Building Capacity to Engage Latinos in Local Food Systems in the Heartland

Project Overview

ENC06-089
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2006: $75,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2009
Region: North Central
State: Kansas
Project Coordinator:
Dr. Gerad Middendorf
Kansas State University

Annual Reports

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems

    Proposal abstract:

    The target audience for this project includes professional educators and technical service providers in Iowa and Kansas with Cooperative Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other agencies.

    Project outcomes include the following. In the short-term professionals will gain:
    a) Increased awareness of Latinos as valued community members and current/future farmers, and awareness of opportunities in local food systems,
    b) Improved skills in engaging Latino audiences, and in analyzing and developing local food systems,
    c) Ability to integrate knowledge and skills gained to develop strategies for sustained support programs.

    In the intermediate term, professionals will apply knowledge and skills acquired to:
    a) Identify/respond to goals of Latino farm families,
    b) Develop and implement a farmer mentoring system and a training program in sustainable production for Latino audiences,
    c) Identify and connect to local markets, and
    d) Develop strategies for maintaining engagement in support of Latino farm families.

    The long-term vision is successful Latino farmers engaged in local food systems. Project activities include:
    a) Multicultural training sessions on working with Latino farm families,
    b) Experiential learning visits,
    c) Team building activities in pilot communities,
    d) Training in local food systems.

    Evaluative information for assessing outcomes includes:
    a) Pre-activity surveys to establish a baseline of participant knowledge and skill levels,
    b) Post-activity surveys to assess increase in awareness/knowledge/skills,
    c) Documenting the number and demographics of participants in project activities, and
    d) Documenting change in behavior from experiential learning visits, the multicultural training and the local foods training.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    The intended short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes are presented in the Logic Model. The outcome chain, connected to the key activities, is presented below.

    Short-Term Outcomes. Professionals will gain the following awareness, knowledge, attitudes and skills:
    •Increased awareness of Latinos as valued community members and current/future farmers – Experiential learning visits and multicultural training sessions.
    •Improved skills in engaging Latino audiences – Experiential learning visits and multicultural training sessions.
    •Awareness of economic opportunities in local food systems – Experiential learning visits and training in local food systems.
    •Improved understanding and skills in assessing, analyzing and gaining resources for local food production systems – Training in local food systems.
    •Improved understanding and skills in marketing and business development strategies, including value added, appropriate to local food systems – Training in local food systems and local team-building activities.
    •Ability to integrate knowledge and skills described above to develop a strategy for sustained support programs – Local team-building activities and facilitated planning session.

    Intermediate-Term Outcomes. As a result of new awareness, knowledge, attitudes and skills, professionals will develop the following new behaviors, practices and policies, in collaboration with Latino farm families and local leaders:
    •Identify and respond to the goals of local Latino farm families – Multicultural training sessions
    •Develop and implement a farmer mentoring system – Training in local food systems and local team-building activities.
    •Develop and implement production practices that contribute to local food systems – Training in local food systems and local team-building activities.
    •Identify and connect to local markets – Training in local food systems and local team-building activities.
    •Develop strategies for maintaining engagement, education and technical services in support of Latino farm families – Local team-building activities and facilitated planning session.
    •Develop and maintain new, multi-stakeholder partnerships engaged in local food system development – Local team-building activities and facilitated planning session.

    Long-Term Outcomes (systemic changes, not within the timeframe of this project). Changes in educator behavior, practices and policies will, in the long term, lead to the following systemic changes (in the next 3-5 years but not in the timeframe of this project):
    •Successful Latino farmers engaged in local food systems.
    •Sustained institutional engagement in education and technical services in support of Latino farm families.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.