NTAE 2023-2024 Yearbook

2023–2024 YEARBOOK

New Technologies for AG Extension

Grant projects improve human, environmental, & community health.

PUBLISHED BY

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

Welcome.

PUBLICATIONS

This yearbook is a publication of the New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program. It showcases the groundbreaking work of Extension professionals across the nation who received funding for their projects from NTAE, a grant program from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), in partnership with the University of New Hampshire. From technology-driven solutions to community-focused initiatives, these projects are transforming the way Extension serves its constituents. You’ll read about some long-time NTAE grant recipients, such as the team creating an educational cartoon about pollinators—and some new-to-NTAE teams, such as the one developing a curriculum to support kinship caregivers. All of our Extension colleagues represented in these pages are experts in their fields and passionate about what they do. Join us in celebrating their dedication and innovation as you read inspiring stories, learn from valuable lessons, and explore the future of Extension through the breadth and impact of NTAE-funded projects. We sincerely thank the dedicated teams whose work made this yearbook possible and USDA NIFA for its continued support of Extension’s innovative work. Discover the power of innovation in the 2023–2024 NTAE Yearbook.

Editorial & Evaluation Julie Halverson Dr. Rose Hayden-Smith Heather Martin

Design & Production Dr. Rose Hayden-Smith

Ellen P. Krugel Heather Martin

© Extension Foundation Creative Commons Attribution-NonCom- mercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). Published by Extension Foundation. Citations for this publication may be made using the following: Kansas City: Extension Foundation (2024). New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE): 2023–2024 Yearbook (1st ed). ISBN: 978-1-955687-50-8 This work, ISBN 978-1-955687-50-8, is supported by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. NTAE-SC-2023-2343 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommen- dations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Website extension.org

Beverly Coberly, PhD Chief Executive Officer

Contact Bryan Cave LLP One Kansas City Place

1200 Main Street, Suite 3800 Kansas City, MO 64105-212

Ashley Griffin, MS Chief Operating Officer

The New Technologies for Ag Extension initiative gives critical financial support and guidance to Cooperative Extension’s groundbreaking work in cities and rural areas across the country.

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

Table of Contents

ABOUT THE EXTENSION FOUNDATION The Extension Foundation is an expansive network that encompasses over 32,000 Extension educators. Established in 2006 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, its primary role is to strengthen Cooperative Extension System (CES) Land-grant university initiatives through the delivery of digital and mobile programs, facilitation of professional development opportunities, and cultivation of innovative solutions. Founded by Extension directors and administrators, the Founda- tion was established to empower CES by offering technologies that provide information to the public through Extension communities of practice. Today, the Foundation partners with CES in liaison roles and through a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy. The partnership increases system capacity while providing programmatic services, helping Extension programs scale and investigate new methods and models for implementing programs. The Extension Foundation also plays a vital role in promoting technology adoption within Cooperative Extension. With funding from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Foundation provides leadership in the field of artificial intelligence and administers commercial systems for nationwide use. PURPOSE We help Cooperative Extension professionals find innovative ways to generate greater local impact. VISION To serve as a critical partner to the Cooperative Extension System and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy on national issues that result in increased system capacity, scalable programs and initiatives, and greater visibility and impacts

About the Extension Foundation

Unlocking New Possibilities

Program Action Teams

Extension Foundation Team

Opportunity & Obligation: Extension educators make diversity and equity programming imperatives

Taking Care of our Care Givers: Educational programs support mental health & kinship care group facilitators

Under Pressure: Teams work to relieve stresses on urban and rural economies

Where Credit is Due: Projects raise the profile of and expand Extension’s value

Meet Them Where They Are: Two ed-tech projects hang out in young learners’ spaces and speak their languages

Climate Care: Approaching climate change education with open minds & empathy

Farming’s Future: Three projects aim to make agricultural technology adoption easier and less expensive

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

Unlocking New Possibilities The New Technologies for Ag

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES NTAE support enables the Foundation to ensure that CES has access to cutting-edge technology tools and information and to promote the adoption of these technologies. This grant year, the Foundation was particularly focused on AI. It organized an AI track that featured 12 workshops for the National Extension Technology Conference. Conference attendees were introduced to ExtensionBot, a national initiative that leverages machine learning and AI to amass data from the CES ecosystem and answer questions directly and accurately, “ExtensionBot is Here To Help” highlights how Oklahoma State University is using ExtensionBot— an artificial intelligence tool developed by the Extension Foundation and Eduworks Corporation. In the six months after ExtensionBot begin beta testing on April 1, 2024, 2,928 people at OSU Extension started conversations with the bot, which answered 5,242 questions and cited 6,535 fact sheets and other works for further reading and potential connection to Extension personnel.

