Oregon State University

Oregon State University Extension Service (OSUES) Federal Award Will Encompass the Following Needs-based Projects to Better Serve the People of Oregon. the Forests of Oregon Are Inextricably Linked to Environmental Health, Social Wellbeing, and Economic Prosperity to All Oregonians. These Forests Provide a Host of Ecosystem Services, a Sense of Place, and a Valuable Source of Revenue Through Jobs and Wood Products. Osues Will Work to Ensure Sustained Benefits From Forests for Future Generations by Promoting Forest Stewardship and Ensuring Sustainable Management. This Effort Aims to Target a Multitude of Audiences That Interface With Forests. Objectives Include (1) Expanding the Reach of Peer-to-peer Learning Opportunities Among Private Forest Landowners; (2) Developing and Delivering Curriculum on Sustainable Forestry to Forest Workers; and (3) Providing Experiential Learning Opportunities at Demonstration Forests. Collectively, These Efforts Will Inspire Innovative Approaches to the Wise Management of All Forest Resources to Ensure Forest Health and Resilience Over the Long Term. in the Area of Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems and Informed by Our Research for the Past Three Years on the Stages of Development of Farms and Farmers, We Have Identified Four Distinct Stages in Which Farmers Seek and Are Ready for Different Types of Information, Training, and Mentoring. Using This Framework, We Will: 1) Develop New Advanced-level Online Modules for Instructional Learning, Online and Classroom, and Refine an Existing Basic Module Based on Farm Developmental Stages. 2) Continue Current and Add New Advanced-level Experiential Learning Demonstration Projects at Our Three Established Teaching Farms Located in Regions With High Demand for BFR Programming. 3) Continue Successful Facilitation of Farmer Networks Organized by Gender, Geography, and Cropping System. 4) Support and Actively Engage With the Statewide Beginning Farmer and Rancher Working Group of the Oregon Community Food Systems Network. the Health and Vitality of Our Tribal Communities Is Inextricably Tied to the Wellbeing of All the People of Our State. the Warm Springs Reservation Has Been Plagued for Years With Chronic Unemployment, Health Issues Due to Poor Nutrition, Low High School Graduation Rates and a Struggling Livestock Production Industry. Usda Classifies Warm Springs as a 'food Desert' and 95% of Children Attending the Warm Springs K-8 School Qualify for Free or Reduced School Lunches. Therefore, It Makes Sense to Pursue an Extension 'food Focus' Program to Increase Food Production on the Reservation and Help Alleviate Poverty. Working in Partnership With Warm Springs, Osu Extension Can Contribute Towards the Tribes' Goals of Reducing Obesity, Increasing Employment, and Producing Their Own Locally Grown Food. Teaching Classes in Food Production, Hosting Educational Livestock Clinics, Building Community Youth Gardens That Become a Source of Community Pride, Are Excellent Ways of Alleviating Poverty and Potentially Sparking Interest in Developing Ag Businesses. in These Educational Settings, Surveys Will Be Administered to Gather Data That Can Help Determine Whether Osu Is Meeting These Tribal Goals. by Increasing Tribal Members' Knowledge in Gardening, Encouraging New Tribal Businesses in Agriculture, and Providing the Tools to Build Farms and Gardens That Grow Healthy Food, the Societal Benefits of Decreasing Unemployment and Increasing the Health of Tribal Members Can Be Obtained. Through Federal Funding, These Efforts Will Help Improve the Lives of the People of Oregon and Beyond. Our Programming and Growing Partners Help Leverage the Impact of Federal Funding to Maximize Efficiency and Outcomes. All Program Progress and Outcomes Will Be Reported and Available to the Public Through the Osues Impacts Web Page.