agriculture

Bonnie Kegler: Empowering Youth with UConn 4-H

Bonnie KeglerBonnie Kegler (’88 CAHNR, ’90 NEAG) joined UConn Extension and the 4-H program in Windham County as an assistant extension educator in July, after an award-winning teaching career at Killingly High School in the agricultural education program.

“I want youth in the UConn 4-H program to have a sense of accomplishment on any level, whether it’s receiving a ribbon at the 4-H fair, being recognized for their contributions, or being in a peer group among other people with similar interests,” she says.

Bonnie was an agricultural education student at E.O. Smith High School and wanted to be a veterinary technician. She went to Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas; at the time, their vet tech program was the second highest rated in the country. She only intended to stay two years but discovered the livestock judging team.

“It changed my life, I didn’t even know they had one,” Bonnie says. “I love decision making with the information you have, and the confidence that comes with making that decision and living with the consequences.” She ended up coaching the team her senior year at Sul Ross, a significant recognition for her livestock evaluation and teaching skills.

After graduating, she got a job at a veterinary practice in West Texas, it was the only practice for 100-miles, so they treated all animals. Bonnie recalls taking a metal coffee can with rocks out to the barn section of the clinic to feed or treat animals, shaking the can along the way to scare the rattle snakes, who slithered out of the barn.

Bonnie returned to Connecticut in 1985, and pursued a masters degree in animal science, also coaching the livestock judging team at UConn, and then earned a teaching certificate from the Neag School of Education.

She loves education and animals, so it was a natural fit to teach agricultural education in the high school setting. Bonnie was always involved with 4-H through her own children too and adds that she loves watching the relationship and learning process between kids and animals.

“Watching youth find out something they didn’t know or get better at something excites me,” she says. “They want to improve, those ‘aha’ moments and watching growth, or having someone get recognized for something they’re passionate about, and helping kids understand how much they are capable of accomplishing. Seeing youth understand that what they know and the skills they have is the coolest thing, and it carries over to adult education too.”

Connecticut has a lot to offer, and Bonnie enjoys living in Mansfield with her husband, and spending time on the shoreline. She also raises and shows Hampshire sheep, and participates in dog agility with Tucker, her Corgi.

Her positive impact is already being felt by youth in Windham County, she led her first 4-H Fair shortly after joining Extension in July and is currently recruiting youth and adult volunteers for the program. Bonnie is also working on statewide agricultural and food literacy programs to educate residents. All her work with UConn 4-H is united in the effort to empower youth to make a positive impact and reach their full potential.

“Youth need to hear from someone that believes they have the ability to do something. I see things in kids where they weren’t sure they would be good, and I give them a different way to look at it,” Bonnie concludes. “I help them understand that what they know is valuable. If they’re willing to learn there isn’t anything they can’t do.”

Visit s.uconn.edu/4-H to learn more about the UConn 4-H program, enroll your youth member, or become a volunteer.

Stress Management Resources for Farmers

Farming is stressful, and there are resources to help navigate those challenges. Becca Toms from our Solid Ground program talked with two of our farmers – Dishaun Harris: Root Life, New Haven and Yoko Takemura: Assawaga Farm, Putnam – about the different stresses they face farming in Connecticut and some of the practices they have put in place to help them manage that stress.

This project was supported by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and they have plenty more resources if you are interested in finding out some more information about how you, as a farmer, can manage your stress and wellbeing, visit https://www.ctfarmstressrelief.com/

And a side note – If you feel unsafe and have any thoughts about harming yourself, please call the AgriStress Helpline. It is a free and confidential 24/7 crisis and support line with trained agricultural specialists. You can call or text 833-897-2474 and visit https://www.agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline/.

Virtual Farmer Listening Sessions

Angie Harris

UConn’s College of Agricultural, Health and Natural Resources is hosting farmer listening sessions! We would like to hear from you on the challenges you face, and the support you would like to see UConn provide. We will be presenting initial results from our producer survey and then open the floor up to all of you. More information can be found here: https://are.uconn.edu/listening-sessions/.

