Growing fruits and vegetables is how many new and younger farmers get started farming. But gaining the knowledge can be tough for growers of a crop like pumpkins, for which there have never been research trials in Minnesota. Until now.
Fall
Since 1968, over 1,300 youth have contributed to their communities through their leadership as 4-H State Ambassadors with University of Minnesota Extension.
University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners volunteer in every Minnesota community and need one place to come together to learn, share, teach in the garden, and produce and deliver online classes.
Food entrepreneurs like Lee Vang attend hands-on University of Minnesota Extension training, bringing in their own products to test for potential food safety hazards.
Extension is working with leaders at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala to create a program serving youth and families in communities; and in southwestern Kenya with women farmers harvesting, handling and storage.
With help from the University of Minnesota Extension Central RSDP ranchers in Cass and Crow Wing counties are working together to safeguard their water resources. One way of doing this is through sustainable practices for raising cattle.
Melissa Wilson is an Extension soil scientist hired in 2017 with AGREETT funding support. Wilson fills a manure management position that was vacant for more than a decade.
Local lamb is better than ever, and the improvements are no accident. Travis Hoffman, who has a joint position with University of Minnesota Extension and North Dakota State University Extension, concentrates on ways to improve meat quality.
Southeast Minnesota is tackling the region’s workforce shortage. University of Minnesota Extension supports those efforts in many ways, including managing Making it Home initiatives in regional small towns like Spring Valley.
Tessman and Christiansen credit their 4-H club for giving them needed support after their father was killed in an accident when they were children.