Extension Today
News from and about the 1890 Land-Grant Extension SystemMessage from the Chair
Dr. Carolyn Williams, Executive Associate Director, Prairie View A&M University
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
We are fortunate to have entered a new year of priorities and possibilities. As land-grant universities, we are committed to carrying out planned and intentional activities that turn ideas and practices that work for families, youths, farmers and small business owners.
I feel deeply that 2024 will be another stellar year of impactful programs, partnerships and life-changing initiatives. The experiences we gleaned in 2023 through professional development conferences, seminars, trainings, virtual and face-to-face workshops, artificial intelligence, ChatGPT and others will position us to put innovative strategies and plans into action.
I am grateful to work with such a passionate and determined group of professionals who consistently identify situations, objectives, problems and solutions to empower and impact families. We are recognized for effectively reaching audiences through individual contact and group methods, as well as the mass media.
Enjoy our first edition of new initiatives implemented throughout the 1890 Cooperative Extension System, highlighting programs that benefit families and communities.
1890 Land-grant Universities honor Dr. Mort Neufville Dr. Jewel Bronaugh steps into new role
The Association of Extension Administrators (AEA) honored Dr. Mort Neufville at the 2024 AEA and Association of Research Directors (ARD) Joint Winter Business Meeting in January in Nashville, Tennessee. Neufville recently retired from the 1890 Universities Foundation. He provided more than 50 years of dedicated and superior service to the land-grant university system and higher education.
Neufville served as the founding president and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation from 2015-23 with distinction. He provided leadership, vision and strategic directions in developing the framework for the "19 Strong" concept. The 19 1890 Land-grant Universities gained national recognition as a unit for resource acquisition, leadership development and the development of programs impacting the sustainability of the 1890 land-grant system.
Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, former deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has officially stepped into the new role of president and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation. At the winter meeting, she presented the foundation's priorities and path forward under her leadership.
What’s new at AAMU Extension?
4-H Tech Changemakers
Alabama 4-H students at Alabama A&M University (AAMU) help to promote the values of innovation, creativity and positive change through technology. For example, the 4-H Tech Changemakers initiative is designed to place youths in leadership positions by training them to teach digital skills to underserved audiences. 4-H Tech Changemakers work with public libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and other organizations to improve digital literacy skills among youths and adults. To date, 23 students are 4-H Tech Changemakers educators through AAMU Extension. Contact Dr. Angela Williams for more information.
PC-FLIPP
PC-FLIPP is the acronym for the Parent-Child Financial Literacy in Progress Program. It is a U.S. Department of Agriculture's Children, Youth and Families at Risk funded grant program that builds financial literacy for parents and children's money management skills. Additionally, the program provides tools and resources that can be used to help parents take charge of their finances as children get an early start toward a healthy financial future. The program is free to parents with limited resources, and classes are offered throughout the year. Contact Dr. Dorothy Brandon to learn more.
Urban Extension News
In March 2023, Alabama Extension at Alabama A&M University launched the e-newsletter Urban Extension News (UEN). The newsletter features timely news, links to articles and publications, a listing of upcoming events, and a spotlight on partners and other activities. You can sign up to become a subscriber at https://www.aces.edu/go/UENews or contact Wendi Williams for more information.
Visit www.aces.edu/urban to learn more about Urban Extension programs and initiatives in Alabama.
Soil Initiative
Soil conservation is an essential component of preserving cropping systems. It consists of a combination of practices used to protect the soil from degradation and involves treating the soil as a living ecosystem. Producers who choose to employ such practices on their farms reap various benefits as soil conservation is proven to increase the quality and quantity of crop yields over time.
The Soil Initiative aims to support farmers in Mississippi in enhancing their soil cultivation practices and promoting soil testing to mitigate the risks of over- and under-fertilization in agricultural lands. Alcorn State University Extension Program Small Farm Outreach and Veteran Farmers Project has partnered with Waters Agricultural Laboratories in Vicksburg to provide basic soil test kits to farmers at no charge.
For those interested, contact Carolyn Banks at (601) 877-6260 or cbanks@alcorn.edu to obtain a soil kit. The soil sample can be mailed in or dropped off at Waters Agricultural Laboratories Inc., located at 4589 Highway 61 South, Vicksburg, MS 39180.
