In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established a national Cooperative Extension Service associated with each land-grant institution. This pillar of the land-grant system partnered agricultural colleges with extension to disseminate research produced through the land-grant universities’ experiment stations. The transfer of knowledge has never been effective when implemented as a one-way street. Instead, extension professionals and farmers cultivate relationships and work together to identify relevant information to improve production capacity. This session features extension faculty and farmers who have developed productive working relationships. We will learn how these relationships impact farmers’ food production capacity and advance innovation on the farm. We will also provide practical advice on how to develop fruitful relationships.
Speakers:
Kelly Wilson, assistant director, Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri — session lead
Charles Ellis, field specialist, agricultural engineering, MU Extension in Lincoln County
Gibron Jones, founder, Hosco Foods (Holistic Organic Sustainable Cooperative)
Debi Kelly, field specialist, horticulture, MU Extension in Jefferson County
Delanie Trusty, farmer
