Chico State Enterprises

The Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (crars)at California State University, Chico (chico State), in Collaboration With Thecalifornia Association of Resource Conservation Districts (carcd), Proposes to Create Theagricultural Management Systems Learning Collaborative (ams Collaborative) to Increase Knowledge and Enhance Implementation Support for the Expansion of Systems-based Farm/ranch/forest Management Practices in Northern California Production Systems. Project Activities Will Lay the Foundation for Ongoing, Sustainable Development That Will Continue to Address Identified Stakeholder Needs, as Well as Our Long-term Goals to Build Additional Educational and Leadership Development Capacity in Systems-based Agricultural Management. Project Activities Are Responsive to the Results of a Broadly Disseminated Needs Assessment (113 Responses Analyzed). Our Stakeholders Include Producers; Agricultural Professionals, Including Cooperative Extension, Californiaresource Conservation District (RCD), and NRCS Staff; and Students Enrolled in Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, and Land Resource Management. Project GOALS:1)ESTABLISH Flexible Non-credit Bearing Learning Opportunities to Address a Broad Range of Stakeholder Needs and INTERESTS;2)ESTABLISH a Cohort of Peer Mentors/role Models in Systems-based Agricultural Management Systems; AND3)PROVIDE Additional Participant-driven Support Mechanisms to Promote and Encourage Sustained Knowledge Building/sharing and Connections Across the Community. Project OBJECTIVES:1)DEVELOP Four Online Courses in Agricultural Systems and Soil Health Management That Will Serve as a Foundation for Multiple Education and Outreach PATHWAYS;2)IDENTIFY, Support, and Assess the Experiences of 10 Paired Teams of Northern California Producers and RCD Technical Assistance Providers Who Will Serve as Peer Role Models and Mentors; AND3)ADD Value to Existing Crars Outreach and Assistance Efforts Through Community-driven Workshops and and an Online Ams Collaborative Network. Project OUTCOMES:1)FOUR On-line Courses in Systems-based AGRICULTURE,2)A Sustained Presentation Session at the Carcd Annual CONFERENCE,3)SUSTAINED Value-added Elements to Crars Outreach Efforts; AND4)DATA-INFORMED (quantitative and Qualitative) Approaches and Lessons Learned That Can Be Translated to Other Local and Regional Contexts. Over Time, We Can Additionally Expect Increased Literacy in Systems-based Agriculture at Csu, Chico. Medium- and Long-term Outcomesof the Ams Collaborative Project Beyond the Funding Period INCLUDE:1)ESTABLISH a Professional Course Series as a Continuing Program for Agricultural Producers and PROFESSIONALS,2)CREATE an Institutionally-approval 21-CREDIT Certificate Program Available to Regional and National AUDIENCES;3)ESTABLISH an Undergraduate Program and Online MASTER'S Program in Systems-based Agricultural Management; AND4)SUSTAIN the Ams Collaborative Through Continuing Partnerships, Collaborations and Projects.