Extension (NTAE) initiative drives innovation in Extension and creates meaningful impact in communities.

high-impact projects ranged from addressing environmental issues to supporting technology adoption to promoting rural and urban economic development. In 2023–2024, the first year of the UNH NTAE cycle, 21 teams received a total of about $740,000 in grants through a competitive process. These projects were led by CES faculty or staff embedded in local communities. Throughout the year, teams received comprehensive coaching and resources to enhance their work, team

NTAE is a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, in partnership with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and with services provided by the Extension Foundation. The goal of NTAE is to incubate, accelerate, expand, and scale promising work that will increase the impact of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) in the communities it serves and provide and promote models that can be adopted or adapted by Extension projects and programs across the nation. NTAE also supports the development and dissemination of technologies that enhance CES’s capacity, including artificial intelligence (AI). From 2019–2023, the Extension Foundation received a subaward from Oklahoma State University to support a diverse range of NTAE work. In that period, 72 teams received funding, augmented with support and resources provided by the Foundation. These teams’

including half a million questions asked and answered in Ask Extension (Formerly Ask An Expert). This AI tool not only has gained widespread attention throughout CES, it is becoming a powerful tool to connect communities with their local Extension professionals and resources. Workshops also addressed data collection from Land-grant universities, education and training on best practices for AI use, and data governance. The AI keynote attracted over 400 attendees, while individual sessions drew over 350 participants.

The Foundation also hosted professional development events focused on AI, including an overview of the organization’s AI work. Connect — In addition, NTAE teams were encouraged to join Connect Extension, a social media platform that has become a valuable resource for the nearly 8,000 Extension professionals who have joined it. Through the platform, teams can share resources, participate in professional development, and collaborate with their colleagues in various subgroups.

dynamics, and overall impact. Catalysts (many of whom are

retired Extension directors) and Key Informants (experienced Extension leaders and subject matter experts) provided tailored guidance and support in eight critical areas: • emerging technologies • leadership and team development • innovation and skill building • marketing and communications • evaluation • digital engagement and publishing • partnerships and development • program design and educational technology

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

“

INNOVATION AND SKILL BUILDING Each NTAE team participated in one of two Impact Collaborative Summits. These dynamic virtual events were designed to enhance

Committee on Organization and Policy’s Program Action Teams. By providing essential skills, tools, resources, and partnerships, the Impact Collaborative equipped teams to supercharge their work and maximize project impact.

I enjoy feeling like I’m not the only one encountering obstacles. I also love the positive energy from the Summit. It’s like a slingshot for our projects! —Kara Maddox, Team Lead “Using Animated Pollinator Video to Educate Underserved Populations,” University of Georgia/KJM Digital Our team greatly benefited from the Impact Collaborative Summit in two ways: First, articulating our project to others in a simple and acces- sible way was an excellent exercise for us to reflect on and refine our ideas and get feedback. Second, hearing about other people’s projects, ideas, and strategies was inspiring. —Matheus Cezarotto, Team Lead

project readiness and foster innovation for current NTAE projects and the Extension

The “Healthy Teams Handbook,” published by the Extension Foundation, offers practical strategies for building and maintaining high-performing collaborative teams. The handbook complements the Team Health Dashboard, a research- backed tool created by the Extension Foundation for NTAE teams.

LEADERSHIP AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT NTAE supports national leadership

a four-part virtual educational series was developed, marketed, and delivered. Bradley also worked with the Joint Council of Extension Professionals Extension Leadership Conference planning committee to tailor content and training, and delivered the opening and closing workshops for 400 CES professionals. NTAE team members also attended workshops on building high- performing teams, leading teams in hybrid and virtual settings, and developing healthy teams.

capacity development, an effort led by the Foundation’s leadership development specialist, Karl Bradley. Bradley provided essential support as a speaker and facilitator at national, state, and regional gatherings within the Land-grant system. A key leadership focus this year was supporting 1994 institutions through collaboration with the First Americans Land-grant Consortium, a nonprofit affiliated with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. With NTAE support,

“Night of the Living Debt,” New Mexico State University Learning Games Lab

An Innovation Skill Building Experience Workbook is available as a resource for Impact Collaborative participants, and is used by NTAE incubation teams to help in their planning processes.

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLISHING

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems hold great potential for Extension because they offer a centralized platform for managing interactions with the public, leading to more effective communication, outreach, and engagement. Aaron Weibe, the Extension Foundation’s communication and engagement manager, as part of his doctoral research explored the challenges that prevent CES from using CRMs more widely. He discusses how the technology acceptance model can be leveraged to increase CRM success rates within Extension. Dr. Weibe’s dissertation, “A Qualitative Investigation of the Technology Acceptance Model in the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service on the Adoption of Customer Relationship Management Systems,” was published by the Extension Foundation. It provides specific and actionable insights to improve

Subject matter experts in this cat- egory provided comprehensive publishing services, such as editing, ghostwriting, and producing digi- tal publications that showcased the impact of NTAE projects—as the 2022–2023 Yearbook did in the previous NTAE Grant year.

technology acceptance in Extension organizations.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS The Foundation’s marketing and communications Key Informants provided essential support for NTAE project success, focusing on market research, creative development, media analysis, audience engagement, and strategic communication. In addition, they offered technical assistance with such tools as Connect Extension, email marketing platforms, and Customer Relationship Management systems.

PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAM DESIGN AND EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Teams had access to expertise in curriculum developmentand digital and online content creation, instructional design, and professional development event planning.

The Foundation played a crucial role in expanding NTAE project reach by supporting teams in forging new partnerships, engaging with key organizations, and cultivating new funding opportunities.

EVALUATION Key Informant Julie Halverson supported teams in developing and implementing effective evaluation strategies. This included creating logic models, refining target populations and outreach efforts,

and connecting teams with relevant resources. By providing guidance in these areas, Evaluation helped teams measure their progress and make data-driven improvements.

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

AN HISTORIC SUMMIT The New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program this year provided essential support to the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy’s (ECOP) Program Action Teams (PATs), including the Climate PAT, which held a groundbreaking event in 2024. Amidst the intensifying threat of climate change, Cooperative Extension professionals from across the United States gathered in Tucson, Arizona, for a Climate Action Convening, supported by NTAE and additional funding from United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Iowa State University Extension. They reflected on the question “How can we leverage Extension’s expertise to effectively combat climate change?”

‘A Remarkable Program’ There is nothing quite like the NTAE initiative in the Cooperative Extension System. And through it, the Foundation is able to play a critical role in supporting and promoting the work of the thousands of Extension professionals around the country.

The Convening led to the following outcomes: • Network building: Climate-focused Extension leaders strengthened their connections and collaboration. • A Climate Action Plan: Participants developed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan, outlining innovative solutions tailored to address the climate crisis. • Model development: Four climate change models were created to tackle specific challenges and expand Extension’s impact. • Communications strategy: A plan was devised to raise awareness about the Climate Action Plan and to forge partnerships. The Climate Action Plan, rooted in the National Climate Change Roadmap, integrates climate action with Extension’s existing priorities, such as broadband

“

This is a remarkable program. It transforms ideas into realities and elevates the professional skills of team members beyond their imaginations.

—Dr. Fred Schlutt, retired Extension director and NTAE Catalyst

access, economic development, food systems, and health equity. By leveraging Extension’s embedded network within communities, these models aim to deliver equitable, measurable, and lasting climate solutions. Learn more about the Convening. Read the Climate Action Plan. See page12 for more about how NTAE funding supports ECOP’s PATs.

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

Program Action Teams

a staggering $258 million in funding, with $51 million already awarded and more awards pending. The program’s proven track record of success exemplifies the tremendous value of NTAE. Through the NTAE grant program, the Extension Foundation provides comprehensive support to the PATs, giving them access to resources and helping develop technology solutions to move their work forward in the following ways: • Assisting in applications for funding for national efforts • Designing and hosting national issues-based convenings • Developing system-wide strategic planning efforts and resources • Strengthening online reporting systems • Creating resource repositories • Increasing engagement among and building communities of practice using subgroups on Connect Extension, the Foundation’s online collaboration space • Updating and enhancing web resources (e.g., redesigning pats. extension.org ) • Conducting national online surveys • Developing partnerships • Hiring PAT fellows to move specific projects forward • Creating marketing materials (e.g., email campaigns, publications) • Facilitating leadership development activities and meetings

Addressing priority issues across Extension

OVERVIEW Program Action Teams (PATs) are groups of Extension professionals from across the United States, organized and managed by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). The PATs advance crucial issues that are likely to have a system- wide impact by creating and expanding networks, conducting program assessments (activities and resources), facilitating strategic planning, convening conferences, writing white papers, making policy recommendations, and securing funding for work. CURRENT WORK PRIORITIES • Health Equity & Well-Being • Climate Mitigation, Resiliency, & Adaptation • Workforce & Economic Development • 4-H Positive Youth Development • Broadband Access & Digital Skills • Urban Agriculture & Food Systems • Pathways, Partnerships, & Engagement • Food Systems & Food Waste

STRUCTURE & LEADERSHIP PATs are chaired/co-chaired by director/administrator members and liaisons of the ECOP Program Committee and include Extension Directors, Extension faculty/ professionals, internal collaborators (e.g., Extension Foundation, Regional Rural Development Centers, 4-H Council), and external collaborators including National Institute of Food and Agriculture liaisons (e.g., federal government agencies, philanthropic organizations, nongovernmental organizations, private-sector participants). Participation in PATs is open and voluntary. ORGANIZATION PATs typically form smaller steering committees (10–20 members) and larger interest groups. They offer opportunities for involvement through various implementation teams, project writing teams, work groups, and more. ACHIEVEMENTS & IMPACT NTAE support has resulted in the development of robust networks through the ECOP PATs, comprising nearly 2,000 members and 730 key partners. NTAE’s efforts have also supported the submission of applications that support Extension’s system-wide programmatic efforts for

Significant Impact

Since the inception of the PATs and their partnership with the Extension Foundation in fiscal year 2020-2021, more than $51 million has been secured to advance national efforts in areas ranging from climate adaptation to workforce development.

