Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:We worked with our three high school sub-award partners on planning for experiential learning activities in food production specific to each institution's proposed plan. We met with financial administrative personnel to clarify grant processes and what was considered allowable expenses under the grant/sub-award. Dr. Williamshosted an one-day urban farm tour for 24 school-based agricultural educators with a networking luncheon to interact with urban agriculture leaders and stakeholders. The tour included a stop at a USDA Peoples' Garden site, a large non-profit hydroponics farm, and a teaching farm for beginning farmers. Dr. Williams also presented a professional development sessionto 161school based agricultural education teachers at the summer professional development conference for the Agricultural Teachers Association of Texas. Project faculty (Williams, Clemmons, Chavarria) hosted a one-day on-campus professional development experience for 12 urban school-based agricultural education teachers and their coordinatorfrom a large urban school district. This workshop included information about various ag-related degree programs offered by the university, a tour of the university farm and research facilities, and a networking opportunity with agricultural faculty from all representative disciplines with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Priscilla Pina, PD at Skyline HS, along with her colleagues Shawn Coyle and Laura Munoz, attended the Aquaponics Conference in Irving, Texas for professional development and networking with other aquaponics educators and professionals. They identified potential vendors for aquaponics equipment and resources during the conference. Allison Miller, PD from Nimitz HS, met with representatives from GROW North Texas, the Givving Grove, and Texas AgriLife Extension regarding site planning and species/variety selection for their fruit orchard planned for installation in February of 2025. Megan James, PD at CityLab HS, established a community-based internship for students with Big Tex Urban Farm and Restorative Farms in Dallas. She and her partners at Big Tex Urban Farm presented a poster about their project at the Southern Region Conference of American Association for Agricultural Education. Drs. Williams, Chavarria, and Clemmons met with the PD and other associated faculty and administrators at Nimitz HS and Skyline HS for a campus and facilites tour and brief project update from each school partner. Since Megan James, PD at CityLab HS and representatives form Big Tex Urban Farmhad collaborated with Dr. Williams regarding the poster presentation for the Southern Region Conference of AAAE, that collaboration served as the project update for CityLab. Dr. Williams presented an overview of the project and its progress and challenges at two conferences. These included the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agricutlure conference and the Western Region AAAE conference. The project team (faculty and graduate students) helped host the Southern Region AAAE conference and sponsored a networking session promoting the North Texas Alliance for Urban Agricultural Education. Changes/Problems:Taylor McCalister, PD at Nimitz HS, was replaced by Allison MIller. We have experienced challenges with getting the financial services departments at the partnering campuses/districts to understand our grant processes and eligible expenses. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr. Williamshosted an one-day urban farm tour for 24 school-based agricultural educators with a networking luncheon to interact with urban agriculture leaders and stakeholders. The tour included a stop at a USDA Peoples' Garden site, a large non-profit hydroponics farm, and a teaching farm for beginning farmers. Dr. Williams also presented a professional development sessionto 161school based agricultural education teachers at the summer professional development conference for the Agricultural Teachers Association of Texas. Project faculty (Williams, Clemmons, Chavarria) hosted a one-day on-campus professional development experience for 12 urban school-based agricultural education teachers and their coordinatorfrom a large urban school district. This workshop included information about various ag-related degree programs offered by the university, a tour of the university farm and research facilities, and a networking opportunity with agricultural faculty from all representative disciplines with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Priscilla Pina, PD at Skyline HS, along with her colleagues Shawn Coyle and Laura Munoz, attended the Aquaponics Conference in Irving, Texas for professional development and networking with other aquaponics educators and professionals. They identified potential vendors for aquaponics equipment and resources during the conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Megan James, PD at CityLab HS, established a community-based internship for students with Big Tex Urban Farm and Restorative Farms in Dallas. She and her partners at Big Tex Urban Farm presented a poster about their project at the Southern Region Conference of American Association for Agricultural Education. Dr. Williams presented an overview of the project and its progress and challenges at two conferences. These included the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agricutlure conference and the Western Region AAAE conference. The project team (faculty and graduate students) helped host the Southern Region AAAE conference and sponsored a networking session promoting the North Texas Alliance for Urban Agricultural Education. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A. Increased experiential learning opportunities in urban agriculture, B.Increased expertise for urban AFNR teachers, and C. Stronger institutional relationships between urban high school, community college, and university faculty and staff. Deliver relevant career awareness and experiential learning opportunities to AFNR students at the secondary, community college, and university levels. Provide professional development for secondary and postsecondary educators of AFNR that focuses on subsistence, entrepreneurial, and commercial opportunities in urban agriculture with the intent to improve food security. Foster civic engagement of urban AFNR students and community-based organizations. Create a network among high school AFNR students, high school AFNR teachers, college and university faculty, and higher education support staff such as recruiters, advisors, and financial aid professionals.
Publications
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