Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project for this reporting period included west Alabama students and Agriculture and Conservation Industry professionals. This includes but not limited to secondary school students 9-12 grade, post-secondary students and industry professionals. The audience also included non-academic partners such as farmers, ranchers, foresters, and conservationists. This initial target audience included a diverse working group varying across ages, races, and social society levels. 1- University Charter School Agriculture Instructor and UCS Ag students. 2- West Alabama Agriculture and Conservation professionals included individuals in the following businesses and/or industries: University Charter School (UCS), The University of West Alabama (UWA) College of Business and College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Dee River Ranch, Sumter County Farmers Federation, Hutchins Loggins, Alabama Wildlife Federation, WACCA, Soggy Bottom Lodge, Alabama Ag Credit & Farm Lenders, Watt Cattle Company, and IV Vets. Changes/Problems:During year one of the program, one of the project co-directors became ill for an unfortunate extended period of time 3-4 months and some program components were pushed back from the original timeline. While some activities were slightly delayed, a plan is in place to get those components back on track including curriculum development, student intern employment, and the student conference. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During this reporting period, the project co-directors met with Ag Industry professionals to discuss training and professional development opportunities. During this reporting period a plan was created to host training and professional development as part of the Inaugural Secondary School, College Student, & Ag Professionals Conference. Co-directors and members also attended the National Wildlife Turkey Federation annual meeting to learn about what is trending in the industry, to share the PACE project, gain feedback via survey, and gain partners and sponsors. Co-directors also joined the Sumter County and Alabama Farmers Federation and the Sumter County Cattleman's Association to attend meetings and trainings to learn more about implementing our PACE program to fidelity. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of the initial planning meetings and Ag Industry Professionals survey were disseminated to the Advisory Committee, The University of West Alabama (UWA) College of Business and College of Natural Science and Mathematics and will be shared at the upcoming events in year two. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the PACE team has planned the following activities: 1- Partner with the National Young Farmers Education Association on hosting the Mentoring Conference in collaboration with the Inaugural Secondary School, College Student, & Ag Professionals Conference (Grades 9-12) (Planned for March 2025) 2-We will host the Inaugural Ag-Industry and Community Partners Summit for prospective industry and community partners will feature local, regional, and national experts who will share their expertise on conservation and agriculture management. (Planned for April 2025) 3- Partner with UCS to launch and host a ribbon cutting for the new UCS Green House and Ag Shop (Planned April 2025) 4- Employ Student interns to implement the work of the market and seek appropriate contracts and licenses required for BBFHM. 5- Work with the UWA Provost Office, COB, and NSM to request regional, state and national search of Conservation and Agri-business related programs from the Education Advisory Board as well as disseminate surveys to Ag-industry experts to identify and aid in the development of new curriculum for the UCS Agriculture course, and courses and practica for the Conversation Enterprises and Agri-business programs.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major Goals of the Project The major goals are the following: Objective 1: Develop an interdisciplinary, experiential curriculum that allows students to explore careers in conversation and agriculture with a business emphasis. Objective 2: Engage the West Alabama Center for Conservation and Agriculture (WACCA) to support Partners in Agribusiness and Conservation Enterprises (PACE) programming as conservation and agriculture experts. Objective 3: Host a summit for prospective industry and community partners to expedite an exchange of ideas to improve the agriculture industry in West Alabama. Objective 4: Host an annual event for secondary school students, college students, and Ag/Conservation professionals in West Alabama to strengthen student recruitment and to promote careers in the agriculture industry. Objective 5: Develop an agriculture student-driven enterprise located on the University of West Alabama campus. What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: During Year 1 both the UWA College of Business and UWA College of Natural Science and mathematics met to discuss curriculum. The project co-directors planned to request regional, state and national search of Conservation and Agri-business related programs from the Education Advisory Board as well as disseminate surveys to Ag-industry experts to identify and aid in the development of new curriculum for the UCS Agriculture course, and courses and practica for the Conversation Enterprises and Agri-business programs. Objective 2: Dr. John McCall was appointed as the liaison to work with West Alabama Center for Conservation and Agriculture (WACCA) to develop Ag education programming and manage a portion of the student interns for PACE. Objective 3: During this reporting period, planning has taken place for the summit for prospective industry and community partners to expedite an exchange of ideas to improve the agriculture industry in West Alabama. This summit is being planned for Year 2. The team hosted the first Advisory Board Meeting on April 30, 2024, for introductions, program overview and committee charge, and information gathering. The advisory board was also surveyed on curriculum, industry trends, and partnership opportunities. This committee is charged with advising, assisting, and providing support for quality PACE program activities. Activities include curriculum development, connection with Ag-Industry Professionals, student experiences, and the launch of the Black Belt Fresh Harvest Market. Objective 4: During this reporting period, planning has taken place for the summit for secondary school students, college students, and Ag/Conservation professionals in West Alabama to strengthen student recruitment and to promote careers in the agriculture industry. This summit is being planned for Year 2. Two interns were hired to begin work in the summer to prepare for the conference (supported in partnership with UWA NYFEA program). The interns will plan to host this conference in conjunction with the NYFEA Mentoring conference. Interns are also planning to travel to the Ag Promise Conference in Spring 2025 as part of this work for professional development and advocacy training. Along with the UWA Interns, a UWA faculty mentor and UCS faculty and students are planning to attend. Objective 5: Several planning meetings took place during year one to discuss the development and technical aspects of developing the Black Belt Fresh Harvest Market. The BBFHM will be a student-driven enterprise located on the University of West Alabama campus. At BBFHM, students in Conservation Enterprises and Agri-Business majors at UWA as well as students in agricultural programs at University Charter School will gain hands-on experience with the business side of their endeavors. BBFHM will include community orchards and garden areas dedicated to producing local fruits and vegetables and an open-air commercial space where UWA and UCS students will market their products. Students will be engaged in every aspect of the business from production to sale. Required practica and internships within the Conservation Enterprises and Agri-Business programs will stimulate experiential learning by employing the BBFHM as an educational tool. Services will include a wild game processing facility operated by students in the Conservation Enterprises program, a small-scale aquaculture operation in which catfish grown on-site are processed and marketed for sale, the development of a microbrewery, where graduate-level students trained in conservation and agri-business courses will brew craft beers for sale, production of local honey for sale, production of local eggs for sale, as well as food booths that allow students to market and sell locally-produced food. This would incorporate the UCS "farm to table" pizza, fried catfish harvested on site, venison jerky processed at the BBFHM farm, and many others. Student interns will work to identify an official name for the market and begin drafting a business and marketing plan.
Publications
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