Central State University reflects on new 2023 initiatives
In 2014, Central State University (CSU) became the nation's newest 1890 Land-grant University and remains the only 1890 located in the northern half of the United States. This distinction means that CSU Extension’s efforts to “Engage Communities and Transform Lives” must be impactful and meaningful.
In 2024, as CSU celebrates 10 years as an 1890 Land-grant University, it looks back with pride at two of its most impactful new initiatives, both focused on ensuring that people can grow and prepare healthy food.
Mobile Units
CSU Extension has two mobile kitchen demonstration trailers that are used for health and nutrition education. These units have been used across Ohio and provide opportunities to conduct cooking demonstrations in areas with limited resources.
The Health Education Mobile Unit was introduced in 2023 and is used to bring health education to remote and limited resource areas.
Beginning Farmer Classes
Another initiative is incubator farms for beginning farmer classes. Participants engage in a 12-week program where they are educated in the basics of growing food and running a small farm operation.
“The beginning farmer classes also have a business component to help farmers create their business and in turn help build a local food system,” says Marc Amante, who runs the program. “We are excited to report that many of our participants have started their own businesses, including Ms. Sharifa Tomlinson, who was recently featured in National Public Radio and Food and Environmental Reporting Network news articles.”
These are just a few of the new initiatives CSU Extension embarked upon in 2023. Extension staff are busy planning even more new initiatives in 2024. Stay tuned!
Future farming
The Delaware State University (DSU) Vertical Farm grows, harvests and disperses fresh lettuce and basil daily. DSU’s innovative, hydroponic farm represents the partnership between Ponix Farms, the Propel Center and Apple Inc. forged in March 2022, which provided DSU with a $300,000 Impact Grant to develop a solution to food insecurity.
“Delaware State University is a proud recipient of Propel’s agritech grant funding to develop vertical farming solutions that will positively impact supply chain and sustainable urban agriculture in underserved communities,” said Dr. Cherese Winstead, dean of DSU’s College of Agriculture, Science and Technology. “Urban agriculture solutions, like container farming, are an ingenious way for higher education institutions to support their increasing student and neighboring community populations.”
FAMU Extension offers disaster preparedness outreach, education programming
Florida A&M University (FAMU) Extension Disaster Preparedness and Safety Education Program helps Floridians build a safer and sustainable future by providing research-based education to reduce the impact of disasters and emergencies on their lives. This program aims to reduce the vulnerability of youths, families, seniors and limited resource producers and ranchers to disasters and emergencies through preparedness education and outreach.
Because the state of Florida ranks among the Top 5 disaster-prone states, it is a priority for FAMU Cooperative Extension that Florida citizens and communities have adequate tools to respond to disasters. They are provided information to help them prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate against disasters and emergencies resulting from all hazards.
This is accomplished through various delivery modes. Activities include working with local Title I schools and after-school programs to ensure their participation in Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week and the statewide tornado drill, offering a summer camp focusing on natural resources and climate change, participation in local preparedness expos and safety fairs, monthly social media preparedness campaigns and hosting a series of workshops.
The program supports communities preparing and recovering from disasters and works in partnership with governmental agencies, volunteers and faith-based organizations addressing disasters. Following a disaster, FAMU Extension has helped meet its clientele's immediate unmet needs by collecting school supplies, assisting individuals with the disaster assistance process and providing hot meals. External funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and the USDA Rapid Response programs has been secured.
Fort Valley State University’s Family and Consumer Sciences Department adds smoothie bikes to inventory
By Russell Boone, Fort Valley State University Agricultural Communications Public Information Editor/Writer
Fort Valley State University’s (FVSU) Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Department recently purchased two smoothie bikes to help promote healthy eating habits.
Kena Torbert, family life specialist for FVSU, said the idea to purchase smoothie bikes came from Sabrena Johnson, FVSU FACS agent for Peach County. Johnson saw a bike at a conference and inquired about acquiring one for FACS use.
“I thought it would be a good idea for clients to enjoy a nutritional smoothie while getting in a little physical activity as well,” Johnson said.
Torbert added that after researching the bike’s possible educational impact, it was decided to purchase two bikes. “We will add them to our health and nutrition efforts and make them available to our county Extension offices,” the family life specialist said.
The bikes will be stored on campus and used in coordination with FACS programs throughout the community. These programs will be coordinated with FACS staff and community partners. Johnson added that it is not hard to make a smoothie and that any fresh frozen fruits or vegetables can be used to make the beverage.
“The benefit of consuming a healthy smoothie is that it’s a way to get a variety of fruits and vegetables into your diet,” said the Peach County native.
In September 2023, one of the machines drew attention at the Farmers, Landowners and Ranchers Outreach Conference held at FVSU’s Agricultural Technology Conference Center. Attendees lined up in droves to ride the apparatus.
Kentucky State’s disaster preparedness initiative focuses on education, relief
A recent focus of the Community Resource Development (CRD) team, part of Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Program, has been disaster preparedness, education and relief.
The CRD team aims to educate stakeholders and the general public on research-based preparedness, prevention, mitigation and recovery of disasters, whether small or large and natural or human-made.
“With the increase in disasters within the state of Kentucky, Kentucky State deems it necessary to provide disaster education and position us to aid people in times of calamity,” said Cameron Sellers, CRD disaster educator.
Kentucky has faced significant natural disasters in recent years. In December 2021, tornadoes devastated the western region of the state. In July 2021, parts of Eastern Kentucky flooded. Both led to loss of life and destroyed property.
A crucial part of Kentucky State’s initiative is the Disaster Recovery Unit, a trailer equipped for disaster preparedness education and relief in partnership with state entities, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and schools across the state of Kentucky.
“We will use this trailer as an educational learning lab, and it will help us support families and communities who have been impacted by disasters,” Sellers said. “The disaster recovery unit will have an enclosed cargo full of hope and inspiration as part of our mission to mitigate the inevitable.”
Preserving legacy, fostering community growth
The recently concluded Oklahoma Historical Black Towns Summit, hosted by the Langston University Cooperative Extension and Outreach Program (LU-CEOP), exemplified the commitment to serving the needs of Oklahoma’s communities through education and resource distribution.
The well-attended Biennial Summit Workshop, held from Oct. 27-28, 2023, at the Sheraton Hotel Downtown OKC, brought together mayors and community leaders from the historically Black towns in Oklahoma. The event sought to strengthen collaboration for the betterment of these historically significant communities. The overarching theme, “Cultural Resilience and Rebuilding Economic Wealth,” aimed to establish common ground and foster unique interconnectivity between Langston University Extension and other land-grant programs.
Participants completed a survey conducted by the LU-CEOP, which identified common needs expressed by the respondents of the historic communities. Survey participants included residents from the towns of Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Ft. Coffee, Grayson, I.X.L., Langston, Lima, Redbird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatum, Tullahassee and Vernon. The key issues identified are business development, infrastructure, historical identity preservation, youth development, aging population and tourism development.
Addressing these needs effectively involves collaboration with other local and regional government entities, community leaders and residents. The survey also identified grant writing assistance, knowledge of U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and strategic planning as some of the resources needed in the community. The summit workshop was open to all local community leaders seeking partnerships in various counties and small towns across Oklahoma's urban and rural areas.
Train the Trainer expands in Missouri’s underserved communities
Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) has created a Train the Trainer model for co-learning to support leaders and build gardening expertise.
Out of concern for the people in Missouri who struggle with food scarcity and food insecurity, Sheryl Maxwell, assistant to the LUCE Southeast Missouri regional coordinator, imagined a program to encourage community members to start or improve their gardens and to teach others their knowledge and skills.
University academics, trained specialists and aspiring gardeners come together twice a year to participate in this knowledge and skills exchange. The Train the Trainer program is now in its third year and has trained five cohorts.
Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T to lead heirs' property summits for North Carolina landowners
Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T State University will lead a new effort to help property owners protect and preserve land in North Carolina that their families have held for generations.
Heirs' property is land passed down through a family, often over multiple generations and to numerous descendants, without the use of wills or probate courts. Heirs of the original owner can use the property and claim joint ownership of the land. But without proper documentation or clear title, owners cannot sell the property, borrow against it or qualify for federal farm loans or disaster relief.