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

Extension Foundation Team

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Tira Adelman, MPA Program Manager Barbara Adams, MBA Senior Accountant

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS*

CATALYSTS Rick Klemme, PhD Former Executive Director, ECOP

KEY INFORMANTS Karl Bradley, MA Leadership & Team Development

PROGRAM ACTION TEAM LIAISONS Megan Hirschman, BS Partnership & Development Lead

Mark Locklear, MS Technology Solutions Extension Foundation/ North Carolina State University David Warren, MBA Artificial Intelligence Program Leader Extension Foundation/ Oklahoma State University Aaron Weibe, PhD Marketing, Communications, & Engagement *Other technologists who contribute to NTAE efforts: Deb Weitzenkamp, PhD (Campus and Catalog Administrator) and Kenny Elston (WordPress Engineer). Eduworks Corporation also is a valued partner in delivering technology solutions for NTAE projects.

Retired Dean & Director Cooperative Extension University of Wisconsin

Julie Halverson, MS Evaluation

Nate Birt, MA NTAE Partnership & Development Specialist

Dyremple Marsh, PhD Retired College Dean, Research Director, & Extension Administrator Delaware State University Dawn Mellion, MBA, PhD Retired Vice Chancellor Southern University Cooperative Extension Scott Reed, PhD Emeritus Vice Provost for University

Megan Hirschman, BS Partnership & Development Lead Rose Hayden-Smith, PhD Publishing & Digital Engagement Molly Immendorf, MS Professional Development & Impact Collaborative

Patty Hight, BS Grants Specialist

Regan Emmons, MA Climate Program Action Team Assistant & Extension Disaster Education Network Assistant Project Manager

Brenna Kotar, BA Contracts & Operations Manager

Ann Taecker, MS Grants Specialist Sheri Young, BS Executive Assistant

LEADERSHIP TEAM Beverly Coberly, PhD Chief Executive Officer Ashley Griffin, MS Chief Operating Officer Arielle Smith, MBA, CPA Comptroller

Ellen P. Krugel, BFA Graphic Design

Lisa Linfield, BA Instructional Design

Outreach & Engagement Oregon State University

Heather Martin, MSJ Publishing & Graphic Design

Chuck Ross, MA Retired Director of Extension University of Vermont Fred Schlutt, PhD Retired Vice Provost for Extension & Outreach University of Alaska Fairbanks

Melanie Pugsley, BA Professional Development

Aaron Weibe, PhD Marketing, Communications, & Engagement

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

Opportunity & Obligation

Extension educators make Pathways, Partnerships, and Engagement program imperatives

The imbalances of power, resources, and opportunities in the United States have become an increasingly bigger and louder part of our cultural conversation during the

Personal REFLECTIONS

last several years. We have more work to do, but we are starting to dismantle some of the barriers that keep marginalized communities from having privileges that majority groups often take for granted.

Scott and Michael believe their pro- gram works in large part because they customize it for each organization they work with, an approach they want to share with other Extension educators. “This is not an ‘out of the box’ pro- gram,” they say. “By grounding the content within a local community, the program can help participants connect through similarities, which then helps to promote, appreciate, and acknowl- edge the value of diverse experiences, backgrounds, and cultures.” When the Langston team applied for NTAE funding, their project was in an earlier stage of development than WVU’s program—still gathering input from their intended audiences as they planned their approaches and content. Langston Extension educators Drs. Carlos Alvarado and Tiffany Williams and their team plan to develop a nutri- tion education app to help address the

CULTURAL RELEVANCE Because it had already been imple- mented, “Cultural Competency” came to NTAE with evidence that the program works. (See page 20.) For example, Huntington is the second largest city in West Virginia and one of the most diverse in the state. “But our fire department does not reflect where we live,” Michael says. “On the 100-person crew, there are no women and only one person who identifies as a minority.” After participating in “Cultural Competency,” the city decided to change its recruitment practices, making a deliberate effort to bring more diverse candidates to its Junior Academy. “Our community has been very [willing] to have these conversations,” says Hun- tington Mayor Steve Williams. “And what Tony and his team have been able to bring in is absolute brilliance.”

