Completed Project Report


The Producer Pathway: Mitigating risk in sustainable agriculture communities with outreach, training, and support

  • Award Amount: $40,060
  • Regional Center: Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2023 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Jennifer Roop
  • Email: jroop@asdevelop.org
  • Organization: Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD)

Extension RME Regional Centers
Extension Risk Management Education Region Map

Project Overview

ASD’s Producer Pathway agriculture training programs cover risk management educational
subjects including Production, Marketing, Financial, Legal, and Human topics to cover all the
2023 Southern regional priorities for Educational Projects. We use a hybrid method to
incorporate classroom training, virtual digital training, and hands-on training on-site in the field.
These locations may include our food hub or demonstration farm, both located in Southwest
Virginia, and participant farms throughout the Central Appalachian region. We build on
replicable train-the-trainer models utilizing evidence-based best practices in agriculture
education from reputable sources including Universities and Extensions, state and nonprofit
agriculture agencies, and the USDA. Over the 18 months of this grant, 10 staff
trainers received professional development with a total of 160 participants receiving training and support.
Target populations included ASD staff, aspiring producers seeking quick access to the
agriculture economy, beginning farmers seeking access to diverse markets, and at-risk workers
from marginalized populations seeking certifications and improved job skills. As a result of our
train-the-trainer model, these skills will be incorporated into the Producer Pathway to ensure
trainees receive this knowledge long after the grant has ended.

Number of Participants: 160

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

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INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES