The grant aimed to support educational initiatives targeting Spanish-speaking professionals in the horticultural industry. The application is based on data from three in-person training events: the 2023 Nursery/Landscape EXPO Training 1 and the 2024 Lone Star Hort Forum Training 2 and the 2024 Nursery/Landscape EXPO Training 3.
At the 2023 Nursery/Landscape EXPO Training 1, a total of 26 Spanish-speaking professionals attended the Spanish Training Sessions. This included 8 attendees at the full-day education sessions on Wednesday, 15 attendees at the Thursday demo, and 3 attendees at the Friday demo sessions.
For the 2024 Lone Star Hort Forum Training 2, a total of 5 Spanish-speaking professionals attended the education sessions conducted in Spanish.
These numbers represent the total registered attendees at the sessions, measured during participant learning sessions. The initiatives of this grant seeks to continue providing valuable educational opportunities for socially disadvantaged Spanish-speaking professionals in the horticultural industry, contributing to their skill development and professional growth.
At the 2024 Nursery/Landscape EXPO, Training 3 welcomed 41 participants over three days, combining in-classroom training with hands-on educational demonstrations on the show floor. This year, attendees engaged in an in-depth hydraulic session aimed at improving irrigation practices and minimizing pest and disease impact. They also participated in arborist sessions focused on enhancing tree cultivation and application techniques. Additionally, many participants attended pest and disease identification sessions to deepen their understanding of best management practices.
Through three in-person training sessions, TNLA accomplished the following:
Educational Outreach for Spanish-Speaking Professionals: TNLA provided targeted, in-person education on a wide range of horticulture topics specifically for underserved Spanish-speaking industry professionals. These sessions covered pest and disease identification and best management practices, ensuring these professionals gained essential knowledge to apply directly in their work. Direct marketing efforts were used to reach this audience, helping participants understand key industry practices. Benchmarking of performance indicators, such as registration and attendance, was conducted during the program to gauge engagement and effectiveness.
Promotion and Awareness: In collaboration with a designer, TNLA created promotional materials to increase awareness among Spanish-speaking professionals about available educational opportunities. This marketing initiative helped in developing recognition of TNLA's training sessions. Attendance was calculated prior to the program to assess the reach of these promotional efforts.
Pest and Disease Management Training: TNLA equipped growers and producers with knowledge on early detection and rapid response to plant pests and diseases through science-based tools provided in outreach and in-person training programs, all conducted in Spanish. During the program, TNLA tracked the total number of participants and gathered feedback on the knowledge gained, allowing for a better understanding of the program's impact on pest and disease management.
Adoption of Best Practices for Yield Improvement: By promoting the adoption of best practices and new technologies, TNLA helped growers increase yields, reduce resource inputs, and improve economic returns while conserving resources. These efforts supported participants in adopting recommended practices that directly benefit their operations.