These team members are developing these projects

because they see an objective need for them. But they also are informed by personal experiences and beliefs. In one way or another, they

B ecause of its size and proxim- ity to under-resourced com- munities, the Cooperative Ex- tension System is in a unique position to help keep this cultural conversation going. And while many projects that received 2023–2024 New Technolo- gies in Ag Extension (NTAE) grants are focusing on this topic, two teams in particular have put it at the center of their work. A project from Langston University Extension is focused on improving health outcomes among minority populations. And a team from West Virginia University (WVU) is build- ing a template that other Extension educators can adapt to teach people how to minimize the

unconscious bias that perpetuates systemic inequalities.

all see themselves in the communities they serve,

These teams agree that Extension has not only a great opportunity when it comes to partnerships and engage- ment but an obligation to make it a priority. “Extension was founded to do this work,” says Dr. Denis Scott, a WVU Extension professor and co-creator of “Cultural Competency for Munici- palities,” a professional development program that will be the basis for their Extension model. “Before Land-grant universities (LGUs) were founded, education was accessible only to the wealthy elite,”

Scott says. “LGUs are mandated by civil rights and other legislation to use their federal funds to benefit all communities.” While their projects take a variety of shapes, Scott, his colleague Tony Michael, and the team members from Langston have a common goal: to support under-resourced com- munities by learning about, valuing, and trying to see the world from the cultural perspectives of the people in those communities.

and they want to leverage that connection to make meaningful differences in people’s lives.

youtu.be/ldOeElX2aDg?si= UowObertXsVcpiuh

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

it’s like to be a minority. But that’s not a prerequisite—the only requirement is one we all can meet, Scott say, which is realizing that we all have and can learn to minimize implicit bias, the perspectives that shape how we behave and treat others. As we’re learning how, we can potentially teach others how to do it, too. Alvarado says one of his project’s big- gest challenges will be to stand out in a sea of often confusing health advice. “Because now everyone in social media purports to be an expert in nutrition,” he says. “And while some of it is mis- information, not all of it is wrong—but there are lots of mixed messages. Our challenge will be to help people learn how to sort through that information and make choices that are right for them.” There are also logistical and cultural barriers that may make it difficult for folks to engage in these programs. Michael asks, “What if a single par- ent is working two jobs? How do they get to one of our sessions? And they might just say, ‘No. I’m not going to expend these resources—such as gas

SURVEY SAYS The Langston University Extension NTAE team surveyed approximately 100 women, most between the ages of 18 and 34, in the summer of 2024 about their experience and interest in using a nutrition app.

COMMITMENT TO PATHWAYS, PARTNERSHIPS & ENGAGEMENT The New Technologies in Ag Extension grant program has funded several similarly focused projects in the last five years.

Extension was founded to do this work. LGUs are mandated to benefit all communities. —Dr. Denis Scott Professor West Virginia University Extension “

Una Educación Sobre la Educación The Juntos Program and Siempre Juntos

67% already use phones or tablets to look up health and food information.

78% had tried at least one nutrition app in the past.

Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being Pathways, Partnerships, & Engagement Program Action Team

67% said it would be “very important” for a health app to reflect their cultural background.

significant health disparities among minority populations in southeast Oklahoma. (See page 21.) A huge key to the success of the app will be presenting the information in a culturally relevant way. “It has to recognize and respect users’ diverse dietary traditions and health practices, or they won’t trust or use it,” Alvarado says. “Sometimes the health messages we send to these communities aren’t rejected because they’re bad messages; they’re rejected because they don’t respect cultural differences.”

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Both teams are well aware of the challenges their projects face. Michael and Scott expect one of their hurdles to be that Extension educa- tors are spread thin when it comes to programming and may not want to give up what they’re already doing to make room for something new. Another may be that educators in a majority group may not believe they’re qualified to speak on equity issues be- cause they haven’t experienced what

money—because I need to go buy food.” But also, what if a particular audience isn’t even aware of a pro- gram to begin with? While Extension educators may have geographic ac- cess to minority populations, “people who are not in the majority often don’t know about our programs,” Williams says. “We need to continue to make a concerted effort to reach everyone.” One way to do this is to partner with local organizations that intended audiences already trust, Williams says, noting that the Langston project is

working with the Healthy Oklahomans Nutrition Alliance, which helps Supple- mental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients use their benefits to purchase food from farmer’s markets. UNCERTAIN FUTURE? Programming with this focus is fac- ing more than just the challenges of reaching and resonating with audi- ences. Public and political support for it has begun to wane. “There’s been an increasing reluctance to continue this work in some areas,” Michael says, “as well as a perceived threat to funding.” Still, these teams remain optimistic about their projects and they encour- age other Extension educators to find ways to make minority populations a bigger part of their focus. Says Scott, “This should be an element of all Extension programs.” • Dr. Denis Scott, professor at West Virginia University Extension, co-facilitating a “Cultural Competencies for Communities” session for city employees in Huntington, West Virginia

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

Enhancing Nutrition

Cultural Competency for Communities

LONG-TERM GOAL To increase healthy eating and well-being by reducing chronic diseases among under-resourced communities in southeast Oklahoma PROJECT CONTEXT The five counties on which this project is focused have among the highest rates of diabetes in the state, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. OSDH research also indicates that, relative to national averages, a large percentage of the population in these counties eats very few fruits and vegetables and does not exercise regularly. GOALS FOR NTAE GRANT PERIOD • Develop a mobile and web-based nutrition-education app, which will include videos, quizzes, goal-setting features, be- havior-change techniques, and recipes that feature ingredients readily available in local markets and traditional, healthy, and nutritious foods from the communities in which participants live. The content will focus on diet quality and physical activity, food resource management, food safety, and food security. • Pilot the app among adults (age 18 and older) participating in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in five southeastern Oklahoma counties: Muskogee, Oklahoma, Haskell, Wagoner, and Okfuskee. • Use feedback from the pilot to refine the app.

