research, educational, and career goals. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The dissemination of results primarily occurred through the convening of the agricultural advisory committee during their Spring 2023 meeting. This committee, composed of K-12 and agriculture industry professionals, served as a key community of interest. At this meeting, comprehensive information and findings were shared, offering a direct and focused avenue for communication. By engaging with the advisory committee, which represents stakeholders intimately connected to both K-12 education and the agriculture industry, the dissemination ensured that pertinent insights and outcomes reached the intended communities effectively. This targeted approach facilitated a direct exchange of information, fostering collaboration and understanding among stakeholders with a vested interest in the outcomes of the agricultural initiative. In addition, three dedicated students from our institution had the unique opportunity to attend the Western Society of Crop Science conference held from June 26-28, 2023 in Honolulu, HI. This invaluable experience was made possible through this grant and a travel allowance provided to them in exchange for their active participation in the event. The trio eagerly immersed themselves in the diverse array of presentations, gaining insights into cutting-edge research and advancements in crop science. As part of their commitment, each student was tasked with summarizing three presentations, providing a succinct yet comprehensive overview of the key findings and methodologies presented. Additionally, they were required to propose a research project inspired by one of the conference presentations, showcasing their ability to translate theoretical knowledge into actionable research ideas. This collaborative initiative not only allowed the students to enrich their understanding of crop science but also fostered a bridge between academic discourse and practical applications in the field. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?CBC was granted a no-cost extension (NCE) of the grant. The main focus of the NCE is to provide more enhanced agriculture experiences for students. In addition, more dissemination of agriculture information to the local agriculture industry will be achieved with the extra time allocated by the extension. A1 Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days On December 14, 2023, CBC will be hosting an agricultural event involving 8-10 teams of high school students. They will all be competing to solve a agricultural scenario that benefits the consumer and prevents agricultural loss. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students This will be part of the December 14, 2023 event. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops This will be part of the December 14, 2023 event. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops This activity has been completed in prior years. A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program This activity has been completed in prior years.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 4 saw success in the performance objective relating to positively impacting high school students and parents' knowledge of FANH education and career opportunities. This was achieved through the completion of the first twoproject activities: A1 - Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days On March 11, 2023, the Parent and Student Field Day took place at the CBC campus in Pasco, WA. The event was aimed at connecting high school students and their parents with the CBC agriculture program. Attendees participated in practical activities, attended workshops, and observed demonstrations to learn about the program's methods and technologies. This hands-on experience aimed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications. The event served as a means to actively involve the community in supporting and understanding the CBC agriculture program, contributing to the overall improvement of agricultural education in the region. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students The series of events organized throughout the academic year played a crucial role in advancing our objective of increasing the number and diversity of students pursuing post-secondary agricultural education. Beginning with the Agriculture Student Field Day on October 22, 2022, followed by the Ag USDA Day on April 18, 2023, where local high school students spent half a day at CBC and the other half at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, WA, these initiatives provided students with firsthand exposure to the practical aspects of agricultural education. The April 28, 2023, High School Equivalency Program (HEP) tour of CBC's Agriculture Program and the subsequent event on May 12, 2023, which involved a tour with Washington State University's IAREC in Prosser, WA, further contributed to demystifying post-secondary agricultural education. By facilitating these campus tours and hands-on experiences, we aimed to provide excitement around a career in agriculture.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:In the last year of the grant, the project reached 135 high school students, 20 parents, and 24 undecided students at Columbia Basin College (CBC). It also extended outreach to six high school instructors across Benton, Franklin, and Yakima school districts through instructional videos and departmental tours. Additionally, it involved four CBC agricultural students and four graduate students at Washington State University's Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (WSU-IAREC) within the CBC service area. The participants were diverse in terms of ethnic backgrounds, genders, and age groups, including a notable representation of Hispanic students, with some having prior exposure to agricultural pursuits. The main event occurred during the High School Student and Parent Field Day on March 11, 2023, with 21 registered participants (16 students, five parents, and two instructors). They received kits with program materials and pepper seasoning made by CBC Agricultural students. The event featured speakers like Dr. Naidu Rayapati of WSU-IAREC and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) at IAREC. Attendees enjoyed a tour of the CBC Ag farm and greenhouse, learned about new agricultural equipment, and participated in a guided session on plant virus testing. Current CBC Agricultural students were available to answer questions about the program, discuss summer internships, and highlight the program's relevance to local careers. The CBC's Agriculture Program and Outreach Department collaborated with WSU-IAREC in Prosser for a campus tour event on April 18, 2023, attracting 81 participants. Local high school students explored both the CBC agriculture facility and the WSU-IAREC facility, engaging with staff, faculty, and graduate students. They participated in hands-on activities and explored modern agricultural technologies. The event's success suggests potential increased participation in future events, aiming to encourage prospective students in STEM fields. Continuing outreach efforts, the CBC Agriculture Department welcomed 15 undecided CAMP students on May 12, 2023, offering a tour of the WSU IAREC research facility in Prosser. Students interacted with the Director of Recruitment and Retention for WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), discussing pathways to Agricultural Sciences and gaining exposure to advanced agricultural technologies. A notable impact was the preparation of a summer internship facilitated by the project leads and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS. Four CBC students secured positions for a 10-week internship from July to September 2023. Overall, the events organized by the CBC Agriculture Program resulted in increased enrollment and strengthened partnerships with high schools, Washington State University, and the local agriculture industry. This collaborative effort has improved communication channels, benefiting the regional agriculture community. Changes/Problems:Because of past issues created from the Pandemic, meeting grant deliverables was delayed. Having the no-cost extension provides us with the time to further educate CBC students and the public on agriculture opportunities at CBC and in the community. