Progress 09/15/24 to 09/14/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the program are Muscogee (Creek) Nation communities, Muscogee (Creek) citizens, and other members of federally recognized tribes. Changes/Problems:We have partnered with Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Festival for Mvskoke Foodways Contest for our Spring Garden Expo. We are looking to add more youth programming (4H). What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Conducted a two-day Conference titled "Growing Power: A Climate, Nutrition & Food Sovereignty Summit" that was funded via a grant from the Falcon Institute. Conference was well attended by Mvskoke citizens and agriculture professional alike. Plan is to make this an annual conference. Attendees were also eligible to receive continuing education credits for the Oklahoma State University Master Gardener Program further exemplifying the academic nature of the event. Extension Educator, travelled to Auburn University in February and participated in a short term educational/residency program centered on native agriculture/horticulture programs. Extension Staff attended the 2025 SOWTH Conference in Atlanta, GA via a SARE scholarship. Extension staff attended the Annual FALCON Conference in Minneapolis, MN. Extension Coordinator is on the development team for the OSU-Langston-CMN Biennial Extension Conference. CMN Extension Staff will attend the conference in January of 2026. Extension staff have attended a myriad of workshops and small trainings throughout FY 2025. Partnerships with MCN Conservation Commission, Lanston University, OSU, Euchee Butterfly Farm and MCN Division of Agriculture are creating countless training opportunities including Food Workshops, Agribusiness Boot Camps, trips to various sustainable agriculture professional organizations, and other university workshops. Staff attended and spoke at the Tulsa Food Bank Food Sovereignty Conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The CMN Extension Program has grown quickly over the last year and a half. At this time, information is being shared to stakeholders in the following ways: Direct Email - Database managed by active Community Relations Manager. Mvskoke Media. CMN Social Media. "Chewing the Cud" Newspaper Article. Chewing the Cud Radio Program. Radio and Billboard Advertisement. YouTube Videos. CMN Extension Website: extension.cmn.edu. Oral Communication amongst citizens - "the grapevine". Direct communication from CMN Staff via programming. Muscogee Nation Indian Communities - Quarterly Meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Continue to develop and better utilize our Program Evaluation and Reporting System (PEARS). Would like to add a specific staff member in the future to focus on PEARS and data development. 2. Development and implementation of a community farm/eco park/Mvskoke Gathering Place. We have the resources and the land to make this happen. It is identified in our strategic plan as an approved goal. Next year will undoubtedly see some development in this area. 3. Implementation of FY 2026 Programmatic Endeavors which includes the following: Programmatic Calendar - FY 2026 OSU 4H Ag Roundup Mvskoke Gardener Program at CMN (Fall of 2026): Class II OSU Master Gardener Program (Fall of 2025): Okmulgee County. Canning Workshop - TBD Freeze Drying Workshop - TBD Cold Crops Seed Storage Propagation Adaptability and Food Sovereignty. Food Safety/Food Labeling GMO Education Mesonet Medicinal Herb Class Traditional Cooking Indigenous Values Workshop. Land Stewardship. 4. Continue to develop and modify plans for each of our strategic planning objectives and priorities. 5. Update Strategic Plan - It is a 5-year rolling plan that needs to be updated annually. 6. Continue to respond to the agricultural and health needs of the Mvskoke community. 7. Develop robust agricultural research station to drive TEK, Sustainable Agriculture, and Food Sovereignty.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Food Sovereignty: In the Fall of 2025, CMN Extension in conjunction with OSU Department of Agriculture Economics was awarded a USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Grant (BFRG). CMN Extension is a sub awardee and continues to serve as a primary partner in all aspects of the grant. The collaboration represents diversification of funding to ensure long-term vitality of CMN Extension. BFRG enabled CMN Extension to complete a number of important objectives including the construction of our new fully functioning website: extension.cmn.edu. It is a sub-domain under the institutions main site: cmn.edu. Although the program is in beginning stages, CMN Extension was able to start a seed exchange program where Mvskoke citizens grow very rare heirloom seeds such as Lowe Corn, Indian Pumpkins, various sofkee corn varieties, and other strains that are important to the Mvskoke people. Growers operate under the