Source: NAVAJO NATION TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, THE submitted to NRP
DINE COLLEGE TRIBAL COLLEGE EXTENSION DELIVERY PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029361
Grant No.
2022-47003-38410
Cumulative Award Amt.
$792,000.00
Proposal No.
2022-06680
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2022
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[NK]- Extension Tribal College Program
Recipient Organization
NAVAJO NATION TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, THE
1 CIRCLE DR
TSAILE,AZ 86556-9998
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This Extension Proposal will strengthen Diné College Land Grant Office to deliver extension outreach initiative to a larger area on the Navajo Nation through regional programs and activities development. The proposed activities include are a variety of youth and adult programs focusing on agriculture and life skills, farmer and rancher outreach to be offered regionally for easy access. An ongoing effort for the. Diné College Land Grant Office to create four regional agricultural hubs placed strategically across the Navajo Nation. These Agricultural Hubs can create an infrastructural support mechanism for sustainable agricultural production on the Navajo Nation.Diné College Land Grant Office long term goal continues to be the delivery of effective extension outreach initiative to the entire Navajo Nation through the creation of Agricultural Hubs. The development of four regional agricultural hubs placed strategically across the Navajo Nation is essential to supporting the Navajo Nation agricultural revitalization and sustainability. The lack of proper infrastructure for agriculture educations, producer access to commercial kitchens, food preservation and storage currently pose a concern for farmers and ranchers as they begin to explore markets such as farm to school programs, farmers market sales, value added product production, and most of all meet food safety guidelines. Increasing the number of Extension agents will allow us to programs and activities at these proposed agricultural Hubs. ?
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
30%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020110107025%
1210199106025%
3073310310025%
2056030106025%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 307 - Animal Management Systems; 121 - Management of Range Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal; 0110 - Soil; 0199 - Soil and land, general; 6030 - The farm as an enterprise;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology; 3100 - Management;
Goals / Objectives
Diné College Land Grant Office long term goal continues to be the delivery of effective extension outreach initiative to the entire Navajo Nation through the creation of Agricultural Hubs. The development of four regional agricultural hubs placed strategically across the Navajo Nation is essential to supporting the Navajo Nation agricultural revitalization and sustainability. The lack of proper infrastructure for agriculture educations, producer access to commercial kitchens, food preservation and storage currently pose a concern for farmers and ranchers as they begin to explore markets such as farm to school programs, farmers market sales, value added product production, and most of all meet food safety guidelines. Increasing the number of Extension agents will allow us to programs and activities at these proposed agricultural Hubs. ?1) Increase Youth Extension Education Programs in the three regions identified. a) Annually, creating at least two - short day or weekend camps to create programs around agriculture and life skills. b) Assisting with 4H youth development activities in programs within the respective regions. c) Co-hosting events for youth such as gardening, fishing, cooking demonstrations, etc.2) Increase Adult Extension Education Programs in areas other than agriculture. a) Annually, create at least one financial literacy program in the respective regions. b) Connecting families to resources such as USDA programs for food access, or training needs such as typing and computer literacy, and family educational tutoring, and crafts to create family consecutiveness. d) Connecting families with workshops to create documents for employments such as cover letters and resumes. 3) Increase Farmers and Ranchers outreach programs in livestock, range, food and farm production. b) Annually, create 10 workshops and seminars in each respective region on topics in various agricultural topics. c) Annually, conduct one Diné BiChiyaa Summit in each regions for producers to gather and share information on best practices. d) Annually, conduct at least two farmers market in each respective regions (total of six) to help producers with an access to alternative markets. e) Annually, conduct collaboration meetings between farmers and potential buyers such as schools, cooperative planning to deliver and sell crops.
Project Methods
Increase staffing in regional offices to offer extension program throughout broader Navajo Nation. Developing collaboration with 1862 Land Grant Insitutions to ensure we don't overlap on programs and instead complement each others program deliver. Create improve communication with partners and collaborator to ensure improve program deliver. Recruit farmers that are willing to participate in a much robust program to help enhance upon their operations. Recruitment can be done through local gathering such as grazing and farming meetings, workshops and conference. Annually, we will assess the content delivery and enhance upon them. We will also review the learning outcomes from farmers and ranchers access improved implemented farming practices.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the grant funded project are farmers and ranchers on the Navajo Nation and surrounding region. The Navajo Nation is located in three states (Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah) along with neighboring tribes such as Hopi, San Carlos, and Ute. The audience includes youth, adults and elders. As Dine College now offers and Agriculture Degree Program, many programs developed will be aligned to support student growth and knowledge. Changes/Problems:Most challenges are internally at the college. Additional steps to organize and plan program becomes challenging. The college utilize what is known as Event Brightly and only allow you to plan 45 days out of facitlities and sometimes the space anticipated for use may be reserved before hand. The internal request for faciltiy usage certainly has created a delima to cancel, postpone and reschedule programs which create double/triple work. Travel support has also been a challenge as the college moves toward restricting travel and paying staff a rate of .21 a mile rather then the .67 GSA rate. We hope that we can navigate these challenges as we learn to adapt to new regulations developed at the institution What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Each of the program offered are in the form of workshops, seminars or one-on-one technical assistance therefore participants have access to these programs. We also utilize the www.nsa.nmsu.edu website to share programing, webinars, and workshop information. The Dine College Student Interns are asked to participate in each events, assist with co-teaching or presenting. These opportunities allows for students to identify agricultural opportunities. Conference and Workshop: FALCON (Firsta American Land Grant Consortium)2023 Indian Agriculture Council Conference 2023 Navajo Nation Climate Symposium 2024 Navajo Farmer and Rancher Congress 2024 Dine Bi Chiyaa Summit - Shiprock, NM Conducting High School and School across the Navajo Nation to share agricultural programs and activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Each of the events conducted is shared with the communities and usually on both an invite and planned event. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our goals are to become strategic about offering programs and delivery. With a larger group requesting services coordinating and planning is much needed to allow for create regional workshops. We have developed a annual planning and we hope to conduct a fall, spring, summer planning to help us create these strategic programs and activities.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? There were many workshops, seminars and presentations developed and established across the communities of the Navajo Nation. The workshops concentrated on key agricultural areas such as Sheep, Cattle and Horse production, health and care. Additionally, workshops such as conservation plans that is a required document for transfer of grazing, farm land permitting. The Dine College Land Grant Program also developed multiple partnerships to create more programs throughout the Navajo Nation. These partnerships are with the Navajo Nation Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State University, University of Arizona, Navajo Agriculture Producers Success, Navajo Children and Families, and the Navajo Department of Agriculture. Workshops: Sheep Production workshop: Four sheep shearing workshops and events have occurred throughout the funding period. The full day events were held in the community of Tuba City, Arizonaon March 12, 2024; Shiprock, NM on April 19, 2024, Leupp, AZ on April 26, 2024, and Shiprock, NM on May 20-21, 2024. Equine Hoof Care workshop: Four equine hoof care workshop were conducted during the funding period. The full day events were held in the communities of Tsaile, AZ on December 28, 2023; Monument Valley, UT on April 18, 2024; Ganado, AZ on April 25, 2024, and Tuba City on May 2, 2024. Community Livestock Herd Health Workshop: Nine community workshop were conducted during the funding period. The full day events were held in the communities of Huerferno, NM on November 16, 2023; Biclahbeto, AZ on March 20, 2024; Aneth, UT, Tsaile Agriculture Day Expo, Ganado on May 21, 2024, Leupp, AZ with a number of series moving into the next funding year. Conservation Planning workshops and one-on-one Technical Assistance program: We have partnered with the Western Agency Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct several 2 to 3-day workshops with invited producers to attend a full day conservation planning training. Each day is a different group of producers who are invited and numbers of participants very from 7 people to 35 people. This event also includes using hands-on concepts to understand range production, soil analysis and identifying resource concerns such as erosion. The events held were also conducted in Shiprock, NM. The dates are December 2023 held in Shiprock, NM; Tuba City on Dec. 19-20, 2023, Tuba City on February 20-21, 2024; Tuba City on August 6-8, 2024. One well received workshop is the Livestock First Aid Workshop with a large turn out and conducted by Dr. John Wenzel of New Mexico State University. Each participant receives a tool kit and learning how to use the kits they received. Include proper bandaging, vaccination, administering shots/injections; suture, and cleaning wounds. Throughout the year the Land Grant Program have assisted over 300 producers with onsite ranch visits to assist with herd health management, sheep shearing, and pulling lambs or calves. The student interns are always on-site learning through hands-on to conduct various agricultural methods and practices. This also includes farmland assistance such as equipment work, seeding, irrigations, etc. Larger initiatives and involvement were the support of the Navajo Nation Wool Buy held in July 2025 and finding / connecting buyers for producers selling their wool in a time when the market of wool has been minimal or null. This also includes the re-establishment of the Navajo Farmer and Rancher Congress which is a group of producers from all regions of the Navajo Nation and being able to bring concerns to the table and create a formal opportunity to connect to the Navajo Nation Leadership. Annually, the Extension Agents assist with the Tribal Fairs in hosting a 4H, livestock or agricultural exhibits to allow producers to share and showcase their product