The listening sessions will be held at the following days/times:

  • Wednesday, April 26th, at 7 pm

  • Tuesday, May 2nd, at 7pm

You can register for a virtual listening session directly at Registration Link

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,

Cristina Connolly

Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

cristina.connolly@uconn.edu 

Download a copy of the flier

Job Opening: Assistant/Associate Extension Educator In Soil Health

Search #: 496069
Work type: Full-time
Location: Hartford County Extension Ctr
Categories: Faculty Extension Educator

The Department of Extension is seeking applicants for a full-time (11 month) non-tenure track Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in Soil Health. The successful applicant will assess, develop and deliver impactful extension programs on soil health, regenerative agriculture, and conservation practices. These programs will build an Extension program focused on creating more climate and economically resilient agricultural systems through improved knowledge of soils and soil health and will include soil and livestock manure management. This Extension Educator will collaborate with UConn personnel, state and federal agency partners, growers, and producers as appropriate. The successful applicant will develop an interdisciplinary education and applied research program in soil health addressing diverse cropping systems that include ornamental and turf crops, food and forage crops as well as composting that utilizes manure, food waste, and other organics. They will have familiarity with how to leverage federal, state, and regional programs to protect, preserve, and restore Connecticut soils. This includes collaborating with USDA – NRCS, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, CT Department of Agriculture, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other stakeholders to ensure growers, farmers and land managers are well informed and have the proper tools and knowledge to successfully build and maintain soil health. The plan of work will include making recommendations for using appropriate management practices and the latest technologies to protect water quality and quantity as well as other natural resources of CT and Long Island Sound.

To learn more and apply click here.

Celebrating George Washington Carver

Black background with green yellow and red stripes, the title "black history" and the words "black history month 2023: faith"George Washington Carver infographic

As the first African American who attended Iowa State University, George Washington Carver earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. An expert in plant research and development, Dr. Carver was recruited to Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, by the Black Educator, Booker T. Washington. Some of Dr. Carver’s accomplishments include:

👉🏾Taught black farmers how to rotate plants for healthy soils and better crops

👉🏾Invented the “Jessup Wagon”, a traveling demonstration wagon to teach farmers

👉🏾Developed over 300 products from peanuts and over 100 for sweet potatoes

👉🏾Wrote over 40 simple language bulletins, including advice and recipes

 

References: 

George W. Carver: An Uncommon Educator, Record-Journal, www.myrecordjournal.com,Feb 4,2023.

https://www.tuskegee.edu/support-tu/george-washington-carver (accessed 2.15.23)

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carver (accessed 2.15.23)

📷Credit: George Washington Carver (cpnas.org)

Feb/2023 Written and created by: U. R. Taylor, MS, RDN, CDN  and Lindsey Brush

#BlackHistoryMonth #AskUConn #UConnEFNEP #UConnExtension 

CT GROWN MARKETING TOOLS: LIST YOUR CSA

Does your farm offer a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) program? 

In the upcoming months the Connecticut Grown campaign will be promoting CSA’s and we want to be sure your farm is included. The Department of Agriculture maintains a list of Connecticut CSAs at https://portal.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74ef6c0c3fdcad5c83a78f294&id=343708bd23&e=075feba670.
To add your farm to this list, or to update the information on this page, please submit your information here: https://portal.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74ef6c0c3fdcad5c83a78f294&id=4c72f864a2&e=075feba670
Also, you can check to see if you listing needs to be updated or added to the farms list on heartCTgrown:  https://heartctgrown.extension.uconn.edu/