LONG-TERM GOAL To build understanding and awareness of Pathways, Partnerships, & Engagment and make sustainable changes among individuals and in organizations PROJECT CONTEXT The WVU program takes a unique approach to this work, reaching people where they are and leading them to discover the value of inclusivity for themselves and their organizations. GOALS FOR NTAE GRANT PERIOD • Develop a virtually accessible how-to guide for Extension pro- fessionals who want to create customized cultural competency training. • Gather qualitative data on professional development gains of Extension professionals who use the guide.

Education in Underserved Communities

TEAM LEADS Denis Scott, PhD Extension Specialist

West Virginia University Tony Michael, MA, JD Director, Family, & Community Development West Virginia University CATALYSTS Dawn Mellion, MBA, PhD Scott Reed, PhD

TEAM LEADS Carlos Alvarado, PhD Dairy Product Specialist Langston University Tiffany Williams, PhD, RDN, LDN

Extension Specialist Langston University CATALYST Dyremple Marsh, PhD

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

People are struggling—whether it’s because of the isolation and fear brought on by COVID, economic un- certainty and inequality, family dys- function, social divides and pressures, or any number of other reasons. Unfortunately, mental health care is not abundant in this country. The Commonwealth Fund reports that the United States has the world’s highest suicide rate and the sec- ond-highest drug-related death rate— yet, we have “a relatively low supply of mental health workers, particularly psychologists and psychiatrists. Just one-third of U.S. primary care prac- tices have mental health professionals on their team.” Although the Cooperative Extension System (CES) does not license pro- fessionals to treat mental illness (with therapy or medicine), it does help fill this care gap with educational resources and programming. Two of the 2023–2024 New Technologies in

Ag Extension (NTAE) grant recipi- ents are using their funding to further develop materials that can improve mental health in our communities. (See “Mental Health Matters” page 25, for past NTAE grantees whose projects have addressed similar needs.) These projects, from Penn State Uni- versity (PSU) Extension and Univer- sity of Minnesota (UMN) Extension, have different ultimate beneficiaries. PSU aims to support the emotional and mental well-being of children in kinship care (care by a family mem- ber other than a parent) and the care- givers themselves (see page 26), while UMN wants to reach participants in adult community support programs (see page 27). But the materials both teams have created are primarily for the practitioners who interact directly with those audiences.

Educational programs support mental health & kinship care group facilitators

Extension educators are not mental health professionals, but they may find themselves in a position where someone they’re working with asks directly or indirectly for mental health assistance. The educators and faculty on these projects talk about why Extension settings are conducive to these kinds of interactions, how Extension professionals can respond, and how the system can be even better equipped for this work.

Taking care of our

CARE GIVERS A nxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders were already a major global concern before COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. Within the first year of the pandemic, their levels increased significantly. Adults in the United States alone have one of the highest rates of mental health diagnoses among 11 high-income countries, notes the The Commonwealth Fund. And in 2022, nearly 50 million people aged 12 or older (17% of the U.S. population) reported having had a substance use disorder in the past year.

youtu.be/8Qw3MPgfRZM? si=0T5_MWYI5EqwEjM1

Prime ENVIRONMENTS

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

method commonly used in communi- ty-based research. It combines photos and quotes or stories from a priority group to illustrate a particular topic or point, making the content more authentic and relatable for other people from that group. The conversation guides aren’t prescriptive, says Dr. Abby Gold, a UMN Extension specialist on the project. Rather, they combine “what works for me” content from CSP clients, with open-ended questions that lead to reflections on choices about nutrition, physical activity, and mental well-being.

ers how to teach those skills to their children.” “Kinship” and “Nourish” have been tested in the field and have either made or have plans to make changes to subsequent iterations. For exam- ple, the UMN team recently created digital versions of the guides so that staff can pull them up on their phones, something many said they prefer to do. The PSU team has piloted its pro- gram in primarily rural, white com- munities, so future pilots will include support groups that serve People of Color in urban settings. Doing so will ensure that the curriculum is cultural- ly relevant to diverse audiences.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS The New Technologies in Ag Extension grant program has funded several mental health-fo- cused projects in the last five years. They Can Do Hard Things Breaking the Cycle Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit Building Farm and Farm Family Resilience in Our Communities Opioid Response

