wrapup photos and notes

8/14/2019 wrapup photos and notes

1/28

Draft

Round Table

Notes

Regional Conservation Professional Training

Round Table Agenda

Illinois Beach Resort, Zion IL

March 13-14 2008Thursday, March 13th

12:00 pm Lunch available

12:30 pm Registration

1:00 pm Opening Session - Welcome and introductions

Bob Feffer, Assistant Superintendent Illinois Beach State Park,

Ingrid West, Regional Conservation Professional Training Coordinator

1:20 Overview and history of Conservation Professional Training Initiative and the Great Lakes

RegionalWater Program

Rebecca Power, Regional Water Quality Liaison - UWEX

Pat Murphy, State Conservationist Wisconsin NRCS

Kevin Erb, Conservation Training and Development Coordinator - UWEX

2:00 Results of the multi-state needs assessments - a regional perspective - Kevin Erb

2:30 State training program overviews

MN, IL, IN, MI, IA, WI

4:00 Presentation of web based course registration and student tracking system -Janice Kepka,

Web Development - UWEX

4:30 Introduction to Roundtable and 6 Hats Thinking - Jennifer Kushner, Evaluation Specialist

- UWEX

6:00 pm Working Dinner Presentation of The Chicago Wilderness Partnership,

John Rogner, Field Supervisor - USFWS Chicago Office


2/28


3/28

Draft

~ Six Hats Group Activity ~

Question: What would an ideal regional

conservation professional training program look like?

Blue:

Prioritize needs

Uniform website

Annual regional CPT meeting

Case study learning Web/virtual and on land training

State coordinator liaison

Trainer consistency

Organize existing data/resources in matrix like

IN inventory of existing skills

Yellow

Save time and $

Other funding may be available

Strengths of many experts

Shared expertise

Less turnover

Stronger network

Internal and external audiences

Virtual training 24/7

Red

Pride Issues

Positive Environment w/ like minded colleagues

Staff satisfaction

Perception of more government

More speakers styles, diversity of delivery

Green

Access-multiple formats/media/web/distance/virtual (D+D)

Flexibility Regional w/ personalized local

Train the trainers

Consistency across states materials and

messages

Fulfills multiple needs Reg and CEUs

Black

Too much work

Money

Danger of oversimplifying states have different

needs and cultures Need to engage farmers/land owners

Technology Do people want it?

White

Consider State and audience differences

Lack of data Uniform gathering tool

Established relationship

Efficiency and leverage

o Avoid overlapping training from

different sources.

o Financial efficiencies.

o

Distance to travelo Return on investments for TSPs.

Broaden NRCS/SWCD universe beyond training

in house

o Collaborative effort

o Compile data how much each state to

pay for services U.S. regional costs.

o Inventory of where skills are where best

training can take place

Uniform worksheets, outlines, information and

programs would be helpful.


4/28


5/28

Draft

How practices work,

Evaluation needs role programs vs. technical.

Build more training providing info PDs (not a prilhy)

Field based hands on training.

Respond to demand.

Determine demand/needs but demand changes.

Need to ramp up quickly.

Avoid mixing audiences that need different training.

Efficiency avoid overlapping training from different sources. Financial efficiencies.

Return on investments for TSPs.

Sustainable over by noon.

SWCD give up national conference in favor of regional conference?

CCAs go less than or equal to 100 miles for CEUs.

Is CCA concept sustainable (Yes)?

Certified soil

Seniors need for CCA training/CEUs survey work how many, who, topics, expand the list.

How to broaden NRCS/SWCD universe beyond training in house: collaborative effort ext? ASA-hosting?

Compile data how much each state to pay for services U.S. regional costs.

Inventory of where skills are where best training can take place use this to convince upper management.

State up database.

Use surveys.

Survey data good to have need to gather more.

Survey training topics.

State to state different.

Different audiences.

I dont have a very good understanding.

Uniform worksheet would be helpful.

Survey data.

Topics.

Each state has different needs/audiences.

Uniform gathering tool.

Blue Hat Virtual, preliminary web reference/templates pre meeting to localize overview on site/on land farmers/

practice profit.

Annual regional training meeting to share success ideas.

On farm training with real farmers.

Focus on land/client.

Case study based learning.

Mixed trainers for consistency.

Use U researchers for consistency to organize the training system.

Basic regional structure varied for each state by trainers, audiences, examples.

Combine society meetings (e.g. Corn/Soy)

How do professionals work as a team?

Some states NRCS do training themselves others not.

Whos going to do the training?

Whos keeping the lists and how to access?

Assessment program continuum?

Use technology more effectively.

Follow up to the on-line training (host workshop forum/discussion forum have facilitator). Find ways to do

hand-on training.

Curriculum checkpoints to ensure consistent learning across the region.

Uniform website.

Single information of whats existing, whats needed.

Prioritize needs.


6/28

Draft

Who can contribute?

Single source of available (inventory)

knowledge.

What info is needed (identify needs) -

Prioritize needs. Who will? State

coordinator/liaison.

Black Hat Money,

Timing,

Priorities,

Attitudes,

Localize need cannot be addressed by regional program (methodology/critical adapted to needs)

Tailoring too rural not regional.

Financial Drivers.

Loss of regional coordination.

It will be mandated.

If we put our best people on it, it will happen.

Take away ego & ownership send membership to other states,

Pay for membership in regional organization.

Peer pressure from other states. Problem of different regions across states.

Young people are different learners styles.

Pod cast trainings?

Biofuel training lacks commitment need face to face instruction.

Adaptive management put it out there and try it.

Who will pay need full time person on this in each state?

Moving from detailed plan to numbers?

History dont over simplify!

Engaged farmer/landowners.

Logistics of doing on-line is difficult.

Do our clients want technology?

Do we have money to do this?

Will they even come? Will they pay to come?

No time.

Not relevant to their work.

Distance.

Levels of training.

Too much work.

State cultures and needs too different.

So expensive.

Hard to coordinate.

State cultures are too different.

Too expensive.

Too much time.

Training coordination across disciplines. Work Load.

Personality/political issues.

Red Hat Bunch at crop training push up to underpaid/under appreciated staff improves satisfaction/success stories.

Multiple speakers more interesting.

Coordinator training,

More perspective/styles/interest.

Hands on holds interest/knowledge sticks.

MN is going to mandate. Earl Butz ns. H.H.H.


7/28

Draft

Whats in this for me?

Why are you putting numbers on my operation?

Organic farming doesnt get carbon offsets?

Most falls back to back.

Core group of people get fired up and pass it on.

Can we look at federal funding?

Improves network.

Pride

Another damn government project. Pride issues.

Threatened by other trainings.

Positive environment with like-minded professionals.

Yellow Hat Balanced approach local vs. regional-shared tech/knowledge.

A time had by all,

Cooperative outcome.

Allow to operate with limited resources.

Agencies pool money/staff to achieve goal.

Coordinate.

Work with SWCD deliver CEUs or Soil & Water. Virtual training always available.

That allows targeting to level.

Monitoring program.

Internal and external audience.

Incentives for training.

TSP needs motivation economics.

New employers.

Successful examples.

Pilot projects text with highly invested stakeholders and refine.

Bring in some agencies who arent represented today including wildlife, sporting, etc. Corn/Soy check offs?

Less turnover by training people and less training needs.

More qualified workers.

Conservation benefits. Service will improve,

People happy, legislative people happy, give more money.

Even with on-line, the materials will be still available.

Shared expertise.

Were all here!

Cant wait for plan to be perfect.

Start small.

Little successes.

Save time.

Save money.

Other funding sources available.

Obvious interest.

Start small and build on success.

Eventually will save time.

Capitalize on those areas of funding that

will.

Draws on strengths of different experts.


8/28

Draft

7:00 am Breakfast /State meetings (Regional Team)

8:00 am Farm Bill implications for conservation training - Pat Murphy, Jeff St Ores (NRCS)

8:30 am Review outcomes from information gathering session and state breakfast - Jennifer Kushner

9:00 am Creating a shared vision - Ingrid West

9:30 am Round Table sessions - Jennifer Kushner Round Table Facilitator

Conservation Planning

Conservation Topics

Emerging Issues

12:15 pm Via Phone - Robin Shepard

12:30 pm Working Lunch

1:30 pm Futures planning Products and next steps

2:30 pm Closing Discussion - Rebecca Power

3:00 pm Safe Journey Home

Friday, March 14th


9/28

Draft


10/28

Draft

Round Table Discussion

Topic Areas

Ideas and Outcomes Sessions 1-3

CNMP Team:

Existing Models

Each State

ISU Certification

State Specific Tweaking of CNMP

Audience of CNMP Development?

-Do we need a CNMP Lite?

Different Regulatory Bodies reviewing/regulating/updating CNMPs

Regional Farming Organizations

o Changing philosophy of Responsibility for Conservation

- Levels of Experience/Expertise for CNMP

Different Levels of Certification Development

Update Training w/ new Industry Technologies

-Regional Dynamic encourages support/development of BMPs

-Renewal of Certification needs to be more in depth

Feed Management Plans Team: Pat Murphy, Jeff St Ores, Mary Fleissner, Janice Kepka)

What feed management looks like:

Audience producer, planners (nutrition, conservation) core-the same

Content- sampling protocols

Ration mixing

Appropriate Nutrient/nutrition

Partnerships-nutritionists, feed dealers, feed specialists (herd health animal)

Missing links between agri-business/specialists/farmersWhat might this look like?

Reference docs fast facts

Nutrient load balancing/planning tool

Barriers/Influences:

Changing regulations-air emissions

tech talk make info understandable

Quick technology for low bandwidth

More is NOT always better

$$ - cheap feed is not always appropriate

Small input changes may = production changes

Complexity

Grazing Management(Team: Dennis Johnson, Eileen Klavidko, Bill Bond, Dewayne Johnson, and StanSolomon)

Common Principals

Technical

Train people who do plans, who do implementation # of people who do plans

Interpretation of Regulations

Ext = farmer orientation

NRCS = Technical Orientation

TMDL- Watershed Priority for grazing

Flexible in plan


11/28

Draft

Share what other states are doing-to help guide & develop

NRCS suspend moratorium on training

= Ext umbrella to implement

= sharing across state lines

Forage Regional Variations due to Ecology

NGO = Pier groups for training grazing clubs= partnerships

Opportunity to increase training to peer groups

Research Translated to GLCI & ARS, SWCS

Farmer/Regulatory Agency Distrust

Unrealistic; subjective, unrealistic

Standards vs. Goal

Programmatic vs. Flexibility

1/3 Dont implement & plan

Funding Drivers-

Not willing to pay for plan

i.e. occasional grazing in areas fencing

Critical Mass of people

o i.e. working in area (specialists) to have meetings to discuss & plan

Everyone has a finger in but not a full commitment

Engineering-Integration

o Watering-(not enough)

o Fencing

Justification when its not your job priority

GLCI

Retirement

Carbon imprint

Economist lack of in the process

Farmstead

Readily accessible introductory session starts from scratch

-increments, basics for beginners

Address different types of farms (orchards, dairy, row crops)

Become more specialized at higher level training

Highest level=onsite/field mentoring training have list of available mentors

Learn ability to asses & identify needs not necessary. Implement complex solutions/practices

Drivers

Can producers see the value in doing cons. Practices

Improve bottom line/economics

Staying within regulations

Long term sustainability

Basic Session Includes: soils, info, use soil survey

Identify important/sensitive on farm objects

Hydrology

Links for state specific info sources Independent of programs focus on science; basics

Reading the landscape

Mentoring

How to work with producers communication skills

On site resource assessment

Show perspectives of many stakeholders/team based approach @ all levels

Barriers

Time and money

Team approach complicates the training challenging to integrate various specializations

Current drivers may not be most effective


12/28

Draft

Nutrient Management

Barriers & drivers incorporated throughout

- Barriers

Too state specific

Every state is a part of Mississippi, Ohio River Basins too

- Drivers

Some common things will happen at the larger level-What would it look like?

Common assessment tool

MI, OH, IN = these are together

NM planners:

o Training would help planners understand what soil tests mean & how to apply based upon state???