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project was scheduled to conduct training and professional development as part of Activities 3-5. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops The agricultural department continues its efforts in outreach activities to increase student enrollment in agriculture programs. On May 12, 2023, the CBC Agriculture Department welcomed 15 undecided CAMP students to a tour of the joint (USDA/WSU) research facility in Prosser. Students were greeted by Dr. Naidu Rayapati, IAREC Director and co-PD, and went over the various opportunities at WSU research facilities across the state. The Director of Recruitment and Retention for CAHNRS spoke with students about educational opportunities, scholarships, internships, transfer programs, and enrollment procedures in Agriculture Sciences. Students were exposed to advanced agricultural technologies in action, Robotics, UAVs (drones), and the future of irrigation systems. Visiting ROZA, scientists talked about photosynthesis and orchard management. Students also enjoyed a lunch served by WSU, with ice cream especially made by the Cougars! As always, students were given a pre and post-event survey questionnaire. Two of the most important questions were answered unanimously Yes. The questions were: Did you gain valuable information about agricultural sciences? 100%-Yes Do you feel more knowledgeable about the agricultural degree programs and career options? 100%-Yes. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops These activities were conducted during the previous year's cycle. This year focused more on the student agricultural experience. ?A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program There were two groups of interns over this reporting period. A spring group and a summer internship group. The four spring interns worked for both CBC and WSU from April-June. The summer internship, coordinated by the PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS, successfully hosted four students from July to September 2023, providing a valuable 10-week experience. The interns were strategically placed at the USDA ARS, working under various scientists specializing in genetics, physiology, pathology, and breeding. Additionally, the interns gained hands-on experience at the Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center at Washington State University, collaborating with experts in viticulture, breeding, physiology, entomology, and agricultural engineering. This diverse exposure allowed interns to enhance their communication, teaching, research, and collaboration skills while gaining insights into multiple facets of the industry. The internship program proved highly successful in propelling students toward their research, educational, and career goals. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The dissemination of results primarily occurred through the convening of the agricultural advisory committee during their Spring 2023 meeting. This committee, composed of K-12 and agriculture industry professionals, served as a key community of interest. At this meeting, comprehensive information and findings were shared, offering a direct and focused avenue for communication. By engaging with the advisory committee, which represents stakeholders intimately connected to both K-12 education and the agriculture industry, the dissemination ensured that pertinent insights and outcomes reached the intended communities effectively. This targeted approach facilitated a direct exchange of information, fostering collaboration and understanding among stakeholders with a vested interest in the outcomes of the agricultural initiative. In addition, three dedicated students from our institution had the unique opportunity to attend the Western Society of Crop Science conference held from June 26-28, 2023 in Honolulu, HI. This invaluable experience was made possible through this grant and a travel allowance provided to them in exchange for their active participation in the event. The trio eagerly immersed themselves in the diverse array of presentations, gaining insights into cutting-edge research and advancements in crop science. As part of their commitment, each student was tasked with summarizing three presentations, providing a succinct yet comprehensive overview of the key findings and methodologies presented. Additionally, they were required to propose a research project inspired by one of the conference presentations, showcasing their ability to translate theoretical knowledge into actionable research ideas. This collaborative initiative not only allowed the students to enrich their understanding of crop science but also fostered a bridge between academic discourse and practical applications in the field. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?CBC was granted a no-cost extension (NCE) of the grant. The main focus of the NCE is to provide more enhanced agriculture experiences for students. In addition, more dissemination of agriculture information to the local agriculture industry will be achieved with the extra time allocated by the extension. A1 Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days On December 14, 2023, CBC will be hosting an agricultural event involving 8-10 teams of high school students. They will all be competing to solve a agricultural scenario that benefits the consumer and prevents agricultural loss. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students This will be part of the December 14, 2023 event. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops This will be part of the December 14, 2023 event. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops This activity has been completed in prior years.? A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program This activity has been completed in prior years.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 4 saw success in the performance objective relating to positively impacting high school students and parents' knowledge of FANH education and career opportunities. This was achieved through the completion of the first two project activities: A1 - Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days On March 11, 2023, the Parent and Student Field Day took place at the CBC campus in Pasco, WA. The event was aimed at connecting high school students and their parents with the CBC agriculture program. Attendees participated in practical activities, attended workshops, and observed demonstrations to learn about the program's methods and technologies. This hands-on experience aimed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications. The event served as a means to actively involve the community in supporting and understanding the CBC agriculture program, contributing to the overall improvement of agricultural education in the region. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students The series of events organized throughout the academic year played a crucial role in advancing our objective of increasing the number and diversity of students pursuing post-secondary agricultural education. Beginning with the Agriculture Student Field Day on October 22, 2022, followed by the Ag USDA Day on April 18, 2023, where local high school students spent half a day at CBC and the other half at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, WA, these initiatives provided students with firsthand exposure to the practical aspects of agricultural education. The April 28, 2023, High School Equivalency Program (HEP) tour of CBC's Agriculture Program and the subsequent event on May 12, 2023, which involved a tour with Washington State University's IAREC in Prosser, WA, further contributed to demystifying post-secondary agricultural education. By facilitating these campus tours and hands-on experiences, we aimed to provide excitement around a career in agriculture.