The University of Minnesota (UMN) team used a method called photovoice to create its mental health conversation guides. The method combines photos and quotes from a particular audience about a certain topic to make the content more relatable to other peo- ple in that audience. In the UMN project, they asked participants for pictures and stories about activities (like playing music) that help them feel a sense of calm and well-being. Our curriculum has the potential . . . to lessen the negative impact of parental substance use on children. —Kristina Brant, Assistant Professor Penn State University “

RESONATING WITH AUDIENCES

“SHINING LIGHT”

Team members from both projects say that creating train-the-trainer content is a complex process, one that has to consider the trainer and the end recipient. “You have to take into consideration the presenter’s voice,” Gold says, “W hen we participated in the Extension Foundation’s ‘Impact Collaborative’ we completed an exer- cise imagining the persona of a typi- cal staff pe rson to build empathy and therefore imagine how they might say something to a client.” The “Caring for Our Kin” curricu- lum, likewise, has to account not only for how facilitators present the ma- terial but how the caregivers they’re teaching will translate and implement what they’re learning. “Facilitators are teaching the caregiv- ers skills for their own benefit—like how to care for themselves so that they can be at their best to care for their kids,” Brant says. “But the facil- itators are also teaching the caregiv-

The leaders on both of these proj- ects say they are serving constituents whose needs often fall below the ra- dar in the overall health care system. “Our population is neglected,” says Gold, who worked for several years at federally qualified community health centers. “They don’t alway get access to dietitians and other professionals who can help them with health needs.” The needs of kinship caregivers also are not well-known, Brant says—in large part because they may not seek support. For those kinship caregivers who are not part of the foster care system, there may be fear of connect- ing with mental health professionals or a lack of knowledge about how to connect with others caring for kin. These programs are great examples of Extension’s ability to shine light on unmet needs, Gold says. “We are re- ally good at bringing people together to solve complicated problems.” ·

caregivers, but also to lessen the negative impact of parental substance use on children by increasing support for families caught in the crossfire of the epidemic,” Brant says. Similarly, UMN Extension Educator Kelly Kunkel and her colleagues have created content for professionals who work one on one with a key demo- graphic—in her program’s case, the staff at community support programs (CSPs), long-term treatment and rehabilitation services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Kunkel’s “Nourish and Flourish” team has created a set o f conversa- tion guides to help CSP staff have spontaneous, meaningful conversa- tions about the connection between physical and mental well-being. What’s unique about the guides, among other things, is that they were created via photovoice, a qualitative

TEACHING TEACHERS Dr. Kristina Brant, a PSU assistant professor, has been studying kinship care for several years, drawn to it because of her own family history of mental health and substance use dis- orders—two primary reasons children can be in the care of a grandparent, an aunt and uncle, or other relative. “I’ve seen how these things are expe- rienced by whole family units,” she says. “It has shown me how import- ant it is to make sure that kinship caregivers—who are suddenly raising children they didn’t expect to raise— are connected to the support they need so that they can care for the children with fewer stressors.” Brant, her PSU colleagues, and faculty from West Virginia Univer- sity Extension developed “Caring for Our Kin: A Curriculum for

Kinship Caregiver Support Groups” as a resource for support groups for kinship caregivers. “Facilitators in the kinship care space told us that they needed educational content to use at their meetings, but the content they could find was either too expensive or not tailored closely enough to the needs of kinship families,” Brant says. “Caring for Our Kin” contains research-based educational content and activities for group facilitators to use, addressing such things as using positive discipline, understanding youth development, strengthening family communication, and support- ing a child’s education. Brant and her team also developed a how-to guide with best practices for creating and sustaining successful support groups. “Our curriculum has the potential not only to create meaningful expe- riences for facilitators and kinship

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

“Nourish and Flourish” Conversation Guides TEAM LEADS Kelly Kunkel, MS, MCHES Extension Educator University of Minnesota

“Caring for Our Kin”:

LONG-TERM GOAL To improve mental health among Minnesotans—especially in low- income populations and populations of color PROJECT CONTEXT One in five adults in the United States lives with a mental illness, and nearly half of all counties in Minnesota recently identified mental health and well-being as a top priority in their Community Health Improvement Plans, a recurring initiative by the Minnesota Depart- ment of Public Health. GOALS FOR NTAE GRANT PERIOD • Revise and distribute three conversation guides to help staff in four rural community support programs (CSPs) have conversa- tions with CSP clients about ways to improve their mental health and well-being. • Develop a protocol to train CSP staff to use the conversation guides.

LONG-TERM GOAL To create stability and reduce trauma for children whose parents are unable to care for them, by supporting and educating the family members who have stepped in as guardians and caregivers PROJECT CONTEXT Across the nation, approximately 3% of all children—more than 2 million—are in “kinship” care, meaning that they are being raised by relatives when their parents cannot care for them. Research shows that while kinship care can provide stability for children, kinship caregivers experience heightened psychological distress and poorer health compared to their peers. GOALS FOR NTAE GRANT PERIOD • Pilot a 12-session “Caring for Our Kin” curriculum with at least 10 kinship caregiver support groups across the country. • Provide training, technical assistance, guidance, and mentorship to facilitators. • Collect feedback from facilitators and participants that will in- form revisions to the curriculum. • Increase caregivers’ knowledge of topics important to their care- giving roles, help them build relevant skills, improve their confi- dence and outlooks, and enhance their social support networks.

