Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The Target Audience are youth of Navajo Nation, the general public, farmers and ranchers and members of various cattle associations. The agent hopes to inspire Navajo youth to become interested in Natural Resources, Livestock and Equine activities and seriously consider a career in these fields. Youth activities focus on physical activity, proper nutrition, changing eating habits to consume healthier foods, gaining knowledge on the proper care of animals and leadership. Workshops, seminars, and demonstrations focus on providing valuable information to farmers and ranchers to improve their quality of life by raising a better product and to be fairly compensated. Other audience includes Navajo Nation elected officials, farm board members, grazing officials and Soil and Water Conservation District members. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Educational events and workshops provide an opportunity for producers to learn cutting edge information and technology, from the university to use at the local level. Material and information from this office is scaled down to the clientele education and knowledge level and are always presented in the Navajo language or is translated to the Navajo language. Power point and visual aides are used; demonstration and hands-on activities and stories are most effective. Beef Quality Assurance certification classes are given, the participants pass an exam, and the certification is good for three years. Extension education needs to be delivered in a bi-lingual oral format. The written codification of the Navajo language began less than 100 years ago. Most fluent Navajo speakers do not read Navajo, although many do read English. It is critical to deliver the information in both languages: oral Navajo for the conceptual, philosophical, relational information and written English to reinforce the technical procedures. We have certified over 809 individuals in the Arizona Beef Quality Assurance Program since 2013 and over 75 families with 2800 head of cattle in the Navajo Beef Program. 2023 - 2024 Professional Development Trainings, Networking, Meetings, Conferences:08/19 Four States Cattle Growers Association Meeting, Farmington, NM, 12 contacts 08/02 to 08/04 Extension Conference, Tucson, AZ, 250 contacts;08/29 to 08/31 ANR Retreat, Show Low, AZ, 30 contacts;11/21 District 3 Permittees Meeting, Tuba City, AZ, 25 contacts;12/11 FRTEP Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NM, 45 contacts; 12/12 to 12/14 IAC Annual Membership Meeting, Las Vegas, NM, 930 contacts; 01/15 to 01/18 SWIAA Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NM, 55 contacts; 01/31 to 02/02 Annual NCBA Cattle Con, Orlando, FL, 1,050 contacts; 05/13 Meeting with head of Dept Natural Resources Navajo Nation, 10 contacts; 05/28 to 05/30 Ag Natural Resources Annual Retreat, Show Low, AZ, 30 contacts. TotaL: 10 Events, 2,437 contacts How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?*Educational Tours, workshops, and Field Days are held for producers, grazing officials and government officials to expand their knowledge and use this technology to improve their product and their quality of life. Conservation Awareness activities are held in coordination with grazing officials, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the NRCS and the BIA. Workshops and trainings are down substantially due to the continued effects of the pandemic. Beef Quality Assurance, Marketing, Record Keeping, and Range Management, establishing producer associations, Equine Management and breeding are some of the topics that are normally given. ?*Workshops were held in Western Navajo, Newlands and other areas on the Navajo and Hopi Nation on Beef Quality Assurance and certification, Record keeping, Marketing and Range Management. These educational activities provide information of cutting-edge industry tools to increase knowledge and improve product value and the quality of life. Other workshops include conservation planning and funding, irrigation, garden/farm designs, soils, solar and wind technology, vet sciences and water resources management. All were well attended and received, the information provides opportunity for participants to explore new ideas. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan is to continue the programs we offer and expand collaboration, networking and partnership with other agencies, addressing youth, farming and gardening activities. We have finally gone back to In-person meetings, which has caused an explosion of request for workshops as you can see in this report. We will continue to offer our services to the communities including more scientific topics like Pregnancy testing, Artificial Insemination on cattle and sheep. My programs include the developing leadership and skill development through Youth Rodeo, Equine Expos, and Beef Quality Assurance, Record keeping, Marketing and Range Management workshops. Continue youth events and activities reinforcing the importance of exercise and proper nutrition. Continue to provide extension education on the topics that address the needs of the people to improve the health and welfare of the community, and their Quality of Life.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
