Small Farmer Ag Institute continues third class

The 3rd class of the Small Farmer Ag Leadership Institute training took place at North Carolina A&T State University, March 18-20. 

More than 30 participants from 12 states gathered for hands-on learning in and out of the classroom. Classroom session presenters and topics included: Mike Lanier, Agribusiness agent, Orange County Center—How to Direct Market Local Farm Products; Robin Adams, director of agricultural communications, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, NC A&T SU—Make It Plain: Communication for Success; Gary S. Bullen, extension associate, North Carolina State University—Tools, and Methods of Evaluating a New Enterprise; Carmen Humphrey, chef, Marketing Grants and Technical Assistance Branch—An Overview of USDA/Agricultural Marketing Service and Programs that Benefit Small Farmers; and Michelle Eley, Extension, NC A&T SU—Establishing an Effective Marketing Plan. 

The trip culminated in a small farm tour of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. The small farm tour included visits to the high tunnels/greenhouse, blueberries/raspberries, crop rotation/livestock rotation and post-harvest handling facilities.  Immediately following the training session, positive feedbacks were noted on Facebook sites. 

First, the North Carolina CEFS had this to say: “Thanks to the Small Farm Leadership Institute for visiting CEFS today. Thirty-one folks from MS, LA, KY, SC, OK, TX, AR, CO, NC, FL, GA, MO and Al were repre-sented.” Available online on Facebook at:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cefspage?ref=mf 

Second came the headline: Trip to North Carolina Yields Immediate Benefits from Phoenix Gardens in Georgia. “Just got back from my AG Leadership session in North Carolina. Saw a lot of great stuff and got a TON of great information,” posted Brennan Washington on Facebook. 

Washington is continuing his journey as a member of Southern University's Agricultural Leadership Institute.

He continues to express his experience and knowledge gained. “The highlight of our session was a trip to a research farm jointly run by North Carolina A&T, North Carolina State University and local organizations. Among the things I saw was their swine opera-tion and their organic farm plots. Of particular interest to me were their high tunnel operations in which they were growing strawberries and other crops.” 

“We learned about a growing tube that we plan to put into use in our melon growing project this sum-mer. As is always the case, I came home with information that would immediately help me in my quest to sustainably grow food here in Law-renceville, Georgia. Thanks to Southern University and North Carolina A&T,” Brennan concluded. 

Visit the Phoenix Gardens site at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrenceville-GA/Phoenix-Gardens/193889153474#!/pages/Lawrenceville-GA/Phoenix-Gardens/193889153474 

Dawn Mellion-Patin, PhD, agriculture specialist, is director of the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Training Institute. 

New ag leadership institute featured on TWILA, LFB radio network

Agriculture specialist Dawn Mellion Patin, Ph.D., joined the cast of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture television show to discuss the new Louisiana Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute and the application process. The interview segment with reproter A.J. Sabine will also air on the Louisiana Farm Bureau Radio Network's 24 affiliate stations.

Tune in this Thursday (August 20) through next Wednesday on your local station to learn more about the institute's Sept. 1 application deadline.

Nationwide
RFD-TV Thursdays 3:30pm Central Time; and Fridays 1:30am Central Time
DirecTV Channel 345
Dish Network Channel 231
Baton Rouge
COX 4 Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m and Mon., Wed., Fri., at 8am
WAFB-TV 9 Sundays at 5am
KPBN-CH. 22 Monday-Thursday at 9:00am
LCN "Louisiana's Superstation" Cox 140 Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm Saturdays 8:30am

For other air times and stations, visit http://www.twilatv.org/whentowatch.html or http://www.lfbf.org/radionetwork.html

For more information on the institute, visit www.aginstitute.suagcenter.com or contact Mellion Patin at (225) 771-2242.

Tune In, Farmers!

Tune in this week to the Louisiana Agri-News Network on 107.3fm in Baton Rouge at 5:00 am to hear about the Ag Center's Louisiana Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute. Finally, a comprehensive training for Louisiana small farmers! 

Institute project director and ag specialist Dawn Mellion Patin, Ph.D., was interviewed by journalist Don Molino earlier today. For more information on the institute, visit www.aginstitute.suagcenter.com or contact Patin at (225) 771-2242.

Ag Institute opens for new applicants

Applications are now being accepted for the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute. The Institute is a two-year course of study specifically designed to guide small, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or minority farmers through the transformative process of becoming successful agricultural entrepreneurs. 

The deadline to apply is September 1. 

For more information, visit www.aginstitute.suagcenter.com or contact Dawn Mellion Patin,Ph.D., MBA, agricultural speciaist and Institute project director, at (225) 771-2242 ext. 201 or dawn_mellion@suagcenter.com

Who Moved My Cheese? session continues tomorrow

Part two of the Who Moved My Cheese seminar presentation will continue on tomorrow. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in this hands-on professional and personal development session. 

Participants completed a S.W.O.T analysis during Part 1. Session presenters Dawn Mellion-Patin, Ph.D, MBA, agricultural specialist, and Candace Semien, communications coordinator, said participants will develop individual plans on tomorrow to prepare for when "the cheese moves or is cut". 

"The interesting thing is that it does not pertain to cheese but life as we know it.  You need to hear it even if you have not read the book yet," said Bridget Udoh, Ph.D., communications specialist.

The presentation is tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, in the Ag Center, Room 191, at 3:30 p.m.

"Who Moved My Cheese?" presentation is part of the seminar series presented by faculty and staff of the Southern University Ag Center and the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences. The seminars are held every other Thursday at 3:30 p.m., free of charge and open to everyone. If you would like to present, or have questions, please contact James McNitt, Ph.D., at: (2325) 771-2262 ext. 270.

