Recipient Organization
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
STILLWATER,OK 74078
Performing Department
Northeast District Extension
Non Technical Summary
Over the past 4 years under the FRTEP grant our relationship with the Osage Nation has grown through working with them on several projects and programs. A program that was offered to the Osage Nation farmers and Ranchers before COVID-19 was a sericea management class that had a great turnout. The educator worked with the Osage Nation Harvest Land farm (previously known as Bird Creek Farm) installing hoop houses at the farm and continued working with them to get them up and functional. Gardening/Horticulture has been a targeted project through the Harvest Land farm as well, the educator hosted a Tools for Preparation & Production of Vegetable Farming class at the farm. The educator also worked with the Osage Nation Cultural Center to host a Wah-Zha-Zhe cultural day for 4-H kids between the ages of 7-18. This program focused on the history of the Osage Nation as well as their traditional dress and dance. To reach the women Osage farmers and ranchers the educators hosted an Annie's project program to better educate woman on how to manage a farm or ranch. This was a six-week program that covered Estate planning, Farm leasing, Family dynamics, livestock marketing etc. Women from many departments of the Osage Nation attend including the Osage Nation Ranch and Farm. 4-H summer camp will continue to be a highlight for 4-H members with the majority of Osage County 4-H being Osage Nation members. Youth will continue to participate in the Osage County Junior Livestock show at the beginning of March. Continued visits with Osage members ranchers to get to continue to build relationship with them. Continue to provide soil testing, hay testing, and water testing for farmers and ranchers. Along with giving advice on fertilizer and their fertilizer sources. Continue to assist the Osage county Cattlemen Association during their convention. Provided soil testing for gardening and gave advice on fertilizer needs.The previous project has only touched the surface of the programming that can be done in the Osage Nation. Many of these programs will continue to reach more citizens with the information as well as introducing new information that is pertenient to them now. The Annie's project will help Osage nation women understands the importance of good recordkeeping and financial management for their farm or ranch. Master gardener classes will help them to understand the importance of growing their own food and the history and culture behind it. STEM Education for the youth is a great way to showcase what is STEM and how they use it in everyday life ultimately making the youth ready to pursue employment in those fields.Evaluations of the programs will be through formal evaluations but also through observations of the participants. For example, if a rancher takes what is learned in a program back to his operation and implements it and it saves him money and he reports back to us that it was successful then both parties are successful.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Short-Term Goals:4-H and Youth Development: To continue to increase the number of Osage youth enrolled in the 4-H program by 10%.Youth will learn the importance of skills such as job readiness, public speaking, and STEM.Youth will understand the importance of good decision making.Native Farmers and Ranchers Productivity and Management:Osage Nation landowners will be able to identify management needs such as sericea management, prescribed burning, and herbicide application on their land.Osage Nation landowners will participate in extension programs 10% more within the first year.Osage Nation landowners will increase the number of management practices implemented on their individual land parcels by 25% within the four-year grant cycle. Native Community Development:Food Systems, Farm and Community MarketsThe number of Osage Nation citizens knowledge of gardening & horticulture will increase within the first year.Osage Nation citizens will become more familiar with farmers markets and how they can participate both as a consumer and as a producer.Natural Resource Conservation and Adaptation to Environmental ChangesOsage Nations citizens, employees, and elected officials will be able to identify and locate resources for natural resource conservation needs and environmental concerns.Osage Nation youth will understand the importance of water conservation.Human Nutrition and Reduction of Childhood and Adolescent ObesityOsage Nation citizens will increase their knowledge of nutrition and healthy living by 10% within the first year.Osage Nation citizens will understand the importance of diet and exercise to manage diabetes and other chronic diseases.Osage Nation youth will begin eating fresh fruits and vegetables two or more times a week.Indian Cultural and Language PreservationThe community of Osage County will learn about the Osage Nation language and cultural history.Medium-Term Goals:4-H and Youth Development:4-H enrollment will increase by 20%.Youth will be able to demonstrate public speaking, resume writing, interviewing and STEM skills.Native Farmers and Ranchers Productivity and Management:Osage Nation landowners participation will increase 20% in extension programs within two years.Osage Nation landowners will be able to0 identify management needs such as sericea management, stocking rates, & utilizing standing forage on their land and resources available to them.The number of management practices implemented by individual Osage Nation farmer and rancher will increase by 30% within the four-year grant cycle.Native Community Development:Food Systems, Farm and Community MarketsOsage Nation citizens will increase their knowledge of gardening & horticulture by 20% within two years.Natural Resource Conservation and Adaptation to Environmental ChangesOsage Nations citizens, employees, and elected officials will be able to identify and locate available resources for natural resource conservation needs and environmental concernsHuman Nutrition and Reduction of Childhood and Adolescent ObesityOsage Nation citizens knowledge of nutrition and healthy living will increase by 20% within two years.Indian Cultural and Language PreservationOsage County as a whole will become educated on the Osage Nation language and cultural history.Long-Term Goals:4-H and Youth Development:Organize an Osage Nation 4-H club for the Osage Community.Increase the number of Osage youth enrolled in the 4-H program by 25%.Youth will be able to compete for awards in job readiness, public speaking and STEM at the county, district and state level.Youth will be able to obtain part-time employment with different employers in the Osage Nation.Youth will be able to obtain employment after nigh school with the Osage Nation and surrounding employers.Native Farmers and Ranchers Productivity and Management:Increase the number of management practices implemented on individual Osage Nation farmer and rancher land parcels by 35% within the four-year grant cycle.Osage Nation landowners will increase their participation by 30% in extension programs within two years.Osage Nation landowners will be able to identify management needs such as sericea management, stocking rates, & utilizing standing forage on their land and providing them with the resources they need.Native Community Development: Building Relationships:Food systems, Farm and Community Markets:Increase the number of Osage Nation citizens knowledge of gardening, horticulture, and farming techniques by 20%.Increase the number of Osage Nation citizens participating in the farmers market as consumer by 20%.Natural Resource Conservation and Adaptation to Environmental ChangesOsage Nations citizens, employees, and elected officials will be able to identify and locate available resources for natural resource conservation needs and environmental concerns, including water.Osage Nation youth will increase their water conservation by 20% in their households.Human Nutrition and Reduction of Childhood and Adolescent ObesityOsage Nation citizens will increase their knowledge of nutrition and healthy living by 20% within four years.Indian Cultural and Language PreservationThe Osage County community will better understand the importance of the Osage Nation language and cultural history in the State of Oklahoma.
Project Methods
The program will use a variety of methods of instruction including hands on learning for both youth and adults, field days, workshops and lectures. Evaluations will be collected with curriculum that is available. OSU Extension uses a Program Activity Reporting System (PARS) to record all attendance demographics as well as consultations, contacts, multi-media outreach, including social media. It allows the submission of success stories when appropriate. In addition, all 4-H membership will be recorded using Z-Suites, a 4-H Enrollment System that was adopted by OSU Extension in 2021. This will include all 4-H youth and adult volunteer membership as well as trainings and other pertinent information. The information provided by the educator in the PARS system will be available to the Osage Nation as well as USDA/NIFA for review. In addition, the educator will provide a yearly Stakeholder report for county officials, tribal officials and USDA/NIFA.