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INVESTIGATOR: Mesko, J.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
SUSTAINABLE FARMING ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA
9747 70TH AVE
MILACA, MINNESOTA 56353

DEEP ROOTS: THOUGHTFUL, COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: For the past 25 years, the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) has helped to develop beginning farmers. During that time, SFA has learned a great deal about what makes for success in beginning farming operations. As we review the past 25 years of work in new farmer development, we see 2 closely connected disturbing trends in agriculture today: 1) many beginning farmers lack the support, skills and savvy to successfully launch and sustain farm businesses for more than 5 years; and 2) as a result, there is a constant cycle of new farmers entering the market but never realizing their full potential. This trend is leading to fragmented rural communities and over-worked and underpaid farmers who rarely overcome the mechanical solidarity issues and have a successful rural life."Deep Roots: Thoughtful, Comprehensive, Community-Based Beginning Farmer Training" takes a proven beginning farmer training model, increases its appeal and functionality by adding an online component and places beginning farmer training in the context of a 25 year old Farmer-to-Farmer Network.Deep Roots is designed for individuals who want to work in sustainable farming as independent producers. Typically, sustainable agriculture programs attract nontraditional audiences including women, older students, underrepresented minorities and new American populations. These programs are also suitable for individuals with a conventional farming background who want to transition toward sustainability as well as for individuals who want to farm but have no family background or direct experience in the field.For all these audiences, the need is to rebuild connections between people and land so that food can be produced in a way that optimizes productivity without compromising future capacity to produce food. Although in Minnesota, for example, agriculture and food processing make up one-fifth of the State's economy, the number of students entering mainstream agricultural programs in colleges and universities has been steadily falling for decades. The need for the nation is to rekindle engagement with food production on a small scale where individuals can reasonably plan for a career on a commercially viable farming operation. These small growers in concert with large scale industrial farmers are all necessary partners in a comprehensive food production system.

OBJECTIVES: Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability principles.Proposed activities: We will develop and conduct online courses designed for students to experience deep learning by reading the classic agrarian literature. Students will read about the ecological, social, and economic processes inherent in sustainable agriculture as offered by a variety of time-tested and respected authors. Wendell Berry, Joel Salatin, Gene Logsdon, Wes Jackson and other authors will be read and discussed, with key learnings internalized into business planning phases of the training. The point is to have students study the concept and theory; observe it on mentor farms; engage necessary practices in farm skills workshops; and then to institute natural systems agriculture on their own farms. Experience and apply a diversity of sustainable food production methods and skills.Proposed activities: We will engage our students in real world hands on farm skills training at SFA member farms. Topic material will include: safe and humane animal handling, farm equipment operation, maintenance and safety, fencing, season extension, basic farm construction, tools and management and more.

APPROACH: Deep Roots students experience deep learning by reading classic agrarian literature. We have found that repetition of concepts, theories and practices is critical for developing the deep roots of foundational knowledge of sustainable practices. Students will read about the ecological, social, and economic processes inherent in sustainable agriculture as offered by a variety of time­ tested and respected authors. For example, Wendell Berry's Bringing It To The Table and The Gift of Good Land are collections of agrarian essays that help build a broad understanding of our agricultural and food system issues by offering real­ world case study alternatives to the industrial commodity production model. Joel Salatin's You Can Farm provides information outlining basic principles such as enterprise stacking to maximize productivity on a relatively small acreage.Gene Logsdon's The Contrary Farmer and All Flesh Is Grass reinforce principles and practices of pasture ­based livestock agriculture, crop rotations and woodlot management. Students will read about these principles, discuss them with peers and instructors, and see them on working farms. A final example, in Wes Jackson's Consulting the Genius of the Place and Sir Albert Howard's An Agricultural Testament, students engage the concept of natural systems agriculture. Students will observe biodiverse agricultural systems that sponsor their own fertility, rely as much as possible on contemporary solar energy collection, and provide for natural population control methods.The point is to have students study the concept and theory, observe it on mentor farms, engage necessary practices in farm skills workshops, and ultimately institute natural systems agriculture on their own farms.Using this liberal arts perspective that includes reading the classics will help our students connect their values­ based intentions to specific farming activities and opportunities. This is important to assisting students to understand sustainability.We will engage our students in real ­world, hands ­on farm skills training at SFA member farms, taught by experts in the field. Topics will include: safe and humane animal handling, farm equipment operation, maintenance and safety, fencing, season extension, basic farm construction, tools and management.SFA has over 2,800 contacts who regularly receive program announcements and communication. The SFA Connect Newsletter is an important means of connecting farmers throughout the region on issues of interest to beginning farmers. SFA has nine regional chapters throughout the state, all of which are committed to promoting the Deep Roots program as a part of SFA's mission. These regional chapters are located in the small, rural communities that are regularly seeking new farmers. The past and current students enrolled in the Sustainable Food Production program have been and are expected to be consistent recruiters, lending firsthand experience to the process.