A Curriculum for Kinship Caregiver Support Groups

TEAM LEAD Kristina Brant, PhD Assistant Professor Pennsylvania State University CATALYST Rick Klemme, PhD

Abby Gold, PhD Extension Specialist University of Minnesota CATALYST Dyremple Marsh, PhD

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

IN THIS Q&A, members of five teams talk about the role that Cooperative Extension and their programs can play in supporting people and places in urban and rural America. We’ll hear from the following:

Dr. Doug Arbogast Extension Specialist West Virginia University

Dr. Devi Kandel Assistant Professor Langston University

Dr. Brad Gaolach Professor Washington State University

Kirsten Cowan 4-H Educator University of Maryland

Dr. Cary Rivard Associate Professor Kansas State University

What excites you most about your program?

Can you share an anecdote that illustrates the need for or impact of the work your team is doing? GAOLACH : As our planet warms and many communities face extreme heat, urban spaces hold that heat and create heat islands that pose signifi- cant threats to health—both the ex- treme high temperatures during the day and often even more impactful the high overnight lows. One way to combat this challenge is to create ur- ban forests, which can provide shade and through evapotranspiration, cooling microclimates in overbur- dened communities whose residents often cannot afford air conditioners. KANDEL : During the field day and educational training program, growers were very interested in baby ginger production in high tunnels— and they seemed interested in adopt- ing the technology. Many of them asked about the market potential of baby ginger production in high tunnel systems, compared to tomato production in high tunnel systems. It seems like the next thing to do would be to conduct an economic analysis of this system.

Teams work to alleviate stress on urban and rural economies UNDER PRESSURE

ARBOGAST: Extension has the potential to help activate a U.S. De- partment of Agriculture (USDA) plan to expand recreation economies in communities surrounding America’s national forests, in partnership with Rural Development, the National In- stitute of Food and Agriculture, and the U.S. Forest Service. We’ve already done this in West Vir- ginia, through the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, which came out of a 2017 USDA publication identifying the outdoor economy as an emerging and priority area of national need. Extension is in an ideal position to fa- cilitate what the USDA plan calls for because we understand the complexi- ties of the plan’s partner agencies and their missions. And unlike private consultants, who often are brought in to create strate- gic plans in this area but then leave communities to implement them, Extension services aren’t constrained to short timeframes and can help create more sustainable plans and see them through.

GAOLACH: Researchers at Land- grant and urban-serving universities, federal agencies, and nongovernmen- tal organizations are excited about what we are trying to create—and their support for the center and how it will improve lives, communities, and the environment is what excites me. COWAN: Giving youth access to agriculture careers and Maryland’s agriculture industry, especially those who wouldn’t normally have that opportunity. We focused on removing barriers by providing transportation and offering a stipend upon com- pletion. The hands-on experiences allowed them to gain real insight, and seeing their perspective on agricul- ture shift throughout the internship will be incredibly rewarding.

versity and West Virginia University want to expand or share models they’ve created to enhance CES’s capacity to improve quality of life in their geographic areas of interest. CES professionals from Langston University, Kansas State University, and the University of Maryland are focused on farmer workforce develop- ment and prosperity. Using its Western Center for Metro- politan Extension and Research (WC- MER) as a foundation, WSU Exten- sion is developing a plan for a national version of the center. (See page 36.) WCMER applies Extension research to economic and environmental issues that affect urban areas, primarily metropolitan centers in the western

United States. The National Urban Research & Extension Center would scale this concept to work nationwide. WVU Extension wants to help gate- way communities across the country address their economic and environ- mental situations to achieve similar outcomes as in communities that have followed the Mon Forest Towns frame- work. (See page 34.) A team from Langston University is teaching under-resourced Oklahoma growers to cultivate baby ginger, a potentially high-profit, easy-to-grow crop. Teams from University of Mary- land (UMD) and Kansas State Uni- versity (KSU) want to deepen the pool of farmers in their communities. (See pages 35, 33, and 32.)

Our nation’s urban and rural

communities are facing significant challenges. Gentrification has created dispari- ties in wealth and opportunity—and sometimes environmental damage— in city centers and in remote areas popular for their natural attractions (gateway communities). The ongoing shortage of agricultural workers and racial inequity among farmers also are a concern in many areas. Several projects that received 2023–2024 New Technologies in Ag Extension (NTAE) grants are addressing these challenges. Cooperative Extension System (CES) teams from Washington State Uni-

2023-2024 YEARBOOK | EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE

EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | 2023-2024 YEARBOOK

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