Collaborative Planning for Upcoming Ag Forum

SFREC News

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Updates on agriculture and natural resource topics from the Sierra Foothills

Author: Maddison Easley

Published on: September 21, 2013

Community leaders drove out to Browns Valley to help plan this ag forum.

On Tuesday, September 10^th, community leaders representing multiple agriculture and conservation groups met at the Sierra Foothill Research & Extension Center to help structure a forum to be held in February 2014. Advisory members include staff from multiple organizations and agencies, including NRCS, Farm Bureau, UC CE, and Cattlemen's. Additionally, individual producers, business owners, RCD administrators, teachers, and entrepreneurs involved with local agriculture have contributed input to ensure this forum will provide meaningful information in a useful format.

In a nutshell, SFREC aims to bring together past, present, and future agriculturists and conservationists in the region who have an interest in discussing the opportunities and challenges associated with farming and ranching in this area and where the industry is headed in the coming years. The intended outcomes include:

A compelling contribution to the existing extension efforts to create connections and interest in agriculture
A tool to promote and enable the transfer of knowledge and skills from seasoned professionals to those entering and planning a career pathway in farming and ranching
An enhanced awareness of the role of local agriculture in a broader sense

This historic photo shows a hands-on learning event with students and beef cattle previously hosted at SFREC.

This historic photo shows a hands-on learning event for youth previously hosted at SFREC.

The involvement of youth is a central component of the forum. Through collaboration with farmers, ranchers, and agency representatives, high-school aged students from adjacent counties will learn and share information about specific topics under the theme of “The Future of Farming and Ranching in the Sierra Foothills”.

“As a retired ag teacher, I have seen the struggle that students experience between simply having the desire to go into farming or ranching, and grasping the realistic details involved with that livelihood. Working with local producers who have the first-hand experience and know-how will be a great learning opportunity for our future agriculturists,” said Karen Henderson, advisory committee member and Live Wire Products representative.

Jeremy James, SFREC Director, puts his thoughts onto paper near the river.

Being the first of this type of event at SFREC, staff and advisory committee members want to ensure that it is well planned and executed.

Be on the lookout for more information and marketing flyers for this inaugural event at the Sierra Foothill Research & Extension Center.

Tags: Community (8), Education (31), Future (7), Outreach (31), SFREC (72), UCANR (42), UCCE (19), Workshop (20)

Comments: 2

Comments:

by Charles A Raguse

on September 22, 2013 at 7:28 AM

It is very heartening to read this post. There may still be a bright future for the SFREC. a careful reading of the three "intended outcomes" places emphasis on restoring the faded capability of the "Station" as an active, productive, and forward-looking field research facility, i.e., one that will lend credibility to the promise of "A compelling contribution...", "A tool to promote...", and "An enhanced awareness...". The folks who will attend the forum to be held in February 2014 need to actually see that the SFREC can, in short, deliver on its promises.
Kudos to Maddison Easley! I hereby cast my vote for her as future Director of the SFREC! Or, at very least, Superintendent! Keep it going, Maddison. We need you!

by Charles A Raguse

on September 22, 2013 at 9:57 AM

More on this post: I am trying to figure out who is that dude standing down by the Yuba taking notes on something. Could be there is a salmon run, and he is counting them as they head up the river to spawn. (Greg Pasternack might know who he is, as Greg does research on the salmon redds on the river). Looks like there's a cold breeze coming up the canyon (note the ruffles on the water and how that loose sheet on the salmon run counter's clipboard is curling up). Time to head up to the Pavilion and warm up by the fireplace!