Need for wider range of understanding beyond single farm management

Outside the box land treatments that can be used to be identified

Regional package for TSPs, landowners, agency that can be adapted

Share state forms & materials that aid in guiding through he planning process

o What info is important

o How can producers benefit?

o What can help show benefit on a larger scale and include this

Develop more systematic approach

CNMP light ex: feed management, anything that affects NM/manure content

Need to involve animal science & facility designers, in addition to soil fertility, crops, people (more than

traditional NM planners)

Barrier: nutrients are defined differently and/or handled differently waste utilization manure, commercial

fertilizer, legumes credits

Definition is different across states

o Livestock waste = CNMP

o NM Plan = fertilizer & credits

Process steps can be used to develop training materials application timing, etc.

Research is done-needs to be simplified & presented to CCAs, others

Lag time exists change in NM & how it shows up in the environment so how to convince that is works

Need real time monitoring on quick resource change Need to measure behavior change & how this is result of NM

Economics can help change paradigm

Crop yields work against us in terms of success

VRT(variable rate technology) who is relaying this information in a unbiased way

VRT training is also needed for those working with the farmers

Barrier for service providers the thought that they need to change their business

Do they need to start to partner with others more? Other expertise

Opportunity- training for crop consulting businesses to learn other things & diversify business

Barrier: paperwork requirements to show accountability-do the agencies really need these

Barrier: identify what is absolutely essential & pare it down

Session could be developed to show the benefits of focusing on environmental component may help

encourage other planners to really incorporate

Conflict of interest = selling product & planning

Organic Farming (Team: Shannon, Pat Murphy, Rah, Jim Bond, Dennis Johnson, Kim Leizinger, IngridWest)

System/Not product

Certification protocols (general)

Resource Concerns/ alternatives

SARE- Organic Dairy 101

Involve producers as teachers

Target Audiences


13/28

Draft

Integrate

Environmental security programs

Index ratings

Understanding impacts systems

Psychi-of-producers/non traditional motivation to: health, profit, niche market, -model (small scale)

Ethnic markets

Amish

Beginning farmers

Local foods CSAs

How organic fit into scheme-traditional/organic/other label

Need for farmers help w/providing

o Info on how

o Marketing

o Delivering systems

o Transportation costs

Cost sharing for certifiers

Non-traditional TSPs

Currently no TSPs to help

NGO, University, certifiers

Barriers: no infrastructure

NRCS not certifier so not participating in working w/certifiers/work w/erosion

Currently course in MN organic dairy

Tools are there but havent identified the opportunity of the fit

Assist w/process

Resource assessment

Identify new strategies that underlie??? Good practices GLGN Economists

Plug into existing network program opportunities

Framing good mgmt practices

Overcoming preserved?? Limitations

Farming system/not product

Drainage (Stanley Solomon Jr. Kevan Klingberg, Kevin Blanchet, Andrew Nesseth, Al Kean, WayneAnderson, John Brach)

Content- Broad Perspective

o WQ

o Production

o Erosion Control

o System design for mgt on new retrofits

o 2 stage ditch design

Audience-

o Contractors

o Designers

o Producerso Agency

o Do-it yourself contractors

Delivery

o Build on current regional network es- public, adm-private

Barriers

o Fear of regulation

o us vs. them

o Updating ag infrastructure

o Status of research


14/28

Draft

Riparian Corridor Management (Team: Tim Larson, Dennis Johnson, Tammy Lawson, RichNichols, Tim Gieseke, Jeff St Ores, and Mary Fleissner)

Audience; regulators, tech TSP

Federal Manual

EPA/TMDL/NRCS fundamental information suited for web reg. training

Contento Multiple disciplines topic areas resource identification

Erosion Control (Team: Dewayne Johnson, Bill Bond, Coreen Fallat, Duane, Mike R, Angela, Christy, andLes Everett)

Video of on site practices- placed on web/blog use for course

Improves availability of training opportunities

General blog for questions

Inventory potential specialists/teams for doing these videos/courses given resources for

course development

Need to do before retirements or contract them after

Retired soil scientists/classifiers Increased availability of high speed internet improves this option but some face/face time

needed

Barrier - complexity of topic

Needs to be divided into smaller sections

Farm Bill being program driven

Provide advance training in selected topics

Train/Trainer

CPESC concerns

V of MN course certification in sediment /erosion control

Need standardization of teaching courses

Source of ID needed: workshop/forum

Hands on training necessary in many cases

Cover Crop (Team: Luther Smith, Eileen K, Ted Funk, Courtney Smith, and Nathan Mueller)

