Howdy Farm: Promoting Sustainable Agriculture Through Experiential Education

1. College of Agriculture And Life Sciences A Grassroots Learning Lab

2. Howdy Farm Beginnings • Founded in 2009 by Brady Grimes ’12 • Student- led initiative that seeks to promote local food, facilitate organic research, and enable students to experience agriculture hands on • Link with Dining Services • Source of local, organic produce • 5-acre farm located on west campus • Goal: promote sustainable agriculture

3. Why We Matter

4. Why We Matter

5. $146,000 from Students • 2011 --- $50,000 grant to establish Student Farm • 2012 --- $96,000 grant for Greenhouse & Education Facility* • Students make this possible • What is this Greenfund you speak of?.... • Greenfund.tamu.edu • Student run board • $300,000 per year of student dollars

6. Where Can YOU Find our Food? • University Club in Rudder Tower • Farmer’s Markets • Bryan • Houston • CSA – R • Community supported agriculture research • Student shares are $200 for 12 weeks of produce • Faculty/Adult shares are $240 for 12 weeks of produce • Sign up at studentfarmblog.wordpress.com

10. High Impact Learning • The Howdy! Farm program facilitates: • Experiential Education classes • Internships • Undergraduate & Graduate Research • AgriLife Extension Research • Community Development • Volunteer opportunities • Food Bank Donations

11. Desiree Kohen’s Graduate Studies include Hydroponic and Aquaponic Research conducted in a greenhouse environment.

12. Internships + Undergraduate Research • Hort 485 – Research paper + Internship – 3 hour course credit • Hort 484 – Internship – 3 hour course credit

13. Community Development

15. Experiential Education Classroom • Integrated courses include: • Hort 315 - Vegetable Production • Geog 303 • AGCJ 380 – Workshop in Agricultural Communications and Journalism

25. Waste Recycling • The Howdy Farm has recycled 168,000 lbs of University Waste

26. Food Bank Donations • All produce that hasn’t been sold or is not picked up by a CSA-R customer is donated to Brazos Valley Food Bank.

28. Attraction of Students to Agriculture • First Exposure • Courses from various colleges looking for experiential education • Advertise the college and department • Brings students from diverse backgrounds and interests; student groups

29. Research • Organic certification • Farm that is open to facilitate any project that fits within its parameters • Research all aspects of small farm production • Markets • Post harvest • Management • Economic data • Crop production • Continue graduate and undergraduate projects • 4 special problems courses this spring

30. Extension • Facility for training programs • Local and regional extension • On and off the Farm outreach to students • Use our relationships with local growers to help solve problems

31. Family What we do is not possible without the support of our peers, our university and our local community. You are the family that fosters our success. Thank you!

32. The Student Farm • Found on an increasing number of college and university campuses • Students get practical experience in sustainable agricultural production, marketing and management • Formal courses and student led experimentation • freedom to exercise self-directed learning, critically reflective thinking, and innovation. • A class room for practical experiential education, organic research, and small farms extension

33. The Competition • University of Kentucky • Major in sustainable agriculture • College of Agriculture certified-organic CSA farm where students work the day-to-day management • Student credits by completing apprenticeships in sustainable agriculture where they assist farmers on organic farms with daily activities. • International Exchange Programs • Colorado State University • Interdisciplinary program • Internship experience • Organic Ag Degree concentration • Student-run organic garden • . • Michigan State University • 10-acre organic farm • Students manage operations • Year-round for CSA distribution. • Organic Farmer 9-month Training Program • Sustainable Ag and Food Systems Concentrations • Washington State University • Organic Agriculture Systems Major • Hands-on learning • University’s organically-certified farm • Internships are possible for students to work directly with farmers and help them manage their farms.

34. Howdy! Farm Sustainability Center

35. Grant Description • The Howdy! Farm envisions an educational organic agriculture facility utilizing solar and rainwater technologies to be constructed on west campus near the Howdy Farm’s organic production site. • This structure would ensure year-round greenhouse production capability and adequate learning space. • The facility will educate TAMU students about sustainable greenhouse production by hosting classes and using the space for research, class projects, and independent graduate and undergraduate research on sustainable crop production.

36. Vision 2020 • Teaching Farm • High-impact learning lab for College of Agricultural & Life Sciences • Center for Minor in Sustainability • Home for students to reconnect with food • Undergraduate Internships/Research • Graduate Research • Extension Research • Community Development & Master Gardener’s Education

37. Minor in Sustainability • ENTO 401 – Principles of Insect Pest Management • HORT 325 - Vegetable Crop Production • SCSC 301 - Soil Science • HORT 301 - Garden Science • AGSM 335 – Water and Soil Management • RPTS 372 - Youth Development Practice • POSC 412 - Poultry Feed Formulation • RENR 205 - Fundamentals of Ecology • AGEC 314. Marketing Agricultural and Food Products. • ALED 125 - Leadership Learning Community • NUTR 211 - Scientific Principles of Foods

38. Study Abroad Potential • Semester Abroad between Student farms across the nation or internationally

39. Organizational Structure

40. Future Location