*Youth Horsemanship and Skill development is an important segment of this project. This office serves the Kayenta, Az. area two days per week, and Monument Valley High School has allowed me to use their facility. Youth attained knowledge on Equine Health, Nutrition, Care and Management and in the process increase their riding skills. Horse activities provide a unique experience for youth as they develop skills, character, and confidence. Caring for animals requires responsibility, compassion for animals and determination. The Song of the Horse Youth Camp was outstanding with the most participants we ever had. This year we gained additional partners like Horses Connecting Communities, Arizona Informed Equestrian, and the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation. At the Horse camp parents and youth increase their knowledge on equine care and management and nutrition, and all attendees improve their riding skills and gain confidence. Drone education and instruction was presented once again to the campers. Drones can be used in Agriculture in manyways like locating and counting your animals. We had to cancel the Veterinary Camp, which draws a lot of interest from around the country. In the future we would like to have the Vet. Camp again. ?*We did ten (10) in-person Cattlemen's Seminars and had 275 people in attendance. At the Cattlemen's Seminar we cover BQA, body condition scoring, vaccination protocols, Low Stress Handling, Record Keeping, and Culling during Drought, marketing and ageing cattle. The ranchers in the Native American Beef Program benefit from our continuing cattle/BQA workshops, they have attained the quality required for the beef product and will realize the added value. *The Navajo Beef (Native American Beef) continues to grow, this project also involves certifying for the Arizona and New Mexico Beef Quality Assurance programs, Record keeping, Low Stress Handling workshops. Other workshops are on Sheep Quality Assurance and Management, Navajo Beef information, Range Management, Recordkeeping, and information on forming livestock Associations. Christian Veterinary Services provide a valuable and much needed service to this area; they provide low cost or no cost vet services which this area is deprived of. Spay and neuter clinics and vaccination programs curbs over population of cats and dogs in the community and decrease the incidence of diseases. 2023 - 2024 Services and Trainings:07/3 Ag Expo Window Rock, Horses Breeding and Selection, 20 contacts; 07/23 San Carlos Livestock Equine Resource Workshop, 15 contacts; 09/15 CRIT BQA, Parker, AZ, 10 contacts; 09/22 BQA Tonalea, AZ, 18 contacts; 10/14 Live Cattle Demo, Tonalea AZ, on vaccinations, etc., 22 contacts; 10/27 Navajo Nation Many Farms BQA, 15 contacts; 11/01 USDA Risk Management Workshop, Tuba City, AZ , 15 contacts; 12/07 Navajo Nation Chinle Agency DGC BQA certification, 22 contacts; 12/27 Herd Health Workshop, Tuba City, AZ, 35 contacts; 02/27 BQA Kayenta District 8, 18 contacts; 03/12 Sheep Shearing Workshop, Tuba City, AZ, 44 contacts; 03/21 Integrated Pest Management Workshop, Tuba City, AZ, 12 contacts; 04/04 Estrus Synchronization Workshop, Tuba City, AZ, 72 contacts; 04/16 Dine' College Ag. Festival, 35 contacts; 04/23 Range and Livestock Workshop, Prescott, AZ, 25 contacts;05/02 Equine Hoof care Workshop, Tuba City, AZ, 50 contacts; 05/08 to 05/10 ALIRT Training, Socorro, NM, 40 contacts; 05/16 Livestock Herd Health and Record keeping Workshop, Greasewood, AZ 30 contacts; 05/22 BQA Chambers Newlands Producers, 18 contacts. Total: 19 Events,516 contacts
Publications
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The Target Audience are youth and community members of Navajo Nation, the general public, farmers and ranchers and members of various cattle associations. Other audiences include Navajo Nation elected officials, farm board members, grazing officials and Soil and Water Conservation District members. The agent hopes to inspire Navajo youth to become interested in Natural Resources, Livestock and Equine activities and seriously consider a career in these fields. Youth activities focus on physical activity, proper nutrition by changing eating habits to consume healthier foods, gaining knowledge on the proper care of animals and leadership. Workshops, seminars, and demonstrations focus on providing valuable information to farmers and ranchers to improve their quality of life by raising a better product and to be fairly compensated for it. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?University of Arizona's Tribal Livestock and Horse Extension Team was awarded the NIFA Partnership Award for 2022. The Tribal Livestock and Horse Extension Team are the AZ FRTEP agents. Attended these 2022-23 Professional Development meetings: * FRTEP Annual Meetings Spokane, Washington, July 2022; * FRTEP Annual Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl., February 2023; * FRTEP-Intertribal Agriculture Council, Las Vegas, NV, December 2022; * AZ FRTEP Meeting, Flagstaff, AZ, April 2023; * Southwest Indian Agriculture Association Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ , January 2023; * Southwest Indian Agriculture Association Indian Livestock Days, Pinetop, AZ, June 2023; * Extension Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ, August 2023; * Southern Arizona Equine Symposium, Tucson, AZ, January 2023; Search Committee Membership FRTEP Agent, Navajo Nation Window Rock; Yavapai County Assist/Associate Ag-Natural Resources Agent; Assist/Associate Extension Specialist Livestock Biotechnology How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Trainings and workshops are disiminated via an in-person setting with hands-on applications. Results were disseminated by ranchers using the Beef Quality Assurance certification andrecordkeeping tools on their herds, including proper vaccination techniques, and Low Stress Handling. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to provideworkshops and Beef Quality Assurance certification trainings.Cattle management topics are in high demand for the Fall and Spring of each year. There is a big need for Beef Quality Assurance Certifications. These are planned upon request from the communities. Agent will attend more trainings, workshops and contnue networking opportunities to increase knowledge of best practices, new technologies and furtherexpand his toolbox.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our project here in Western Navajo and all over the country has been affected by the Covid -19 Pandemic. Some people are still hesitant to go out and attend meetings. In 2021 and 2022 we were able to accomplish way more than the previous pandemic year. We are glad that we are back and serving our people. Priority 1 Farmer/Rancher - Workshops, seminars, and demonstrations focus on providing valuable information to farmers and ranchers to improve their quality of life by raising a better product and to be fairly compensated for it.2022-23 Services and Trainings:25 events reaching 855 contacts-* Speaking the Horses Language Tuba City 23 contacts;* Cattle Husbandry Workshop Window Rock June 20 contacts;* Horse Selection and Vaccinations Window Rock 15 contacts;* Cattle Production/Handling Chinle 15 contacts;* Horses Connecting Communities Window Rock 75 contacts;* Drought Management Tools and Resources Tuba City 12 contacts;* Invasive, Poisonous and Native Plants Chart developed;* Summer Livestock Seminar Tuba City 50 contacts;* Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training Tuba City 15 contacts;* Fall Livestock Workshop Bread springs NM 20 contacts; * Livestock and Range Management Workshops Chinle, Pinon, Lukachukai 100 contacts; * Livestock and Range Management Workshop Shiprock, Red Mesa 50 contacts;* Integrated Pest Management and Food Safety Tuba City 15 contacts;* USDA Risk Management and Livestock Marketing/Outlook Training Tuba City 15 contacts;* NE Region Range Livestock Workshop Holbrook 75 contacts;* Stockmanship and Stewardship, Indian Livestock Days Farmington NM 150 contacts;*Livestock/Equine Resource Workshop San Carlos 10 contacts;* Beef Quality Assurance Certifications: Monument Valley High School (74), Navajo Technical University (10), Sanders (30), Inscription House (12), Hopi (12), Leupp (20), Rough Rock (10), Farmington (15), Bird springs (12). Priority 2 Tribal Youth Development -The agent hopes to inspire Navajo youth to become interested in Natural Resources, Livestock and Equine activities and seriously consider a career in these fields. Youth activities focus on physical activity, proper nutrition by changing eating habits to consume healthier foods, gaining knowledge on the proper care of animals and leadership.2022 Youth Events: 250 total contacts:*Song of the Horse Camp, June 2023, 100 contacts; *Navajo Nation Fair Jr. Livestock Show, October 2022,75 contacts; *Navajo Nation Jr. Livestock Sale, October 2022,75 contacts. Priority 3 Home and School Gardens -The School garden at the Tonalea Day School started in 2015, at the time the school administration was in full supportof the project, since, the school has gone through several administrators, including volunteers and parents. In 2020 the Covid-19 Pandemic caused the project to halt, we lost the administrative support, lost the parents and the volunteers. At this time the project is not active, we are hoping to revive the project in the next year, with new parents and volunteers. The local farmers have been attending the Beginning Farmer and Ranchers workshops, Risk Management for Farmers and Ranchers, and the Integrated Pest Management workshops. 45 contacts
Publications
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