tutelage of Mr. Kent Sanmann, Natural Resources Instructor, who will provide technical assistance to the mentees over the course of the growing season. Growers receive a stipend via the BFRG and are required to return 50% of the seeds from their individual harvests. Growers have the option to sell back additional seeds at a pre-determined rate. To maintain genetic diversity, growers must plant a minimum of 100 corn seeds and 25 pumpkin seeds. Program will expand in the future as seeds become more plentiful. Ultimate goal is to become a functioning seed repository and distribution center for Mvskoke citizens. Website development allowed us to start our journey of becoming the information clearinghouse for Traditional Ecological Knowledge for the Muscogee Nation as well as a leader in the advancement of Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Agriculture. Website compartmentalizes all of our programmatic efforts to allow citizens a one-stop shop for event registration, communication, fact sheets, and direct access to our Mvskoke Gardening Series and other media. Fully functioning and active CMN Extension Advisory Panel. Continued partnership with Muscogee Nation Division of Agriculture including the second year of our Looped Square Meat Company Farmer's Market. Working closely with MCN Division of Agriculture to develop a mobile canning and food preservation trailer and educational program. This will have real world applications. We are in the planning stage at this time. Received Mvskoke Indigenous Knowledge grant in conjunction with the University of Oklahoma and USGS. Work is ongoing and focuses on IK that has been shared orally over the millennia and specifically deals with threatened or endangered species. Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Developed a fact sheet review process and are currently working on publishing our first fact sheet on Yaupon Holly (Ilex Vomitoria). Framework established for future fact sheets. Developed Chewing the Cud newspaper series with Mvskoke Media. Currently, we have submitted eleven articles that focus on TEK as well as other facets of agriculture. Developed and implemented the Environmental Science Club at CMN. Extension Educator serves as the lead mentor. ESC, through CMN Extension leadership, recently received a NEXUS award from the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy conservation, food production, alternative energy (wind and solar), and education are the major components of their grant. ESC has submitted a second grant proposal to receive a phase II NEXUS grant. Review is pending. Continue to contract with Mr. Ben Yahola, Mvskoke Elder, who supports our program with extensive TEK. He is a first speaker and is serving a critical role in promoting TEK as well as helping preserve the Mvskoke Language. CMN Extension has worked closely with MCN Cultural Preservation Department and interacted with their professional network resulting in the transfer of rare acorns and saplings from the historic Council Oak Tree. Saplings were subsequently given out to Mvskoke citizens and the acorns were successfully planted resulting in new sapling in the years to come. Daughter of Council Oak Tree was planted on campus during an Earth Day celebration. Partnership with Okmulgee Community Garden and Okmulgee YMCA to support the children's summer gardening program. Working and developing meaningful programs with OSU Extension. Specifically, OSU has an Educator who directly supports CMN and the Muscogee Nation. New 4H program to start in August of 2025. Summer Youth camp scheduled for end of July 2025. Mvskoke Gardening Series - Season 2. First episode focused on Yaupon Holly. Future episodes will highlight citizens and their specific growing practices/stories. Sustainable Agriculture: Many of the Extension programs have overlapping impacts in terms of grant requirements. With that said, CMN Extension developed the Mvskoke Gardener Program. The first class of students started in the Spring of 2025. Thirty-four students of all ages and backgrounds received MGP completion certificates. The MGP course consisted of 18 classes. It was 9 weeks of class each Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. A tough schedule, but well worth it for all involved. CMN Extension employs three work studies. Two support garden operations and one supports CMN Extension administrative functions. Drone workshop planned and developed. Plan is to have first workshop in August of 2025. Development of the Chewing the Cud Radio Program - Takes place live on AM 1240 The Brew each Friday from 10:00am to 11:00am. Episodes can be found on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and IHeart Radio. Program focuses on all things agriculture. Worked steadfastly for many months on an EPA Community Change Grant in conjunction with CDOT and AIHEC. Goal was to create an entrepreneurial certification program centered around renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and food sovereignty. Idea was to drive the Mvskoke Agribusiness economy forward. Grant program was placed on hold. Speaker at 2025 OSU Roundup - Yaupon Holly presentation.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Mvskoke Gardening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czAZOTPgnjQ&list=PLzAYLb8-60fOMqdZQPqzi_1YSFGxk3p4Q&index=10
