NCR-SARE is pleased to announce the projects recommended for funding for the Professional Development competitive grant program. For the 2024 Professional Development Program, NCR-SARE awarded more than $1.29 million to 11 projects.
NCR-SARE Professional Development Program competitive grants emphasize training agricultural educators in extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, non-profit organizations, and other public and private sector organizations. The following awarded projects are in order by state and then by the last name:
- Shelly Connor with Wild Farm Alliance in Watsonville, CA was awarded $110,767 to work with agricultural professionals in Minnesota on the project, “Empowering Agricultural Professionals in The Midwest to Support Beneficial Birds and Discourage Pest Birds.”
- Erica Goodman with American Farmland Trust in Washington, D.C. was awarded $119,462 to work with service providers in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio on the project, “Protecting The Great Lakes Through a Farm Navigator Network.”
- Adam Janke with Iowa State University in Ames, IA was awarded $120,000 for the project, “Advancing Conservation Professional's Skills at The Agriculture And Conservation Interface.”
- Kevin Allison with Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District in Indianapolis, IN was awarded $120,000 for the project, “Building Capacity Among Indiana Conservation Partners to Leverage Newly Developed Tools to Assist Small-Scale Soil Health Practitioners.”
- Laura Downey with Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) in Manhattan, KS was awarded $116,902 for the project, “Integrating Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture Into K-12 Education Through Professional Development.”
- Cary Rivard with Kansas State University in Olathe, KS was awarded $119,962 for the project, “Delivering Professional Development & Networking Opportunities for Urban Agriculture Professionals in The North Central Region.”
- Adria Fernandez with Dr. Julie Grossman's Soil Agroecology lab at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul, MN was awarded $119,760 for the project, “Trainer Education and Capacity-Building to Support Emerging Farmers’ Adoption of Soil Health Practices.” This project has been named the 2024 Paula Ford Professional Development Program Proposal of the Year. From 1991-1997, Dr. Ford served as the Program Coordinator for the Southern Region SARE program. She was the NCR-SARE Professional Development Program Coordinator at Kansas State University for 11 years (1999-2009) and supported sustainable agriculture and SARE for more than 20 years. The Administrative Council created the 'Paula Ford Professional Development Program Proposal of the Year award to honor Dr. Ford's contributions to NCR-SARE. One Professional Development Program-funded project in the North Central Region is given this special designation each year. The region selects the project that best exemplifies Dr. Ford's contributions and passion for evaluation, professional development and/or science-based research.
- Stephanie Blumhagen with FARRMS in Minot, ND was awarded $108,774 for the project, “Growing Farm Sustainability in ND Through Collaborative Professional Development for Small Business Advisors.”
- Amy Schmidt with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, NE was awarded $118,300 for the project, “Cultivating Connections Between Resilient Agricultural Land and Healthy Natural Resources.”
- Alpa Goswami with Marbleseed in Spring Valley, WI was awarded $118,629 for the project, “Honoring Our Elders.”
- Philip Kauth with REAP Food Group in Madison, WI, was awarded $119,102 for the “Farms To Institutions Conference.”
View NCR-SARE’s other 2024 funded projects and their descriptions online at https://northcentral.sare.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant/ (scroll to the bottom of the page).
NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council (AC) members decide which projects will receive SARE funds. A collection of farm and non-farm citizens, the AC includes a diverse mix of regional agricultural stakeholders. Council members hail from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.