Economic Components- Never Talk about

o Adds nutrients

o Payoffs

o Practicality/hassle

o Added risks

o Another thing to do

o If its not done right

o Improved soil quality

o Holding nutrients clover/corn

o Input costs = economicalo Opportune time

o Lack research to jump into discussion

Increase research training

Cost share incentives; EQIP - $20 A

Organic cover crops

* Midwest cover crops council

Extension Products Training

CEUs

? Cant Work on my farm

Rural Sociologist

Water Quality


15/28

Draft

o Reduces leaching

o Incentive payments

Intangible benefits

Carbon offsetting

? How to do it?

o Equipment

o Practicality

o How, what, where, when

Expectations/Realistic Risks

EQIP-is only short term Marketing

Testimonials

Researchers

Field Days/hands on

o Winter training for technical

o Timing for field day November

o Identify farm locations- more sites, close to group

o Soil types

o Climate

Land Tenure leasing

Gather information on Barriers

Create focus groups

Understand issues

Invasive Species (Team: Pat Murphy, Ann L, Shannon)

Content

o Step 1: Identify the plants regional or state defines?

Teaching identification skills

Effective management strategies/protocols

o Step 2: Identify by ecosystems/threat level

Impact on non-controlled species

Plant physiology

Audience specific Information references

Barriers cost of mgmt strategies- chemicals labor re-establishment

o Complexity of control strategies > not one recipe

o Regulations who should mandate?

o Terminology invasive

o Politics (inter-agency as well as upper level)

o Incentives (long term commitment)/motivation (lack of)

Drivers

o Environmental interest groups

o Production interests

o Programs (WHIP, CRP, etc)

Climate & Energy (Team: Rich, Duane, Dewayne, Courtney, Wayne, Timothy)

SWCS planning for extremes

Need to know carbon footprint basics

Carbon credits no till difference for qualifying for credits compared to other programs

Clearinghouse for research

Planning based on current weather (last 20 yr) trends/extremes

Some training- need basics education

Trends in climate

Need basic carbon/cycling training

Sharing of regional research & economic impacts for clients


16/28

Draft

Groundwater (Kevan, Eileen, Christy, Nathan, Coreen, Jeff)

MI has a lot of resources already available (some has restricted access)

GW may be more open/available as a regional training-not as state specific

Specifics: soil and relation to water

Need to increase correlation to surface water quality/quantity

Training on hydrology

Might be able to use some existing resources as a model MI Home A Syst Web based training for use at anytime make it interactive

Identify case studies to highlight/explain hydrologic connections

Focus on connection of GW to health, more buy in, increase opportunity

Find ways to catalog existing well water tests

Compare state averages, take new data and interpret

Homeland Security issues w/GW

Is training I&E or training on practices to preserve/conserve quantity/quality?

Take advantage of existing resources

Do we need nitrogen management training?

Nitrogen restrictions in fall?

What might be down the road for all of us?

Audience

o Landownerso Agency/UWEX, new hires

o Well drillers

Well logs could be a good tool for technicians (soil layers, location)

Make state guidance more accessible

Make vulnerable areas more accessible to aid in scoring?? For EQIP (MN)

Make something regional that incorporates many different aspects that can then be massaged & addressed (w/a

local perspective)

Professional Development (Team: Ann L, Luther S, Tammy, Tim G, Al Kean, and Kevin Blanchet)

What is it?

Personal on-going learning Non-scientific components of continuing ed.

Generalists vs. specialists

Topics

Science

Interpersonal

Econ

Computer

Benefits morale (because theres no $)

What has been neglected?

Providers exist to teach leadership, communication, etc Neglected: There is no training for

o Scientific generalist, integrators, team leaders

o Attach value to generalists

Conservation planning multi course track NRCS are policy specialists (not technical generalists/integrators)

Training track need to define this (See Ohio Model)

Certification standards that can be met by numerous courses

Resource assessment (including experience implementation)

Lack of IDP

Peer review and learning (IN model)

Support existing professional development organizations


17/28

Draft

Impacts of Bio Fuels (Stan Solomon, Jon Brach, Mary Fleissner, Angie Williams, Ted Funk, AndrewNesseth)

What does a regional training look like?