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:During the third year of the grant, the project reached a total of 134 high school students and five parents, 17 undecided students at Columbia Basin College (CBC), 7 high school instructors throughout Benton, Franklin, and Yakima school districts (teachers educated with videos and department tours), 9 CBC agricultural students and 6 graduate students at Washington State University's Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (WSU-IAREC) throughout CBC service area. Students represented a mix of white and non-white students (including a significant number of Hispanic students), male and female students, and adult students with and without an agricultural background. The event successfully served seventeen registered (eleven students, five parents, and one instructor) participants live during the High School Student and Parent Field day held on October 23, 2021. Participants were delivered a kit with program materials and pepper seasoning made by CBC Ag students. Students heard from speakers Dr. Naidu Rayapati of WSU-IAREC (co-PD) and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) at IAREC, enjoyed a tour of the CBC Ag farm and greenhouse, new equipment for ag operations, and were guided through plant virus testing activity. Current Ag CBC students were also on-hand to answer questions about the program and summer internships and discuss the relevance of training for local careers. CBC's Agriculture program and Outreach department collaborated with WSU-IAREC at Prosser to host a campus tour event on April 12, 2022. This year's attendance was more than double the previous year's event. In 2019, only 36 students attended; in 2022, we had 73 attendees. During the event, the local high school students had the opportunity to tour the CBC agriculture facility and the WSU IAREC facility in Prosser. The students were able to engage with CBC staff, faculty, and students, as well as WSU-IAREC faculty and graduate students to participate in various hands-on activities and explore exciting new technologies in modern agriculture. The event was very successful, with a high turnout. We expect more participants at future events. We hope these participants will be our prospective students pursuing higher education and careers in STEM fields. Along with the campus tour, videos (15 to 30 minutes) created during the COVID-19 pandemic on different topics in agriculture by subject matter experts from WSU were shared with local school teachers for the enrichment of academic courses offered in high schools. Videos were shared with Richland and Pasco Career and Technical Education (CTE) Directors. The agricultural department continues its efforts in outreach activities to increase student enrollment in agriculture programs. On May 20, 2022, the CBC Agriculture Department welcomed 17 undecided CAMP students to a tour of WSU IAREC research facility in Prosser. Students were greeted by Dr. Naidu Rayapati, IAREC Director, and went over the various opportunities at WSU research facilities across the state. The Director of Recruitment and Retention for WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) spoke with students about pathways to Agriculture Sciences.Students were exposed to advanced agricultural technologies in action, Robotics, UAVs (drones), the future of irrigation systems, and the ROZA farm with applied field research activities in tree fruit crops. In collaboration with WSU-IAREC, CBC's Agriculture Department planned for a Science Technology Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Professional Development Workshop on July 27, 2022. Due to low registration, the event was canceled and will be rescheduled in year4 of the project. The PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS prepared the summer internship application, and an advertisement was posted on CBC's website. We received seven applications, and six were hired from June 27 to September 16, 2022. Instead of 10 weeks, we extended the internship to 12 weeks. The project also allowed the existing 9 CBC agricultural students to enhance their leadership and communication skills. These students participated in the field day and workshop presentations and were available to answer student and parent questions. Out of these nine students, six of them received summer internship training. The project also involved six WSU-IAREC graduate students who mentored student interns during their summer internship training. Changes/Problems:Since with COVID-19 pandemic rules relaxation, not many changes were made to the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project was scheduled to conduct training and professional development as part of Activities 3-5. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops The agricultural department continues its efforts in outreach activities to increase student enrollment in agriculture programs. On May 20, 2022, the CBC Agriculture Department welcomed 17 undecided CAMP students to a tour of the joint (USDA/WSU) research facility in Prosser. Students were greeted by Dr. Naidu Rayapati, IAREC Director and co-PD, and went over the various opportunities at WSU research facilities across the state. The Director of Recruitment and Retention for CAHNRS spoke with students about educational opportunities, scholarships, internships, transfer programs, and enrollment procedures in Agriculture Sciences. Students were exposed to advanced agricultural technologies in action, Robotics, UAVs (drones), and the future of irrigation systems. Visiting ROZA, scientists talked about photosynthesis and orchard management. Students also enjoyed a lunch served by WSU, with ice cream especially made by the Cougars! As always, students were given a pre and post-event survey questionnaire. Two of the most important questions were answered unanimously Yes. The questions were: Did you gain valuable information about agricultural sciences? 100%-Yes Do you feel more knowledgeable about the agricultural degree programs and career options? 100%-Yes. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops In collaboration with WSU-IAREC, CBC's Agriculture Department organized a Science Technology Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Professional Development Workshop on June 27, 2022. Due to low registration, the event was canceled. The event will reschedule for this fiscal year. A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program The PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS prepared the summer internship application, and an advertisement was posted on CBC's website. Seven applications were received and interviewed, but six students were hired from June 27 to September 16, 2022. Instead of 10 weeks, we extended the internship to 12 weeks. Students were exposed to three different environments. At CBC, they gained teaching and research skills. They worked as teaching assistants for 4 hours educating Upward-Bound program high school students and 4 hours on a research project -studying the effect of planting density and cultivars on bell pepper growth, yield, and quality. Interns learned to collect samples, test the samples, enter the data, and interpret the data results. As teaching assistants, they prepared assignments and labs for high school students. They acquired all the supplies needed for the lab and graded the assignments. For the next four weeks, the interns worked at USDA ARS under different scientists (a geneticist, a physiologist, a pathologist, and a breeder). For the final four weeks, the interns worked at Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center at Washington State University under a viticulturist, breeder, physiologist, entomologist, and agriculture engineer. This was a great opportunity to work in different environments with a variety of people to improve communication, teaching, research, and collaborative skills and get exposure to multiple areas in this industry. One intern got an internship extension until December 2022 with the USDA ARS hop breeder, and one intern is working part-time with a WSU-IAREC entomologist to collect and identify insects. Two of the student interns exhibited posters of their research virtually at the Crop Science Society of America conference hosted from November 7-10, 2021. Though we originally planned on attending this conference in person, due to COVID-19, we ended up attending the conference virtually. The internship program was very successful in helping students advance in their educational and career goals. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the field day, undecided student workshop, and instructor professional development workshop were communicated to the CBC community via the following articles in CBC's internal newsletter, the Hawk Talk: Martinez, A. and Kesoju, S. 2022. CAMP - Agriculture Campus Tour Day at IAREC. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 49, August 2022. https://us15.campaign-archive.com/?u=bbe74438ce5419d677a82d7cd&id=bca1effb76 Martinez, A. and Kesoju, S. 2022. CBC Agriculture Department Hosts Local Students to Promote Career in Ag. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 48, July 2022. https://us15.campaign-archive.com/?u=bbe74438ce5419d677a82d7cd&id=1b4d513d56 Harmon, C., and Casciato, M. 2021. Ag Department Hosts Field Day Event for Prospective Students. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 41, December 2021. https://us15.campaign-archive.com/?u=bbe74438ce5419d677a82d7cd&id=662c7fb4ff Information regarding the internship program was distributed to the community via the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences News Webpage: Rayapati, N. 2023. Cross-university internships at Prosser research & extension center help students, mentors grow. CAHNRS News, Washington State University, 2022. https://news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/cross-university-internships-at-wsus-prosser-research-and-extension-center-help-students-and-mentors-grow/ Presented at National Conference - Oronia, S., Torres, P., Martinez, A., and Kesoju, S.R. 2022. Effect of plant density and cultivar on growth and yield of sweet bell pepper. Western Society of Crop Science held at Colorado State University, CO, from June 21-22, 2022. Torres, P. Wendling, K., Harmon, C., and Kesoju, S.R. 2021. Effect of cultivar and plant density on growth, yield, and quality of bell peppers in Pacific Northwest. Agronomy Society of America held at Salt Lake City, UT, from November 7-10, 2021. Wendling, K., Torres, P., Harmon, C., and Kesoju, S.R. 2021. Skills and experience gained working in multiple internship environments. Agronomy Society of America held at Salt Lake City, UT, from November 7-10, 2021. Quarterly one-page grant progress reports were presented to the CBC Board of Trustees for December 2021, March 2022, and May 2022 board meetings. The PD also presented basic information regarding the grant activities and results to the local schools and the Agricultural Advisory Board in October 2021 and June 2022. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?CBC plans to conduct all the proposed grant activities during the 2022-2023 grant year, with some adjustments to adapt to the COVID-19 requirements and virtual learning environment. Details for each activity are outlined below. A1 Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days CBC, WSU, and USDA ARS will host an in-person student and parent field day in November 2022. Brief presentations from the PD, the Co-PD of WSU, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA will be given during the event. A Department tour of the CBC agricultural farm, greenhouse, and new agriculture equipment will be given to attendees and will guide them through a hands-on activity. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students Organize in-person campus tours this upcoming year like we did this year. In this event, students will be given a tour of the CBC field and greenhouse, WSU-IAREC, and USDA ARS Prosser facilities. The PD and Co-PD are working with my Tri2030 Agriculture Council of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, a community-driven Regional Vision Project, to create a video with current CBC and WSU students and alumni who will discuss agriculture and agriculture careers. These videos will be created in English and Spanish to increase accessibility for our region's large Hispanic population and English Language Learners. The four videos we created with the subject experts in May 2023 will be shared with schools that were not included last year. These videos will be saved in the pen drive and given to participants who come for future campus tours. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops For the 2023 spring and summer G2F workshops, we are considering two options: Conducting a hands-on training workshop on campus with fewer students. Conducting virtual training and tour of the WSU-IAREC facility in Prosser, WA. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops In Year4, we are planning to conduct a hybrid professional development workshop. On the first day, subject matter experts will present to the participants via Zoom, and on the second day, trainees will participate in hands-on training on campus while wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and maintaining social distancing (dependent upon Washington State guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic). The four videos created by subject experts will be saved in the pen drive and given to faculty who attend the workshops. A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program Summer internships are currently planned to be conducted as outlined in the proposal. Since we see interest in the internship we would like to increase the student interns from 4 to 6 and travel with the interns who completed their intern this summer to Western Society of Crop Science that will be hosted in June. We are requesting extra funding of $24,763. Please see attached.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 3 saw success in the performance objectives relating to positively impacting high school students and parents' knowledge of FANH education and career opportunities. This was achieved through the completion of the first three project activities: A1 - Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days In collaboration with CBC's Marketing and Outreach departments, the PD and Co-PD created email announcements and flyers for a parent-student field day. The flyers were shared with CBC students, local schools, and the community. The event took place on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at the CBC campus in Pasco, WA. During the event, the project team (PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS National Temperate Forage Legume Genetic Resources Unit highlighted CBC's agriculture programs, discussed connections to employment in the community, and shared options for funding a student's education through work-based learning. Participants received bags with program materials, including information on agriculture careers and materials to conduct a turf buddies activity. The 17 attendees enjoyed a department tour of the CBC Agricultural farm, greenhouse, and new agriculture equipment and were guided through in-situ virus testing using user-friendly diagnostic kits and at-home turf buddies' activity. Participants came from both the west side (Everett) and the north side (Spokane) of Washington State, demonstrating that the project team has been extremely successful in promoting this event statewide. Seventeen students and their families took a pre-and post-survey to help evaluate if the information provided increased their awareness of the agriculture industry. After evaluating the surveys, 94% of participants mentioned that the session was extremely helpful in exposing them to degrees, partnerships, and a wide variety of career paths available in agriculture. Parents noted they would encourage a degree and career in agriculture for their child. A former CBC Ag student was in attendance with their future Hawk and mentioned, "CBC has made advancements and has brought more hands-on and more variety of farm crops to the ag program as well as degrees." The consensus among the participants, especially the students, liked the department tour and the partnership between CBC, WSU, and the USDA. For the third year of the grant, this event was successful in sharing information and spreading awareness for the program and industry. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students CBC's Agriculture program and Outreach department collaborated with WSU-IAREC at Prosser to host a campus tour event on April 12, 2022. This year's event attendance was more than double the previous event. In 2019, only 36 students attended; this year, we had 73 attendees from five schools (Pasco High School, Richland High School, New Horizons, Kiona Benton, and Kamiakin). During the event, the local high school students had the opportunity to tour the CBC agriculture facility and the WSU IAREC facility at Prosser. The students were able to engage with CBC staff, faculty, and students to participate in various hands-on activities and explore exciting new technologies in modern agriculture. The students were able to learn about various aspects of agricultural science. WSU scientists and researchers presented different aspects of agricultural technologies, including drones, robots, AG weather net stations, and irrigation technology. WSU CAHNRS outreach specialists shared information about transfer degree programs, internship opportunities, and scholarships offered in the agriculture field. Students were given a survey before and after their experience to help gauge their interest in agriculture. After evaluating the survey, 67% reported that the event influenced their decision to pursue a degree in agriculture or plant science. Nearly 63% of the students reported interest in considering agriculture or plant science as a career option, while 46% said that drones were what interested them the most at WSU. The event was very successful, with a high turnout. We expect more participants at future events. We hope these participants will be our prospective agriculture students. Along with the campus tour, videos (15 to 30 minutes) created during the COVID-19 pandemic on different topics in agriculture by subject matter experts from WSU were shared with local high schools. Before creating the videos, the project team approached Richland and Pasco CTE Directors and asked for specific topics that interested students. The videos were created based on these requests. Along with the videos, pre-and post-event survey questionnaires were distributed to high school instructors to evaluate if the videos helped students gain awareness of STEM and agriculture production. One of the instructors who showed the videos to two classes (50 students total) reported that the videos were very informative. Students enjoyed the Gauntt Farms and Earn an Ag Degree videos and were actively asking questions and engaging with the videos. Feedback also included a note that the videos that were 3-5 minutes long grabbed students' attention better than the longer, 15-30 minute videos. The project team in the future will make simple and concise videos of no longer than 5 minutes to demonstrate drones spraying the chemicals, capturing images, etc.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:During the second year of the grant, the project reached a total of 101 high school students and three parents, 10 undecided students at Columbia Basin College (CBC), 9 high school instructors throughout Benton, Franklin, and Yakima school districts (5 teachers educated at professional development workshops and 4 teaches educated with videos and department tours), 7 CBC agricultural students, 2 CBC alumni students, and 6 graduate students at Washington State University's Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (WSU-IAREC) throughout CBC service area. Students represented a mix of both white and non-white students (including a significant number of Hispanic students), male and female students, and adult students with and without an agricultural background. The event successfully served twelve registered (seven students, three parents, and two instructors) participants live during the High School Student and Parent Field day held on October 17, 2020 and a recording of the panelists was used in two agriculture classes in our community (Benton [12 students] and Yakima School [17 students]). Participants were delivered a kit complete with program materials, a pumpkin grown on the CBC research farm, garden tote and succulent transplant activity materials. Students heard from speakers Dr. Naidu Rayapati of WSU-IAREC and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) at IAREC, enjoyed a virtual tour of the CBC Ag farm and greenhouse, and were guided through their transplant activity. Current and past CBC students were also on-hand to answer questions about the program and discuss the relevance of training toward local careers. Since campus tours were not possible due to COVID-19 pandemic, videos (15 to 30 minutes) were created on different topics in agriculture by subject matter experts from WSU and shared with local school teachers for enrichment of academic courses offered in high schools. Videos were shared with Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, Tri-tech, Columbia Burbank, Finley, Connell, & Kiona Benton CTE Directors. A workshop for undecided students at CBC was organized on June 5, 2021. The workshop focused on teaching undecided students about CBC's agriculture program, agriculture education, and how to apply Science Technology Engineering Agriculture Mathematics (STEAM) in crop production. Ten students attended the workshop where they explored CBC's new equipment, greenhouse, and research farm. They also learned about engineering technology and drone application in modern agriculture production. Participants were guided through hands-on activities such as water absorption by different soil types, identification of plant diseases and in-situ virus disease identification using user-friendly immunostrips. Each participant got to take home their own succulent plant, and funds from the CBC Foundation were used to provide all participants with a t-shirt. Current CBC students were also on-hand to answer questions about the program and discuss the relevance of training toward local careers. In collaboration with Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (WSU-IAREC), CBC's Agriculture Department hosted a Science Technology Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Professional Development Workshop on August 12, 2021. This full-day event emphasized the role of STEAM applications in different fields of agriculture, such as biotechnology for crop improvement, chemistry behind pesticide production and more! Five teachers from Pasco High School, Burbank, and New Horizon attended the event, where they explored WSU-IAREC research labs. They learned about WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences educational programs and SPARK program plans for the fall. They also learned about the latest research topics like robotics picking apples and pruning tree fruits, drone application in modern agriculture production, potato and cherry breeding, irrigation, and AgWeatherNet stations for recording weather data in Washington.Instructors received continuing education credits for attending the workshop. Talks given by subject experts were shared with the instructors after the event. The PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS prepared the summer internship application and an advertisement was posted on CBC's website. We received five applications, but 2 withdrew their application so we interviewed three applications and all three were hired from June 21 to September 10, 2021. Instead of 10 weeks we extended the internship to 12 weeks. The project also provided an existing 7 CBC agricultural students and two CBC agricultural alumni an opportunity to enhance their leadership and communication skills. These students participated in the field day and workshop presentations and were available to answer student and parent questions. Out of these 7 students, three of them received summer internship training. The project also involved six WSU graduate students who mentored student interns during their summer internship training. Changes/Problems:Major changes in the project scope included activities 1-5 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to convert to a primarily online learning environment. Given that the pandemic is likely to continue for the 2021-2022 grant year, the project team is planning to adapt the proposed activities to include virtual training, PPE, and social distancing as outlined in the Accomplishments section of this report. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project was scheduled to conduct training and professional development as part of Activities 3-5. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops The PD and Co-PD planned to conduct spring and summer Greenhouse to Field (G2F) workshops. Flyers were prepared, and the PD conducted presentations to promote the workshops to a high percentage of Hispanic and underrepresented students as well as undecided students. Presentations and flyers were shared with CBC's College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and Student Support Services (SSS) program. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the spring workshop had to be postponed and eventually cancelled, but the summer workshop was able to be completed. On June 5, 2021, CBC's Agriculture Department collaborated with the Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center to host an Agriculture Workshop. The workshop focused on teaching undecided students about CBC's agriculture program, agriculture education, and how to apply Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) in crop production. Ten students attended the workshop where they explored CBC's new equipment, greenhouse, and research farm. They also learned about engineering technology and drone application in modern agriculture production. Participants were guided through hands-on activities such as water absorption by different soil types, identification of plant diseases and in-situ disease identification using test strips. Current CBC students shared their experiences and knowledge gained as interns in the agriculture program. Each participant got to take home their own succulent plant, and funds from the CBC Foundation were used to provide all participants with a t-shirt. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops In collaboration with Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (WSU-IAREC), CBC's Agriculture Department hosted a Science Technology Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Professional Development Workshop on August 12, 2021. This full-day event emphasized the role of STEAM applications in different fields of agriculture, such as biotechnology for crop improvement, chemistry behind pesticide production and more! Five teachers from Pasco High School, Burbank, and New Horizon attended the event, where they explored WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Centerresearch labs. They learned about WSU's College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences educational programs and SPARK program plans for the fall. They also learned about the latest research topics like robotics picking apples and pruning tree fruits, drone application in modern agriculture production, potato and cherry breeding, irrigation, and AgWeatherNet stations for recording weather data in Washington. Participants were enthusiastically involved in activities and took a survey to help demonstrate if the information helped them gain up-to-date information on STEM application in agriculture. The instructors indicated that they increased their knowledge and that the training was very informative. They enjoyed learning about potato marking and grafting. They mentioned they would like to use the information for a potato evaluation session at the Washington State FFA Conference. When asked if they would like to participate and encourage their colleagues next year, 100% of participants responded positively. Instructors received continuing education credits for attending the workshop through Washington State University. Talks given by subject experts were shared with the instructors after the event. A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program The PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS prepared the summer internship application and an advertisement was posted on CBC's website. We received five applications, but two students withdrew their applications so we interviewed the three remaining applicants, and all three were hired from June 21 to September 10, 2021. Instead of 10 weeks, we extended the internship to 12 weeks. Students were exposed to three different environments. They worked on two different projects at CBC in Pasco WA: 1) Studying the effect of planting density and cultivars on bell pepper growth, yield and quality 2) Identifying glyphosate resistant feral alfalfa populations in Walla Walla County, WA in collaboration with University of California, CA and USDA ARS, WI. Interns learned to collect samples, test the samples, enter the data, and interpret the data results. This information is important to understand gene flow in the environment. The next four weeks the interns worked at USDA ARS under three different scientists (a geneticist, physiologist, and breeder). For the final four weeks, the interns worked at Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center Washington State University under a viticulturist. This was a great opportunity to work in different environments with a variety of people to improve communication, research and collaborative skills, and get exposure to multiple areas in this industry. Two of the student interns exhibited posters of their research virtually at the Crop Science Society of America conference hosted from November 7-10, 2021. Though we originally planned on attending this conference in-person, due to COVID-19 we ended up attending the conference virtually. The internship program was very successful in helping students advance in their educational and career goals. One of the student interns (Charity Harmon) was hired as a part-time technician with USDA ARS Prosser Unit, and another student intern (Polet Torres) was offered a full-time internship which will start April 2022 with further continuing education towards her bachelors in Fruit and Vegetable Management at WSU. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the field day, undecided student workshop, and instructor professional development workshop were communicated to the CBC community via the following articles in CBC's internal newsletter, the Hawk Talk: Kesoju, S. 2020. CBC Hosts Ag Field Day Event. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 28, November 2020, CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter - November 2020?? (mailchi.mp) Kesoju, S. 2021. Agriculture Departments Hosts Workshop for Undecided CBC Students. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 36, July 2021, CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter - July 2021?? (mailchi.mp) Kesoju, S. and M. Casciato. 2021. Ag Program Hosts Professional Development Workshop for Local High School Teachers. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 38, September 2021, CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter - September 2021 ? (mailchi.mp) Information regarding the internship program was distributed to the community via the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences News Webpage: Rayapati, N. 2021. Students explore modern agriculture tech with new WSU IAREC internship. CAHNRS News, Washington State University, 2021. Students explore modern agriculture tech with new WSU IAREC internship CAHNRS News Washington State University Quarterly one-page grant progress reports were presented to the CBC Board of Trustees for the December 2020, March 2021, and May 2021 board meetings. The PD also presented basic information regarding the grant activities and results to the local schools and the Agricultural Advisory Board at the October 2020, May 2021, and October 2021 meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?CBC plans to conduct all the proposed grant activities during the 2021-2022 grant year, with some adjustments made to adapt to the COVID-19 requirements and virtual learning environment. Details for each activity are outlined below. A1 Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days CBC, WSU, and USDA ARS hosted an in-person student and parent field day in October 2021. Participants received bag with program materials, including information on agriculture careers and materials to conduct a turf buddies' activity. Participants heard brief presentations from the PD, Co-PD of WSU, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA. They also enjoyed a department tour of the CBC Agricultural farm, greenhouse, and new agriculture equipment and were guided through in-situ virus testing using user-friendly diagnostic kits and at-home turf buddies' activity. Participants came from both the west side (Everett) and the north side (Spokane) of Washington State, demonstrating that the project team has been extremely successful in promoting this event statewide. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students Currently, it seems as though some of the COVID-19 restrictions will be reduced, and we might be able to complete in-person campus tours this upcoming year like we did in Year 1. In this event, students will be given a tour of the CBC field and greenhouse, WSU-IAREC, and USDA ARS Prosser facilities. In the event that in-person tours cannot be conducted, the PD and Co-PD are working with myTri 2030 Agriculture Council of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, a community-driven Regional Vision Project, to create a video with current CBC and WSU students and alumni who will discuss agriculture and agriculture careers. These videos will be created in both English and Spanish to increase accessibility for our region's large Hispanic population and English Language Learners. The 4 videos which we created with the subject experts in May 2021 will be shared with schools that were not included last year. These videos will be saved in the pen drive and given to participants who come for campus tour. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops For the 2022 spring and summer G2F workshops, we are considering two options: Conducting a hands-on training workshop on campus with a reduced number of students (dependent upon Washington State guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic). Conducting a virtual training and providing class credit for attending the event. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops In Year 3, we are planning to conduct a hybrid professional development workshop. On the first day, subject matter experts will present to the participants via Zoom, and on the second day, trainees will participate in hands-on training on campus while wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and maintaining social distancing (dependent upon Washington State guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic). The 4 videos created by subject experts will be saved in the pen drive and given to faculty who attends the workshops. A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program Summer internships are currently planned to be conducted as outlined in the proposal. Given the remaining funds left over from last year's award, CBC will plan to hire 2 additional interns in 2022, if feasible while maintaining Washington State's COVID-19 safety guidelines, including social distancing requirements.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 2 saw success in the first performance objective relating to positively impacting high school students' and parents' knowledge of FANH education and career opportunities. This was achieved through completion of the first two project activities: A1 - Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days In collaboration with CBC's Marketing and Outreach departments, the PD and Co-PD created email announcements and flyers for a parent-student field day. The flyers were shared with CBC students, local schools, and the community. The event took place on Saturday, October 17, 2020 virtually. During the event, the project team (PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS National Temperate Forage Legume Genetic Resources Unit highlighted CBC's agriculture programs, discussed connections to employment in the community, and shared options on funding a student's education through work-based learning. The group of 10 attendees received hands-on experiences in potting and transplanting plants virtually. CBC agriculture alumni and an existing CBC student also provided insights on the student experiences at CBC both in the Agriculture program and the campus experience at large. Ten students and their family members took a pre- and post-survey to help evaluate if the information provided increased their awareness of the agriculture industry. Based on the survey results, 80% of participants had an agriculture background, and nearly 53% of participants had an average knowledge of agriculture. When asked if they were willing to pursue an agriculture career, nearly 70% responded affirmatively. All the participants stated that they believe agriculture is important to their community and that it is important for youth to learn about agriculture. For the second year of the grant, this event was successful in sharing information and spreading awareness for the program and industry. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students Due to COVID-19 restrictions, instead of campus tours, 15-30 minute videos were created on different topics with subject matter experts and shared with the local high schools. Before creating the videos, the project team approached Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, Tri-tech, Columbia Burbank, Findley, Connell, & Kiona Benton CTE Directors and asked for specific topics that interested students. The videos were created based on these requests. Through the videos, high school students were exposed to multiple agriculture topics, including: Ground and aerial robots for agriculture Drones in agriculture Insects in agriculture Gauntt Farms tour How to earn an Agricultural post-secondary degree Along with the videos, pre- and post-event survey questionnaires were distributed to high school instructors to evaluate if the videos helped students gain awareness in STEM and agriculture production. One of the instructors who showed the videos to her Plant Science and Metals and Fabrication classes (65 students total) reported that the students especially enjoyed the Gauntt Farms and Earn an Ag Degree videos and were actively asking questions and engaging with the videos. Feedback also included a note that the videos that were 3-5 minutes long grabbed students' attention better than the longer, 15-30 minute videos. Next year, the project team will make simple and concise videos of no longer than 5 minutes to demonstrate drones spraying the chemicals, capturing images, etc. Year 2 also achieved success in the second performance objective of increasing FANH and STEM faculty collaborations through the completion of an interdisciplinary professional development workshop. Details on this activity (A4) are outlined in the following section.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:During the first year of the grant, the project reached a total of 42 high school students and four parents throughout Columbia Basin College's (CBC) service area. Students represented a mix of both white and non-white students (including a significant number of Hispanic students), male and female students, and students with and without an agricultural background. Ten participants (six students and four parents) received hands-on experience in potting and transplanting plants as well as information about CBC's Agriculture program and funding opportunities during the High School Student and Parent Field day held on December 7, 2019. Thirty-six high school students attended the campus tour of CBC's and WSU's Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center's (IAREC) agricultural facilities on February 5, 2020. The project also provided an existing CBC agricultural student and two CBC agricultural alumni an opportunity to enhance their leadership and communication skills. These students participated in the field day presentations and were available to answer student and parent questions. Changes/Problems:Major changes in the project scope included cancelations of Activities 3-5 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to convert to a primarily online learning environment. Given that the pandemic is likely to continue for the 2020-2021 grant year, the project team is planning to adapt the proposed activities to include virtual training, PPE, and social distancing as outlined in the Accomplishments section of this report. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project was scheduled to conduct training and professional development as part of Activities 3-5. Unfortunately, these activities had to be canceled due to COVID-19. Progress made on these three activities is outlined below. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops The PD and Co-PD planned to conduct spring and summer Greenhouse to Field (G2F) workshops. Flyers were prepared, and the PD conducted presentations to promote the workshops to a high percentage of Hispanic and underrepresented students as well as undecided students. Presentations and flyers were shared with CBC's College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and Student Support Services (SSS) program. