Connie’s Comments by Connie Strunk, Turner County Extension Educator—Agronomy 

August 7, 2009

            With the Turner County Fair only days away and the first day of school looming overhead; excitement is in the air.  The county fair brings people out of the wood work from around the area where they all come to take in the sights, sounds, and of course to sample all of the delicious food that our food stands have to offer!  Whether you enjoy the games and rides on the midway, taking in a grandstand event, socializing in heritage park, sampling all of the fair food, strolling through all the exhibit buildings, watching the different livestock shows, or (my kids’ favorite) spending time in Old MacDonald’s Farm, the list of opportunities at the fair could go on and on. 

            Currently, there is a grant opportunity for youth ages 8-18 to get involved in on-farm research, demonstrations, or educational projects.  This grant opportunity is open to all youth ages 8-18.  They DO NOT need to be in 4-H or FFA to apply.  The 2009 Call for Youth Grant Proposals is now available.  The deadline for the 2009 Youth Grant proposal is due by 4:30 p.m. on September 15, 2009.

            Research and demonstration projects are for hands-on efforts to explore sustainable agriculture issues and practices.  Education projects can involve teaching others about sustainable agriculture or attending a sustainable agriculture conference, workshop, or camp.  The maximum award is $400.

            Some projects that have been founded in the past for South Dakota youth include: Continuing egg production—a more natural way; Putting poultry out to pasture; Roaming and raising rabbits; and Wild berry opportunities.

Sustainable Agriculture has no set rules but it does have a clear objective: to find ways of farming and ranching that help us meet our profit goals, our family and community goals for quality of life, and our environmental goals over the long term. 

Here is a list of Sustainable Agriculture Practices:
The project you choose is up to you and it should show your own interests in Sustainable Agriculture.  You can find more information about sustainability at www.SARE.org or take a free online course about the basic concepts at www.sare.org/coreinfo/course1info.htm.  You can locate the grant application at http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/cfp.htm under the Youth Grant Program section.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Rotational Grazing (including Management-intensive & Mob Grazing)
• Soil Erosion Control
• Soil Quality Improvement
• Water Quality Improvement/Wetlands
• Cover Crops
• Crop/Landscape Diversity
• Nutrient Management
• Agroforestry
• Value-Added and Direct Marketing
• Wildlife Preservation
• Beneficial Insects
• Poultry and Small-Scale Livestock Production
• Holistic/Systems Approaches to Farming and Ranching
• Organic Agriculture
• Alternative Weed Control

If you have any questions about the program, the process of selection, or your project ideas, call or e-mail Joan Benjamin at 402-472-0809, 1-800-529-1342 or jbenjamin2@unl.edu.  Joan is the North Central Region-SARE Associate Regional Coordinator. 

If there is a youth who is interested in this opportunity please feel free to contact me at the Turner County Extension Office at 297-3112 or connie.strunk@sdstate.edu if you need any help.