PROGRESS: 2014/12 TO 2015/12
Target Audience:During this project, we focused our efforts on those individuals who do not have direct access to a farming operation in thier immediate or extended family. Most of our participants were from non-farming backgrounds. Several of our students were mid-career professionals seeking an alternative to their current work situation. We also reached many urban residents with our messages around local food and food security. One of our significant accomplishments has been raising awareness of the need to re-populate and re-energize rural communities through agriculture. Changes/Problems:In discussion with our students we found they were most interested in live classroom sessions. Because of scheduling and distance issues for students, we typically utilized a hybrid class delivery. We created an inviting classroom atmosphere for those able to participate in person utilizing social media (Google Hangout) for distance students. We also utilized social media (closed Facebook groups) in an asynchronous manner to discuss core concepts. In addition, we hosted Deep Roots sessions at the SFA Annual Conference and the Minnesota Department of Agricultural Organic Conference. Most of the class sessions have involved students who have a few years of experience in addition to the rank beginners, providing for vibrant conversations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have had a number of interactions with the University of Minnesota Extension Staff, who are looking for this kind of hands on training. Interestingly, ag support professionals, just like farmers, are frequently coming into the profession from non-farming backgrounds. Deeproots training is an effective "catch up" tool to help new ag support professionals understand basic farming teminology and practice. In this reporting period, we did not program specifically for professinal development as an outcome, however, we did have ag professionals in our courses, and we anticipate pursuing additional programming in this area in the future How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through our e-newsletter, SFA Connect. This newsletter is sent biweekly to over 2800 farmers, supporters and agriculture professionals in the US. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

