TOOLKITS

SEPTEMBER 2023 TOOLKIT

BUILDING THE FUTURE

Celebrating Educators’ Determination and Impact

As the new fall semester begins, land-grant universities' educators face an ever-changing educational environment along with complex, challenging, and critical responsibilities. They inspire students to be excited about learning, embrace challenges as opportunities, work collaboratively, and expand their perspectives. Educators develop and deliver academic programs that prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to launch their careers in an increasingly high technology and global economy.

At colleges of agriculture and state agricultural experiment stations, researchers encourage students to think critically, solve problems, and create solutions. Scientists involve graduate and undergraduate students in cutting-edge research projects that are making the agricultural system more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.

Beyond the traditional classroom, Extension agents educate people of many ages and backgrounds (e.g., small business owners, beginning farmers, foresters, and ranchers, and others) who want to advance their skills or launch new careers in communities across the U.S.

Delivered by Cooperative Extension, 4-H provides experiences where young people learn by doing. For more than 100 years, 4‑H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds. 4‑H agriculture programs equip young people with the skills to succeed in life. Source: Agriculture - National 4-H Council.

These educators profoundly shape their students’ professional paths and encourage lifelong learning. They are deeply committed to helping students build better lives for themselves and a better collective future. The FANR team thanks all the dedicated agriculture and natural resources educators, researchers, and Extension professionals who inspire their students in classrooms, labs, communities, and beyond.

Examples of remarkable educators are described in “A Community of Scholars Honoring Excellence: 2022 Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Awards Program.” Please see short excerpts by clicking the accordions below and full descriptions at 2022-Awards-Booklet.pdf (aplu.org).

Rebecca Baldwin, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida
Dr. Baldwin serves as the faculty advisor for the undergraduate Entomology Club, the coach for the graduate Entomology Team and, through the Bugs and People course, has developed a mentoring program where students develop into peer leaders. Through the UF Preview orientation, she has had the opportunity to share the importance of communication to nearly 70,000 first-year students. Outside of the classroom, Baldwin uses insects to promote science communication and STEM initiatives.
Mary Kay Pohlschneider, Senior Lecturer, Department of Food Science and Technology, The Ohio State University
Dr. Pohlschneider’s Introductory Food Processing course allows her to welcome students into the department and connect with them through their mutual excitement about the science of food. She serves as an undergraduate advisor for the Food Business Management and Culinary Science students as well as an ad hoc advisor for many Food Science students in her courses. Pohlschneider is an avid advocate for food science and often is found presenting demonstrations and hands-on activities for students of all ages at schools and 4-H clubs.

Jacquelyn Dee Mosley, Professor, School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
Recognized for her passion about implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion into her classrooms, Dr. Mosley has been actively involved in promoting cultural competence teaching pedagogy in Arkansas. During her 12 years, she has taught 8 different classes, including 4 she developed and 2 for online education. After becoming a trained administrator in the Intercultural Development Inventory, she developed a new general education course for all of campus.
Shyam Nair, Associate Professor of Agribusiness and the Assistant Chair of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Sam Houston State University
Known for his passion for teaching and nurturing students, Dr. Nair provides a learning-centered educational environment where students connect concepts and tools with real-life applications. He seamlessly integrates teaching with undergraduate research so that his students gain deeper knowledge while simultaneously developing critical soft skills, such as teamwork and communication. He inspires students not only to be successful in academics but also to excel as professionals, leaders, and contributing community members.

