Ag Entrepreneurship Education Project Updates

Project Title:  Ag Innovation Center: Year Two Round 3 (2005)

Project Leader (s):  Greg Wise, Greg Lawless

Project Collaborators:     DATCP, Wisc Technical College System, Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network, including the SBDCs

Project Category: Outreach/Education

Situation:  A need exists to provide agricultural entrepreneurs with business training and support to help them develop new value-added agricultural enterprises.  Thanks to a USDA-funded “train-the-trainer” project with Michigan State University in 2004, we now have twenty-six “Agricultural Innovation Counselors” in place to provide this support.  Currently, we have an EAM Team grant to implement a new Ag Innovation Center in Wisconsin.  In the forthcoming year, we request additional EAM team support to continue the development and management of the AIC, including an effort to bring at least 12 more counselors on board and expand our coverage of the state.

Response: 

Expected Outcomes:

• The Ag Innovation Center and its Ag Innovation Counselors will become known as an excellent resource for entrepreneurial producers pursuing “value-added” strategies.
• The AIC’s “Tilling the Soil” NxLevel program will adapted as needed and offered in 6 or more locations in the winter of 2005-06, and will be preceded by a series of one-night “First Step” programs to attract and prepare potential NxLevel participants.
• Current AIC Counselors will continue to receive professional development training, funded by the proceeds of the NxLevel programs.
• The AIC will attract and train at least twelve new Counselors in the summer of 2006, targeting areas of the state that are not currently served adequately.

Activities Timeline:

• September 2005 – September 2006:  AIC staff (Wise and Lawless) will provide on-going support to AIC Counselors and will manage the partnerships with DATCP, WEN, etc.
• October and November, 2005:  Ag Innovation Center Counselors and staff will partner with local SBDCs to offer a series of one-night “First Step” programs across the state as part of a promotional campaign to support the NxLevel courses.
• November 2005-March 2006:  The AIC will sponsor NxLevel courses will be offered in each of the 7 AIC regions, in partnership with local SBDCs.
• April – September 2006:  A training program will be offered to prospective new counselors so more parts of the state may be covered.

Results:  We have not yet begun tapping this 3rd round of AIC dollars.  However, much of what we promised to do has begun.  Wise and Lawless have provided the back-up support to local counselors, largely by helping coordinate and promote the NxLevel courses.  Nearly as planned, six of the seven regions offered the courses this winter (05-06).  However, two of the courses have been cancelled due to insufficient response, two are underway, and two are still pending.  A total of 15 Ag entrepreneurs are taking the two transpiring courses.  One very positive outcome of the NxLevel development process has been the increased partnerships with various SBDCs and Technical Colleges.  Meanwhile, many counselors are working 1-on-1 with individual entrepreneurs and groups of farmers.  One example is a group of dairy farmers in South Central Wisconsin who are looking to add value to their milk.  Their primary advisor is Laura Paine, Columbia County Ag agent.  While not an AIC Counselor, she is an EAM Team member.   However, one AIC Counselor, Paul Dietmann, is very involved with the project, while two others have made themselves available as needed.  Another AIC Counselor, Keith VanderVelde, continues to work with the produce auction in Marquette County, which he helped organize with EAM Team support in 2003.  AIC Counselor Tim Rehbein in Vernon County continues to work with his group of grape growers.  The four AIC Counselors at DATCP have also reported extensive work with clients.  Many other counselors also report 1-on-1 support of clients.