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Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the program are Muscogee (Creek) Nation communities, Muscogee (Creek) citizens, and other members of federally recognized tribes. Changes/Problems:The CMN Extension Program is in its infancy, and at the onset, it was determined vital to get out in the community as much as possible. We will need to partner with MCN chartered community. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Attended FALCON conference. The extension Coordinator attended the OSU Extension Biennial Conference, Local Ag Summit, Mesonet training, andNationalExtension and Research Administrative Officer Conference (NERAOC).Extension Educator participated in the Children,Youth, and Family at Risk (CYFAR) conference. Attended the Coming Together for Racial Understanding Greenwood Rising Tour in Tulsa. Attended Coming Together for Racial Understanding National and State Meetings and Book Club. Participated in Racial Equity in the Food Systems (REFS) work group and meetings. Attend Okmulgee County Extension Master Gardner trainings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The CMN Extension Program is in its infancy and the onset it was determine vital to get out in the community as much as possible. With previous experience at the Nation, Staff members reached out to critical power brokers to share the good news about the developing 1994 Extension Program. The excitement was contagious and even resulted in a formal press release from the Principal Chief's Office. Principal Chief David Hill's quote is at the top of our Strategic Plan. At this time, information is being shared to stakeholders in the following ways: Direct Email. Mvskoke Media. CMN Social Media. "Chewing the Cud" Newspaper Article. Radio and Billboard Advertisement. YouTube Videos. CMN Website. Oral Communication amongst citizens - "the grapevine". Direct communication from CMN Staff via programming. Indian Community presentations is on the horizon for Fall of 2024. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Development of comprehensive marketing plan to include robust website, social media, YouTube, and interactive Program Evaluation and Reporting System (PEARS). 2. Proper build out of PEARS to allow for data driven decision making. 3. Implementation of FY 2025 Programmatic Endeavors which includes the following: Programmatic Calendar - FY 2025 OSU Ag Roundup Master Gardener Program at CMN. Canning Freeze Drying Cold Crops Seed Storage Master Gardener Program - Mvskoke Nation. Propagation Adaptability and Food Sovereignty. Food Safety/Food Labeling GMO Education Mesonet Medicinal Herb Class Making Hominy Corn Conference. Indigenous Values Workshop. Land Stewardship. 4. Work on development plans for each of our strategic planning objectives and priorities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Hired Extension Coordinator and Extension Educator. Conducted strategic planning for the program. Convened CMN Extension Advisory panel meetings aith two meetings. Hosted Mvskoke Gardening series at the CMN garden. Collected heirloom seeds and gave traditional plants to community members. Partnered with Muscogee (Creek) Nation to implement the Mvskoke Farmers Market at Looped Square Meat Company. Extension staff took a structured approach and hired a consultant to assist in developing a five-year strategic plan. The process began in December of 2023 and ended in May of 2024. CMN Extension used a number of the following managerial tactics to obtain a broad, well developed strategic plan: (1) Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis; (2) Qualitative interviews of interested parties; (3) Organizational retreat with stakeholders. (4) Strategic Planning weighting of potential goals; (4) CMN Institutional review and buy-in. (5) Guidance from retired OSUIT President who was well versed in strategic planning initiatives. The Board of Regents unanimously approved the Strategic Plan at the May Board Meeting (2024). CMN administrative staff have officially incorporated the plan into CMN's existing Strategic Plan. With that said, many of the prioritized goals listed in the Strategic Plan are all directly linked to the goals listed in our Capacity Grant. Goal 7, Objective 1 - Develop agriculturally-focused training modules for the overall benefit and enrichment of the Muscogee people. 7.1.1. Design an Adult Ag Education program to advance best practices in animal and plant production. 