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the workshops were cancelled. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops The PD and Co-PD planned to conduct the first professional development workshop in summer, but due to COVID-19, the workshop was cancelled. A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program The PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA ARS prepared the summer internship application and an advertisement was posted on CBC's website. We received seven applications, but due to COVID-19, the project team could not interview or host the interns. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The grant award and objectives were announced to the community through a press release on January 6, 2020, available at https://www.columbiabasin.edu/connect/about-cbc/news/cbc-awarded-usda-nifa-hsi-educational-grant-in-collaboration-with-washington-state-university.html. Results from the field day and campus tour were communicated to the CBC community via the following articles in CBC's internal newsletter, the Hawk Talk: Kesoju, S. and M. Casciato. 2020. USDA grant funds agriculture parent and student field day. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 18, January 2020, https://mailchi.mp/dba547437ad4/cbc-hawk-talk-newsletter-august-1253913?e=c79b9e097f. Kesoju, S. and M. Casciato. 2020. CBC Ag department hosts high school campus tour. CBC Hawk Talk Newsletter, Issue 20, March 2020, https://mailchi.mp/0062e6250198/cbc-hawk-talk-newsletter-august-1275277?e=c79b9e097f. Quarterly one-page grant progress reports were presented to the CBC Board of Trustees for the December 2019, March 2020, and May 2020 board meetings. The PD also presented basic information regarding the grant activities and results to the local schools and the Agricultural Advisory Board at the December 2019, February 2020, October 2020, and November 2020 meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?CBC plans to conduct all the proposed grant activities during the 2020-2021 grant year, with some adjustments made to adapt to the COVID-19 requirements and virtual learning environment. Details for each activity are outlined below. A1 Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days CBC, WSU, and USDA ARS hosted a virtual student and parent field day in October 2020. Registrants for the event were delivered a kit complete with program materials, a pumpkin grown on the CBC research farm, a garden tote, and materials to conduct a succulent transplant activity. Students heard brief presentations from the PD, Co-PD of WSU, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA, enjoyed a virtual tour of the CBC Agricultural farm and greenhouse, and were guided through their at-home transplant activity. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students Instead of physical campus tours, the project team will record a video of the CBC field and greenhouse, WSU-IAREC, and USDA ARS Prosser facilities. We will use this video to conduct a virtual campus tour. Webinars with subject matter experts from CBC, WSU-IAREC, and USDA ARS will be shared with the local high schools so that teachers can incorporate the materials into their own virtual classrooms as a class activity or an opportunity for class credit. A3 - Develop/Conduct Greenhouse to Field (G2F) Workshops For the 2021 spring and summer G2F workshops, we are considering two options: Conducting a hands-on training workshop on campus with a reduced number of students (dependent upon Washington State guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic). Conducting a virtual training and providing class credit for attending the event. A4 - Develop/Conduct Interdisciplinary Professional Development Faculty Workshops In Year 2, we are planning to conduct a hybrid professional development workshop. On the first day, subject matter experts will present to the participants via Zoom, and on the second day, trainees will participate in hands-on training on campus while wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and maintaining social distancing (dependent upon Washington State guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic). A5 - Conduct Summer Research Internship Program Summer internships are currently planned to be conducted as outlined in the proposal. Given the remaining funds left over from last year's award, CBC will plan to hire additional interns in 2021, if feasible while maintaining Washington State's COVID-19 safety guidelines, including social distancing requirements.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Year 1 saw success in the first performance objective relating to positively impacting high school students' and parents' knowledge of FANH education and career opportunities. This was achieved through completion of the first two project activities: A1 - Conduct High School Student and Parent Field Days In collaboration with CBC's Marketing and Outreach departments, the PD and Co-PD created email announcements and flyers for a parent-student field day. The flyers were shared with CBC students, local schools, and the community. The event took place on Saturday, December 7, 2019 on CBC's Pasco campus. During the event, the project team (PD, Co-PD, and Dr. Brian Irish from the USDA's Agricultural Resource Service (ARS) National Temperate Forage Legume Genetic Resources Unit) highlighted CBC's agriculture programs, discussed connections to employment in the community, and shared options on funding a student's education through work-based learning. The group of 10 attendees received hands-on experiences in potting and transplanting plants. CBC agriculture alumni and an existing CBC student also provided insights on the student experiences at CBC both in the Agriculture program and the campus experience at large. Students and their family members took a pre- and post-event survey to help demonstrate if the information helped them gain awareness of the agriculture industry. Based on the pre- and post-survey evaluation, 71% of participants had no agriculture background. When asked if they were interested in pursuing an agricultural career, nearly 57% responded positively. All of the participants stated that agriculture is important to their community and said it is important for youth to learn about agriculture and pursue careers in agriculture and allied fields. For the first year of the grant, this event was successful in sharing information and spreading awareness for the program and industry. A2 - Organize and Conduct Campus Tours for High School Students CBC's Agriculture program and Outreach department collaborated with WSU IAREC in Prosser, WA to host a campus tour event on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. During the event, 36 attendees from local high schools toured the CBC campus and WSU IAREC facilities. Presenters discussed connections to agricultural employment in the community and shared options on funding student education through scholarships and work-based learning. Students were exposed to multiple agriculture topics, including: Breeding alfalfa for resistance to pests and diseases Discovering and developing genetic markers in cherries to reduce labor-intensive cultivation Cold hardiness of grapevine buds and cane tissues using differential thermal analysis Agriculture machinery automation for pruning apples to save labor cost The students were also taken to the WSU Roza Farm where they toured an apple orchard planted with Cosmic Crisp, an apple variety developed recently via classical breeding by WSU researchers. The students also received hands-on training in preparing soil profiles. Students took a pre- and post-event survey to help demonstrate if the tour helped them gain awareness of the agriculture industry. Based on the survey evaluations, 69% of participants had an agriculture background. When asked if they were interested in pursuing an agricultural career, nearly 61% responded that they were willing, while 39% students replied they would like to major in breeding, science, and animal science or agricultural mechanics. This event, the first of its kind, was successful in sharing about FANH sciences and spreading the awareness for the FANH options at CBC and WSU-IAREC.
Publications
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