Job Opportunity: Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative

person holding a plant
Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative is Hiring!
Deadline to Apply:  December 9th, 2022
The Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative (SNEFCC) is reaching out with exciting news that we are hiring three positions! Please help spread the word among your networks or consider applying. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team and work closely with farmers of color in the region. All team members will contribute to the completion of deliverables associated with grant-funded projects. SNEFCC commits to hiring each of these positions for up to 20 to 24 months. We anticipate filling all positions asap. Please see attached PDF for the full announcement.
Position openings:
  • Project Manager
  • Project Coordinator 1
  • Project Coordinator 2
Applicants are invited to submit a resume and cover letter expressing their interest in the position(s) below. Email your application package to: Karen Spiller atkspiller4@gmail.comby December 9th, 5:00 pm.  In the subject line of your email please use: APPLICATION TO SNEFCC – [FIRST & LAST NAME]
Background:  The Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative is a majority BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organization of beginning farmers of color and collaborators who want to increase the success of farmers of color in our New England states.  We aim to position farmers of color to be ready for new opportunities that will arise, and to provide them with the necessary skills and capabilities to build and sustain successful farm enterprises now and in the future.

For more about the New CT Farmer Alliance, visit our web site at http://www.newctfarmers.com

Northeast Disability and Agriculture 2023 Conference Survey

Hey Farmers!

In order to help with the planning process of the Northeast Disability and Agriculture 2023 Conference Survey (Encuesta Para La Conferencia Noreste 2023 Sobre Discapacidad y Agricultura) would you please consider taking 3 minutes to fill out/ share this survey and help the steering committee (One of our local farms! ) to know what you want to see:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehUwhjpQjVLdwcsfTVqXgXuHbz61xr8OruAf1vl5UACLIwJQ/viewform

The aim for the conference is to be sensitive and responsive to the needs of farmers, agricultural service providers and the community. Your responses to this survey will help them design conference content, better identify gaps in disability awareness and needed services for participants. 

Nuestro objetivo para la conferencia es ser sensibles y receptivos a las necesidades de los agricultores, los proveedores de servicios agrícolas y las comunidades de apoyo. Sus respuestas a esta encuesta nos ayudarán a diseñar el contenido de la conferencia, identificar mejor las barreras en el conocimiento de discapacidades y los servicios necesarios para los participantes.

¡Por favor, llene esta encuesta y compártala con sus redes!

If you are interested in registering for the conference, fill out the form HERE.

Newest Crop Insurance Program

Small-scale, diversified farmers – have you heard the news? There’s a new insurance program available from USDA called Micro Farm insurance, available specifically for farmers making up to $350,000 annually. If you’ve thought federal crop insurance didn’t apply to you before, well, things are starting to change!
CT will have an in-person workshop at the Tolland Ag. Center, Vernon, CT –  Dec 1, 2022 (10am – 5pm, morning and afternoon sessions) It’s Free and Lunch is included!

This workshop is a sequence of five parts, divided into Session One and Session Two.  Session One (Parts A and B) covers Micro Farm eligibility requirements and the application process. In Session Two (Parts C, D, and E), we’ll look at ways to refine your financial recordkeeping. We invite you to attend one or both sessions depending on your interests and needs.

Session 1: Micro Farm Insurance – What is This and Who is Eligible?(Part A) Leave knowing whether Micro Farm insurance is applicable to your operation and what other risk management options are available if you are currently ineligible.

Session 1: Micro Farm Insurance – Applying for Insurance and What You Need to Know(Part B) Leave knowing how to apply for and benefit from Micro Farm insurance, and what financial records you will need. Understand how the insurance premium and coverage works, and how to work with an insurance agent and place a claim.

Session 2: Refining Your RecordsRefine your financial recordkeeping to better manage your farm business and prepare you for the Micro Farm insurance program.    (Part C) Understanding Your Farm’s Financial Records    (Part D) Preparing a Schedule F Tax Form    (Part E) Steps for Improving Your Financial Recordkeeping

Can’t attend but still could use the help? Check out these self-guided tools:

Check out The Carrot Project’s resources on USDA Micro Farm insurance and register for workshops here:  https://thecarrotproject.salsalabs.org/microfarmworkshop20222023

If you have any questions or would like individualized support, reach out to Amanda Chang, Outreach Coordinator at The Carrot Project, at achang@thecarrotproject.org or 617-674-2371 x 10.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34693.