7.1.2. Produce harvesting maps and make them accessible to Tribal citizens. 7.1.3. Implement an instructional series on environmental land management, fallow land regeneration, invasive species identification, and the conservation of natural resources. 7.1.4. Create an on-demand training library for Tribal citizens to access instructional videos on common agriculture education topics and other agricultural resources as needed. Goal 7, Objective 2 - Preserve tribal culture and traditional knowledge through the delivery of courses and services designed to put "culture" back into agriculture. 7.2.1. Create culturally-rooted courses to foster greater awareness of Tribal arts, customs, and ceremonial practices. 7.2.2. Facilitate the preservation of the Muskogee language by systematically infusing written and spoken components of the language into all curricular offerings. 7.2.3. Coordinate heirloom seed bank collection and distribution efforts to sustain the use of traditionally and historically important plants. Goal 7, Objective 3 - Establish an "Eco Park" to promote agritourism based on the ideals, core values, and traditional ecological knowledge of the Muscogee Nation and its people. 7.3.1. Offer fieldwork-based agronomy studies with greenhouse education and cultural gardening instruction. 7.3.2. Grow crops in a college farm setting to supply area food banks and other charitable organizations with fresh fruits and vegetables. 7.3.3. Manage an agriculture education research station in conjunction with other production operations. 7.3.4. Develop interactive exhibits and displays that feature traditional arts and crafts as well as a depiction of the ancestral lifestyle. 7.3.5. Establish public hiking trails and nature walks that promote native culture. Goal 7, Objective 4 - Enhance the economic vitality and resilience of Chartered Communities within the Muscogee Nation. 7.4.1. Provide expert guidance and planting materials to encourage widespread use of public community gardens among rural residents. 7.4.2. Locate extension office hubs in isolated rural communities and utilize community centers to make services more assessable to all Tribal citizens. 7.4.3. Cultivate the local talent base within small tribal communities through rural leadership training. 7.4.4. Encourage the ongoing establishment of farmers' markets in rural tribal communities. Goal 7, Objective 5 - Increase the yield capacity of Native businesses and provide supportive services for small businesses throughout the Muscogee Nation. 7.5.1. Help Native farms and other businesses improve their productivity through a comprehensive business development program. 7.5.2. Strengthen agribusiness and Ag economics within the Muscogee Nation with market entry and resilience training. 7.5.3. Partner with Looped Square Meat Co. to maximize its test kitchen and business incubator operations. 7.5.4. Support the efforts of Tribal artisans by developing a "Certified Muscogee" product line. Goal 7, Objective 6 - Nurture local young people into becoming productive Tribal citizens through proactive activities and youth development programming. 7.6.1. Initiate a "Muscogee Empowerment" training series to encourage self-sufficiency, goal attainment, and cultural pride among tribal youth. 7.6.2. Help local young people obtain valuable trade skills by arranging customized mentorship opportunities. 7.6.3. Organize a homegrown apprentice program for area youth to learn more about tribal culture and sustainable agriculture. Goal 7, Objective 7 - Provide learning experiences that promote voluntary adoption of healthy eating choices as well as other nutrition-related behaviors conducive to health and wellbeing. 7.7.1. Develop curricular offerings to teach healthy meal planning, comprehension of food labels, food gathering, canning, and food preparation skills. 7.7.2. Publish a Muscogee cookbook featuring indigenous foods and recipes. 7.7.3. Allocate resources to advise Tribal citizens about food sovereignty, food literacy, food sustainability, Agri-fitness, and the benefits of a traditional diet. 7.7.4. Advocate for the establishment of more farm-to-table options and natural foods within the diets of Tribal citizens. 5. Other activities as determined by the need and desires of the Mvskoke people.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
https://www.mvskokemedia.com/chewing-the-cud-with-cmn-extension/
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Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project director attended the FALCON conference and participated in Coming Together for Racial Understanding Training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will hire the Extension Coordinator and Educator to help accomplish the CMN Extension Plan and goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We have begun advertising for the Extension Coordinator and Educator.
Publications
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