Publications


    Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The Navajo farmers and ranchers on the Navajo Nation is the target audience of this grant opportunity. The Navajo Nation spread across three states and divided into 5 regions. The opportuntiy will allow Dine College to expand extension outreach services out to Western, North Western along with the primary areas we have been servingin (Central, Northern, Eastern ad Southwestern Navajo). Outreach efforts also expands to farmers and ranchers of all ages (youth to elders). Youth programs is set as a deliverable in this opportunity. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1) Winter Doghouse building workshop was offered to youth in the Central Navajo region. 13 youth participants were able to build and take home their doghouse 2) Traditional foods workshop was conducted in Shiprock, NM for youth and families. 3) Cake Decorating workhosp was also conducted allowing youth to share and advance their creativity. 4) Conservation Planning workshops offered in multiple communities in Northern and Eastern Navajo. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?All workshops and outreach is open to the communities. We have also attended community events to share the opportunities that our programs offer. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to coordinate programs across the Navajo Nation that will benefity farmers and ranchers. Create several youth workshops to expand knowledge around ag careers.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Accomplishments include the hiring of two new Extension Agents who have began implementing much needed workshops to areas we have yet to service such as in Utah AZ border communities and eastern base of the Chuska Mountains (New Mexico). New collaboration were developed and service to various communities have been incorporated and conducted. The new Extension Agents have already created a base of farmers who participate and take advantages of the programs being offered. Dispite a late start with new staff we had several workshops that were a success.

    Publications