Steven Johnson, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida
Dr. Johnson is an advocate for experiential, hands-on learning and regularly takes his students on field excursions to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. These include camping in national forests, canoeing on Florida’s spring-fed rivers, birding at nature preserves, and a student favorite—snorkeling with manatees.
Cassandra Katherine Jones, Professor, Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University
Dr. Jones coordinates the animal science department’s undergraduate teaching program, which has more than 900 students. She is an award-winning academic advisor and is passionate about faculty based advising programs. Jones teaches freshmen-level seminars, as well as undergraduate and graduate-level courses in animal nutrition.
Courtney Alyssa Meyers, Professor, Agricultural Communications, Texas Tech University
Known for her energetic pedagogical style, Dr. Meyers’ dedication as a professor empowers students with confidence, communication skills, and problem-solving principles to pursue their goals. she teaches courses with an emphasis on service learning.
Chad Miller, Associate Professor of Horticulture, Kansas State University
Dr. Miller believes his role is not only to assist students in learning, but also to inspire and mentor. His teaching and advising philosophies center around creating a learning atmosphere with a sense of community and belonging to foster connection with the students. In the classroom, he seeks to try new and different approaches, while sharing his passion, excitement, and enthusiasm of plants and learning.
Haley Franks Oliver, 150th Anniversary Professor, Director of the USAID Feed the Future Food Safety Innovation Lab, Sr. Research Fellow at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, and Showalter Fellow, Purdue University
Dr. Oliver joined Purdue University in 2010 and throughout her tenure, she has taught food microbiology, food safety, sanitation, and related subjects. She is deeply committed to active learning and has worked tirelessly to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in her classroom and research programs.
Heloisa Rutigliano, Associate Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University
Dr. Rutigliano believes that as an instructor, she is a catalyst of learning, rather than as an expert who simply delivers information to students. Her mission is to: 1) expose her students to knowledge that intrigues them, that inspires them to learn more, 2) train well-rounded professionals and, 3) create an environment that promotes collaboration and learning.

Gerardo Nunez, Assistant Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida
Dr. Nunez’s goals as an educator are to connect students from all backgrounds with food and agriculture and to prepare students for careers in the agriculture and natural resources sector. Nunez teaches through inquiry, experience, and interaction. He uses modern communication tools, in-farm experiences, and course-based research to promote practical skill-building and career readiness and enjoys growing food alongside his students.
Mary Theresa Rodriguez, Assistant Professor, Community Leadership, Agricultural Communication Department, The Ohio State University
Dr. Rodriguez strives to prepare future leaders to address the complex, wicked issues facing communities and our society. She firmly believes in the difference students can make in their communities. She strives to create supportive, yet challenging learning environments where students examine their assumptions through conversations that encourage critical thinking.

Land-grant Educators’ Leadership: Examples from Land-grant Impacts

4-H Educates Youths on the Importance of Agriculture
With less than 2% of Americans living on a farm, broad societal misconceptions about farming and aging farmers, it is imperative to inspire, educate and cultivate the next generation of farmers and agricultural leaders. Young people need to hear authentic stories, have access to engaging and immersive education and see demonstrations of 21st-century farming.

Scaling up Skills for Success in Agriculture
To remain competitive in the agricultural industry, farmers must stay current on the latest techniques and technology. Training new workers is also essential to building necessary skills in the agricultural labor force.

Programs for an Aging Population Focus on Small Ways to Make a Big Difference
The percentage of the U.S. population over the age of 50 is rapidly rising and a disproportionate share of this aging population growth is in rural areas where access to health-based services is more limited and the mortality rate higher. Extension services across the country target specific health and wellness issues in this age group through creative programming and are seeing big results through these little changes.

Investing in community development
Advancing the growth of communities, multiple land-grant universities are providing vital programs to help with finding employment, opening businesses, and offering essential services for those in need. Research and Cooperative Extension experts are making a difference in the communities they serve.

Preparing the Next Generation of Farm Operators
Farm families facing the challenging issue of transferring the farm to the next generation confront many hurdles in putting together a sound succession plan. Programs are helping farmers with financial management - solidifying and preserving farm operations, ensuring these operations are profitable, sustainable, and transferable in the years to come.