IMPACT: 2014/12 TO 2015/12
What was accomplished under these goals? In discussion with our students we found they were most interested in live classroom sessions. Because of scheduling and distance issues for students, we typically utilized a hybrid class delivery. We created an inviting classroom atmosphere for those able to participate in person utilizing social media (Google Hangout) for distance students. We also utilized social media (closed Facebook groups) in an asynchronous manner to discuss core concepts. In addition, we hosted Deep Roots sessions at SFA events and the Minnesota Department of Agricultural Organic Conference. Most of the class sessions have involved students who have a few years of experience in addition to the rank beginners, providing for vibrant conversations. Deeproots Selcted Readings: Stockmen's Grass Farmer, selected articles, Greg Judy's Comeback Farms, Joel Salatin's You Can Farm, Masanobu Fukuoka's One Straw Revolution, Joel Salatin's Field of Farmers, Wendell Berry's The Gift of Good Land Observation and practice: Deep Roots instructors hosted FS101 students on individualized intensive farm visits. As students explore best-fits for their own farm enterprises, they gain advanced hands-on experiences on DR mentor farms. As well, these individualized farm sessions allow time for deep discussion of the scientific, economic, social and philosophical aspects of farming. DR instructors are mentoring and incubating these beginning farmers in the context of trusting relationships. Summary of Deep Roots Evaluations 10/17/2015 Program Evaluation Weak (1) to Strong (6) Avg. understanding before Avg. understanding after Avg. improvement Use of basic carpentry tools 2.7 3.8 1.2 Tools and materials of fencing 1.8 4.3 2.5 Techniques & strategies of permanent high tensile perimeter fence 1.2 3.8 2.7 Techniques & strategies of temporary, energized fencing systems 2.3 4.7 2.3 Relationships among fencing, grazing strategy, animal training & animal selection 2.2 4.2 2.0 Handling and appropriate restraint of farm animals 2.7 4.3 1.7 Foundational health assessment of ruminants 2.0 3.8 1.8 Farmstead butchering 2.5 4.5 2.0 Wheel bearing, brake and electrical assessment of farm trailer 1.3 3.8 2.5 Elemental farm equipment use (3-point, PTO, hydraulic, etc.) 1.0 3.0 2.0 Elemental equipment maintenance, incl. Fluid changes 1.7 2.5 0.8 Grazing management 2.2 4.0 1.8 Not at all (1) to To a great extent (6) Average Rating Importance to gather in a community on a farm to learn about common farm skills 5.8 importance to be "hands-on" and practice skills being taught 5.8 Extent you feel you can use ideas or skills you learned 5.5 Extent that size of class was appropriate 5.8 Extent recommended reading useful for understanding application of skills and strategies taught in class 5.3 Not at all (1) to To a great extent (6) Average Presenter Rating Educator presented subject matter clearly 5.5 Educator encouraged active participation in learning 6.0 Educator encouraged questions and treated them respectfully 5.8 Educator demonstrated good understanding of how topics apply to real world 5.8 Comments from students What aspect of course empowered you the most? Empowerment itself: the method of "here's just enough to go on. Now figure it out, and I won't help until you absolutely need it, and making mistakes is to be expected, so don't feel stupid." Really got me over some self-consciousness bumps. The diverse hands-on experiences, many things I never would have tried on my own, & patient instructors. Learning to handle the tractor and equipment, and the butchering/processing. Everything about the three weekends was amazing. I really felt empowered working with the high tensile fencing. I have never build or worked with anything like that and I feel I have a great understanding of where and how to build fences. The building of fences, both smaller paddox as well as the high tensile. Working with people that are farming made the work seem second nature. I felt like a partner and that I really could do this too! The practical application of basic grazing concepts is very empowering. What motivated you to attend this course? The desire for more hands-on experience, so that, on Day One of our own farm, I have some idea of where to begin. Also prior, impressive encounters with all three teachers. Curious to learn what "I don't know that I don't know," & to see how much I enjoy (or not) full days of farm work. The hands on, small size, weekend format. Also a saprkling reco from Jason Walker which I'm super grateful for. (: I was motivated to take this class because it is hands on and on a farm. I wanted to incorporate goats into my farm and this class seemed to help beginning farmers. A strong desire to become proficient in the skillsets to keep a dairy goat in the best condition, & encouragement from Sue. I've been caring for goals for several years and wanted to take my interest to the next level. I've been interested in moving to MN so wanted to build my network. What would you tell someone else about this course? Marvelous, patient, attentive, caring instructors, who really want to help you succeed in farming, with a good sense of the many possibilities open to you, will put you through a wide-ranging crash course. The least time wasted and the best spent of the courses & workshops I've attended. Learn things that you think you know how to do (but don't really) & things that you would never think about attempting on your own. It helped me narrow down what tools & practices I want/don't on my own farm plan & exposed me to things I didn't know I needed to be prepared for. That it rocks! You guys are awesome. This was an intensive amount of material but we covered it in a really digestible and fun way. Super duper valuable for anyone thinking about farm anything. It is an amazing hands on course and you meet a community of like minded people to help you pursue a career in farming. Loved every moment - whether it pushed me out of my comfort That it is a phenomenal experience that will allow them to have access to all aspects of farming in a supportive environment, while getting strong foundations in the intellectual philosophies of sustainable farming. A course to provide technical skills and community support for your farming endeavors.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2014/12 TO 2015/12
No publications reported this period.