University of Wisconsin - Extension

Self-directed teams are a dynamic approach to developing greater speed and flexibility in educational programs for farmers and agricultural businesses in Wisconsin. Teams of UW-Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources (ANRE) faculty and academic staff and representatives from farm organizations and industries develop and evaluate the programs.

Teams serve clients

¿Self-directed teams enable specialists and county agents to work together on emerging issues important to Wisconsin farmers and rural citizens,¿ says Rick Klemme, program leader and team coach.

¿We have been able to take on more issues and provide better educational programs. Our relationships with agribusinesses and agencies have grown stronger, which improves our ability to recognize issues and mobilize resources to address them,¿ Klemme says.

Teams help individuals grow

Tom Parslow, assistant program leader and team coach, says, ¿The teams bring individuals together to capitalize on their expertise and interest in helping solve a problem. I have seen new leadership step forward as agents gain expertise in dealing with local problems and take their career development to a new level.¿

Teamwork throughout ANRE

Here are just a few examples of the breadth of teamwork in the ANRE area:

- Team Grains developed materials on marketing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and helped organize a conference on Biotechnology in Agriculture.

- The Urban Agriculture/Horticulture Team works with the Master Gardener Program and Our Project FEEDs, a plan to establish 30 community gardens statewide.

- The Dairy Team is investigating farm efficiency and profitability for the small dairy. The team¿s Hispanic Labor Project developed bilingual training for Hispanic dairy workers and their employers.

- The Swine Team, Dairy Team and Beef Team are active in the state¿s foot- and-mouth disease preparedness efforts, as UW-Extension works in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, state veterinarians and others. A videoconference, Biosecurity on the Farm, aired at 222 sites nationwide; 62 were in Wisconsin.

Teams enhance programs

¿The self-directed teams model has the potential to work extremely well within Extension,¿ says Lee Cunningham, Dane County director and team coach, ¿because agents closest to the clientele are directly involved in making decisions as educational programs are put together. Teams also develop long-term working relationships with clientele and potential supporters who may provide added soft dollars to enhance our programs.¿

For more information: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/">www.uwex.edu/ces/ag