For information on the book, Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson, M.D., visit www.whomovedmycheese.com

Ag Leadership Institute graduates second class

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack presided over the graduation ceremony of 26 minority farmers from the Southern University Ag Center’s Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Training Institute.

The Institute is a two-year course of study that gives small, socially disadvantaged, limited resource and/or minority farmers the knowledge to become successful agricultural entrepreneurs. "President Obama recognizes that small farm operators are the custodians of about 48 percent of this nation's farm and ranch land," Vilsack said. "It's vital that we support programs such as this that provide the tools needed to promote the sustainability of small family farms."

This is the second class to graduate from the program with the first taking place in 2007.

Throughout the course, participants studied a broad range of agriculturally-important topics, including the effects of global agriculture on the U.S. economy; leadership and analytical skills; business management and marketing, communications; and public policy.

The program is unique in that it is the only one in the country specifically targeting minority, socially disadvantaged and limited resource agricultural producers. Participants were from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Maryland and North Carolina.

The most dynamic aspect of the Institute is the relationships that have been built. “Each session I sit back and watch the participants interact, assist and motivate each other as if they have known one another forever. The camaraderie is phenomenal," said Dawn Mellion-Patin, Ph.D., institute director and Ag Center agriculture specialist.

The Southern University Ag Center has collaborated with the Southern University Law Center, Alcorn State University Small Farm Development Center, Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program, and North Carolina A&T State University Cooperative Extension Program to bring the Institute to the farmers in various locations.

The ceremony was held at the USDA headquarters, in the Jamie L. Whitten Building on March 27. USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service administers and funds the program through the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program, which teaches participants the enhanced decision-making skills and leadership development to become successful agribusiness managers and community leaders. Patin is currently pursuing multiple funding sources to sustain this unique institute. For more information on the Institute, visit www.aginstitute.suagcenter.com.

By Bridget Udoh, Ph.D.
Communications Specialist

Ag Institute graduates 26 with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack

WASHINGTON DC--US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack congratulated the 26 graduates of Southern University Ag Center's Small Farm Agricultural Leadership Institute. The Institute's program director and Ag Center agricultural specialist Dawn Mellion-Patin,Ph.D., MBA, said this unique program helps farmers become proactive leaders and producers. Patin is developing a curriculum for the third Institute class. AJ Sabine covers the ceremony in Washington DC for This Week in Louisiana Agriculture. The show is broadcasted nationally by the Louisiana Farm Bureau.






For more information on the Institute, visit www.aginstitute.suagcenter.com or contact Patin at (225) 771-2242.

Ag Center to appear on This Week in Louisiana Agriculture

Tune in to "This Week in Louisiana Agriculture" Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15 to see a segment on agricultural science program at Capitol High Academy. Southern University Ag Center's specialists and researchers are introducing Baton Rouge inner-city youth to agriculture through plant science and research. The class recently harvested greens and held a school market selling their produce to the community just in time for Thanksgiving. "This Week in Louisiana Agriculture" air time varies by location, so please review the listing below:

In Baton Rouge:
COX 4 Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m
WAFB-TV 9 Sundays at 5 a.m.
KPBN-CH. 22 Monday-Thursday at 9 a.m.

St. Francisville:
Weeknights at 8 p.m. on Ch 21

Lafayette:
COX 4 Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m.
KATC-TV3 Sundays at 6:30 a.m.

Alexandria:
KALB-TV5 Saturdays at 5:35 a.m.

Shreveport:
KPXJ UPN 21 Saturdays at 5 a.m.

Lake Charles:
KPLC Saturdays at 5:30 a.m.

Monroe
KNOE-TV Sundays at 5:30 p.m.

Opelousas
KDCG-TV 22 Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 a.m.

Hammond
Southeastern Ch 13
Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Thursdays at 6:30 a.m.
Sundays at 8 a.m.

For more information on this project contact Renita Marshall, DVM, Owusu Bandele, Ph.D., Dawn Patin Ph.D., or LaShounda Anderson Ph.D. at 225-771-2242.

USDA Awards $300,000 for Training and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced Dec. 9 that USDA is awarding more than $14 million in grants to organizations throughout the country that will provide training and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center will receive $300,000 in funding to support the Small Farmer Agricultural Leadership Institute.

The Institute is a two year, course of study specifically designed to guide small, socially disadvantaged, limited resource farmers or minority farmers through the transformative process of becoming successful agricultural entrepreneurs, said Dawn Mellion Patin, PhD, MBA, institute director and agricultural specialist. The institute currently has 34 participants and has graduated 58 farmers from 14 states.

According to USDA, the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) grant program enables socially disadvantaged producers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and ranches, and to assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs. A socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice without regard to their individual qualities.



Generally, socially disadvantaged producers who participate in OASDFR-funded projects develop profitable new farming or ranching practices, receive loans more rapidly, increase their farm or ranch income, continue farming or ranching longer and are less likely to go out of business.

This has been the case for the Southern University Ag Center's Institute graduates, said Patin. Graduates have been appointed to the advisory boards of Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education and Southern Region Risk Management Education programs, as well as, to state and local advisory boards and taskforces in 8 states. “They have been invited to serve as panelists and keynote speakers at conferences all across the country. They are serving as model farmers in several states and their farms are used demonstration sites. Three graduates have been selected as Small Farmers of the Year for their states.”

Graduates have also started farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture initiatives and are featured in educational videos.

“Most importantly, (the graduates are) taking back to their communities what they have learned and sharing with others.” For more information visit,http://aginstitute.suagcenter.com or contact Patin at (225) 771-2242 ext. 201.