SOCIAL MEDIA

SAMPLE POSTS

RESEARCH
At [@SCHOOL or @EXPERIMENT STATION], students help drive scientific innovation. Under the mentorship of our expert faculty, [undergraduate and/or graduate] students engage in hands-on, practical research with real-world impacts. LINK

EDUCATION
Educators at #LandGrantUniversities like @SCHOOL cultivate future leaders. Our graduates are prepared to face complex challenges in food security, supply chain resilience, and climate-smart agriculture. [can swap out to be more relevant to your specific programs]

EXTENSION
Cooperative Extension bridges the gap between @SCHOOL research and STATE communities, bringing vital knowledge directly to the producers and business owners who need it the most. LINK TO PROGRAM @Ext100Years

Feel free to reach out to us with specific posts that you would like @AgIsAmerica to share. Please email your request to Kim Scotto at kscotto@aplu.org or use #AgIsAmerica.

HASHTAGS AND HANDLES

HASHTAGS
#LandGrantUniversities
#AgIsAmerica

HANDLES

Ag is America	@AgIsAmerica
APLU Ag	@APLU_Ag
Sec. Vilsack (Secretary of Agriculture)	@SecVilsack
USDA	@USDA
USDA National Institute of Food & Ag	@USDA_NIFA
APLU	@APLU_News
Cooperative Extension	@Ext100Years

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER HOLIDAYS

MONTHS
Better Breakfast Month, #BetterBreakfastMonth
National Chicken Month, #NationalChickenMonth
National Hispanic Heritage Month, #HispanicHeritageMonth (September 15 – October 15)
National Mushroom Month, #NationalMushroomMonth
National Potato Month, #NationalPotatoMonth
National Preparedness Month, #NationalPreparednessMonth
National Rice Month, #NationalRiceMonth
Whole Grains Month, #WholeGrainMonth

WEEKS
September 17-23 – National Farm Safety and Health Week, #NFSHW
September 24-28 – National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, #HBCUWeek

DAYS
September 2 – World Coconut Day, #WorldCoconutDay
September 4 – National Wildlife Day, #NationalWildlifeDay #WildlifeDay
September 4 – Labor Day, #LaborDay
September 13 – National Peanut Day, #PeanutDay, #EatMorePeanuts
September 15 – National Online Learning Day, #OnlineLearningDay
September 16 – National Guacamole Day, #NationalGuacamoleDay
September 23 – Autumnal Equinox, #AutumnalEquinox, #FirstDayofFall
September 24 – National Public Lands Day, #NPLD
September 25 – National Lobster Day, #NationalLobsterDay
September 29 – National Coffee Day, #NationalCoffeeDay

source: September 2023 - National Day Calendar

USDA EVENTS & DEADLINES

September 5 – Application Deadline: Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Youth Support and Internship Program
The purpose of YSIP is to award up to one Extension grant to: 1. Design and administer a well-orchestrated nation-wide internship program that engages college students motivated to serve the needs of National Guard and RC military families; 2. Provide interns with youth development educational and facilitation skills; 3. Arrange travel for interns to attend RC events with the goal of delivering youth programs during the DoD YRRP sessions; and 4. Develop a career and workforce development program that provides dedicated mentors to assist interns in the development of their career goals.

September 5 – Application Deadline: 4-H Military Extension Educator Program
The purpose of this program is to provide technical assistance to DoD CYP staff and coordinate with 4-H Extension faculty and staff throughout the Land-grant University system to support and develop (establish, expand, and/or enhance) positive youth development programs and activities on and off military installations around the world.

September 19 – Application Deadline: Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I
The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enable the application of research advancements from conception into the market. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions.

September 28 – Q&A Session: FY 2023 AFRI Predoctoral Fellowships RFA Technical Assistance
The A7101 Predoctoral Fellowships priority helps to develop new scientists and professionals to enter research, education, and/or Extension fields within the food and agricultural sciences within the private sector, government, or academia. The aim of these fellowships is to cultivate future leaders who can solve emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st century.