These complications can strain family relationships and make farmland vulnerable to being sold — often at below-market prices — and developed. Because it is disproportionately held by Black landowners, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has called heirs' property the leading cause of Black involuntary land loss.
In North Carolina, the value of land owned as heirs' property is estimated at nearly $1.9 billion.
“Heirs property is a very critical issue in North Carolina,” said Biswanath Dari, Ph.D., an assistant professor and agriculture and natural resources specialist with Extension at A&T. “Too many people are not aware they have heirs' property issues. They do not know there are legal pathways and useful resources available to secure their property. This project will bring these resources to those who need them.”
New 4-H IT cloud program partnership
The 4-H program is always looking to improve and offer relevant programs to benefit youths. In Tarrant County, Texas, they are working on creating more programs to benefit high school-age students and allow more opportunities for them to be successful once they finish high school.
In the spring of 2023, Extension agent Jordan Peldyak had the pleasure of meeting 4-H club volunteer Alex Marques, who initiated a 4-H IT cloud certification program. Marques works as a Microsoft partner in information technology locally in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. An information meeting was held with Polytechnic High School to promote and start the online program throughout the summer.
This program helped many high school students receive valuable work-related experience for those youths interested in a career in information technology. Program objectives include the following:
- Obtain a professional certification.
- Establish professional credibility.
- Realize a competitive advantage.
- Increase future earning potential.
Through this program, students and volunteers learned through weekly assignments, tasks and resources needed to prepare high school-age students to take the Microsoft fundamentals certification exam. As part of this course, students learned about job readiness skills and how to professionally make a LinkedIn profile that will help them become competitive for future careers. During bi-weekly meetings, discussions focused on future assignments and study materials and answered questions that would best help the students for the following week. The course is online and self-paced.
New program promotes postsecondary education across South Carolina
In 2021, South Carolina State 1890 Extension’s Education, Innovation and Support (EIS) program sought to bolster the interest in higher education among South Carolina youths.
Helping Youth Pursue Education (HYPE) is a co-curricular college and career program for high school students aimed at increasing postsecondary completion for students in underserved communities.
Led by HYPE instructors of nine partnering South Carolina high schools, the year-long program features bi-weekly group meetings and college readiness workshops, along with helping seniors apply to college. The program also features a spring and summer college tour for seniors to gain exposure to campus environments.
In spring 2023, more than 60 HYPE participants traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the 2023 HBCU College Fair. In summer 2023, nearly 50 juniors and seniors participated in a HYPE College Tour in the Charlotte, North Carolina, region. Students toured Cleveland Community College, Wingate University, Winthrop University and Johnson C. Smith University. While touring Wingate University, students resided on the campus, further exposing them to a campus environment.
For more information on the HYPE program, contact Dr. Derrick Wise, state program leader for education, innovation and support, at (803) 747-3090 or dwise5@scsu.edu.
SU Ag Center’s Cooperative Extension program implements new initiatives to help assist community
The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s Cooperative Extension Program has a motto, “Linking Citizens of Louisiana with Opportunities for Success.” The program is continually adding new initiatives to provide impactful information and services to the citizens of its state.
A few of these initiatives are:
- S.T.E.A.M. - The Youth Development’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) Program engages youths through career exploration and technology training, such as the youth drone certification program.
- JAGcation - This two-week experiential learning summer camp engages students ages 9-11 in hands-on agricultural activities in animal science, entomology, food science, nutrition, plant and soil sciences, and public health, among other topics.
- JAGFresh Farmers Market - The JAGFresh Farmers Market provides Southern University students, faculty and the Baton Rouge community with fresh eggs, beef, honey, hibiscus tea, fresh-cut plants and produce, such as greens grown by local farmers and producers. The mission of the market is to allow the community to have fresher food options closer to their home.
For additional information on these initiatives, visit www.suagcenter.com and click the Cooperative Extension tab.
Tennessee New Farmer Academy for farmers, ranchers, returning veterans
A new program developed at Tennessee State University is the Tennessee New Farmer Academy. The Tennessee New Farmer Academy is a seven-month certificate program designed for those with an interest in becoming agricultural entrepreneurs. Ideal candidates for this program include those who are new to agriculture, those who wish to transition into agriculture from another field, such as military service or private sector work, or those who are looking for a post-retirement opportunity.
The program focuses on teaching the concepts, providing the information and facilitating the hands-on experience needed to build solid, viable and successful agricultural businesses.
Over multiple sessions, you will learn to identify the appropriate enterprise for you and your farm, how to start your business and how to navigate the regulatory issues of the agricultural world. Additionally, you'll learn about some of the most effective marketing strategies like farmers markets and CSAs and how to apply for grants and other types of assistance available to new farmers.
A portion of each session will be dedicated to helping you establish and/or maintain productive and efficient operations, covering topics like soil health, livestock production, fruit and vegetable production, beekeeping, irrigation strategies, organic production, greenhouse management and hydroponics.
In addition to classroom instruction, the New Farmer Academy provides hands-on experiential sessions on topics such as fruit tree pruning and care, drip irrigation and plasticulture, fencing installation and repair, GPS/GIS mapping, sprayer calibration and equipment operation/safety.
UAPB initiates new programs thanks to USDA-NIFA 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) has initiated several Extension, research and education initiatives thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program.
One project aims to develop students into aquaculture/fisheries and Extension professionals. Student participants will have the opportunity to take part in in-house training, experiential learning, paid internships and conferences. Another aquaculture-related project addresses one of the main causes of substantial fish losses in aquaculture production – the buildup of toxic ammonia.
An education center will be established on the UAPB campus as a means of attracting underserved undergraduate students, as well as children and youths, to careers in agriculture. Both students and local producers will be trained in water conservation and other environmental practices at the center.
A project in the UAPB Department of Human Sciences aims to enhance the experiential learning of students through equipment and technology upgrades. This will include the adoption of state-of-the-art technology in the Child Development Center and upgrades to resources in the university’s food lab.
The goal of a project by the UAPB Department of Agriculture is to develop an interdisciplinary research program on biochar, a charcoal made from biomass such as plant residue or animal byproducts that can be used as a soil amendment to capture agricultural chemicals (antibiotics or heavy metals) in the local environment.
UMES hosts inaugural Maryland Agritourism Conference
Whether their ventures are on-farm markets, U-picks, pumpkin patches or farm breweries, a common theme emerged among the 200 attendees of the inaugural Maryland Agritourism Conference. The buzz was about how to keep farms profitable in the face of challenging economic times by incorporating value-added products and experiences on the farm while navigating the financial and regulatory hurdles.
When Mandy Prigel Castillo, owner of her family’s six-generational dairy farm, Prigel Family Farm, got the event notice, she said it was “perfect timing.”
“We’ve been involved in agritourism for the past 14 years when we opened our creamery to save the farm, but it’s getting harder to be sustainable,” Castillo said. “This event is an opportunity to see what others are doing and to explore collaborations so that we can grow the business.”
UMES hosted the conference for small farmers to network with peers and engage with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), and county tourism and economic development representatives to steps necessary to grow the industry in Maryland. Fueled by an agritourism research project and subsequent publication, the event is part of a broader initiative to strengthen the collaboration between government agencies, academic institutions and the agricultural community.
MDA Secretary Kevin Atticks’ keynote resonated with the audience: We have to “keep farms farming” by building on the support mechanism to develop agritourism and overcome regulatory hurdles.
WVSU helps agriculture workforce grow through NextGen Program
West Virginia State University (WVSU) Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, has initiated the Next Generation of WV Agriculture Professionals (NextGen) program.
This endeavor aims to develop a diverse and skilled workforce in the food and agriculture sectors. The program's strategy includes creating and disseminating a specialized agriculture curriculum for secondary education teachers throughout West Virginia, awarding scholarships to students in food, agriculture, natural resources and human (FANH) sciences at WVSU and providing FANH internships in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. These initiatives are designed to educate, engage and retain future FANH professionals, thereby enhancing the agricultural sector in West Virginia through a well-trained and committed workforce.
To date, NextGen has backed 33 projects across 24 states, with the participation of more than 60 academic institutions. This collaborative effort has resulted in the training of more than 20,000 aspiring leaders.
The program supports more than 36 disciplines, including management, agribusiness and industry, science and technology and others supportive of the food and agriculture sector. Each project is funded for five years, and the program has a total investment of $262.5 million. To learn more, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/nextgen.