o Multi Issue

Corn Stover VS Grass/Cellulousic

Drainage mgmt of changing crop production systems

Nutrient mgmto Sustainability of biofuel systems

o Removal of Soil carbon

o Erosion _ Residue removal

o Sources of Bio Fuel

o Long term options/implications of biofuels

Absentee landowners, etc.

o Biofuels 101 for new agency employees

o Energy sources for conversion process

o System Thinking

Audiences

o Policy creators

o Industry people

o Bridge marketingo Absentee Landowners

Barriers/Drivers

o Get infrastructure

o Getting production to scale needed

o Wildfires Switch grass

o Residue removal as immediate threat


18/28

Draft

Taking the time to look at the scene from different

vantage points...Similarly to what we were doing over

the past two days - sharing our ideas and perspectives

getting a feel for and an understanding of the regioanl

conservation professonal training landscape.


19/28

Draft

Futures Planning Products, Questions and Issues

(Whole Group Activity)

MOU Aggregate of ideas,

o Common understandingWe can make it work

o Identify common messages ? Collaboration on what

Clarify what we are not

o A loose affiliation that is:

People focused

Builds capacity

Who are the partners: Decision for who participates

Include other states i.e. Iowa, Missouri

o Have a process in place for conflict resolution and to facilitate discussion

Define Audiences for courses

Process for training

Knowing our networks

Inventory

KISS - What is it we can put together that is already out there

Scope: Core areas and emerging issues

Identify easy ways to share curricula

Access to information: sharing, networking, communication

Website: what does it deliver and networks

Broader knowledge across state lines

Will there be funding? State, Federal, other grants

Identify Cost/Benefits

When hiring staff give information and encourage collaboration on appropriate issues


20/28

Draft

Futures Planning and Program Development

Organizational Frameworko Define Scope of work

o Develop support

o Figure out the nuts and bolts of how this will work funding, priorities, protocols, etco Define the mission and vision of the regional partnership

o Define scope of collaboration, membership/partnership parameters

o MOU development

o Incorporate course development process into national or regional policy goals

o Resource assessment

o Develop priorities for regional training

o Development /revision of interim leadership team/steering committee

o Schedule for continued collaboration Benchmarks

o Build capacity to meet the educational needs of the next resource issue

Sustainabilityo Sustainability how will this program continueo Define funding strategy for regional products and services

o Develop strategies for long term funding sources

o Increase availability of CEUs in soil and water

o New funding for transitional training /new and old professional

o Refine our model relative to wholesaling vs. retailing training

Communicationo Ability to coordinate and share resources to develop new sessions

o Awareness of whats available at any time

o Centralized resource Clearinghouse

o Networking

Partnershipo Identification or key contacts in states (as steering committee and go between for ideas)

o Voluntary commitments from agencies

o Identify member organizations representatives

o Point people for coordination communication and collaboration and roles

o Provides measurable tier of expertise of capacity to implement conservation

o Consult w. professional organizations to help develop curricula industry groups hunting and fishing

etc

o Build mentoring network of retirees/soon to be retirees to be key players in this effort

o Bring non traditional conservation groups into the membership fold i.e. fishing and hunting, industry

groups, pork producers, corn and soybean growers, forestry, etc

o id. state differences

o Define and clarify partners and roles

o Establish longer term commitment MOU

o Somehow tap into the experts in each state on different topics, have them meet and say what they think

is needed and what each of them would contribute to regional programs or whether theyll each do

their own but have learned from others.

o Identify contact people for each program

o Who is going to help support a participant who chooses

o Service providers and partners

o Regional based discovery committee


21/28

Draft

Product Developmento Define products and services of regional CPTP

o Develop regional framework for training conservation planning tracks i.e.

o Expanding the diversity of training in the state/region

o Program can evolve open to changes and tweaks

o Provide regional templates that are tweaked by states

o Available to anyone whos interested (NRCS, Ext, CCAs SWCD etc)

o Development of possible training options to try: choose 1-3 options and work to identify whetherappropriate, and how it might be developed and delivered

o One strong regional pilot program that is being used by multiple states

Try one have to start somewhere

o Agree upon a few topic areas to focus on while having enough diversity to keep people involved.

o Agree upon a few short-term outcomes that can be short term successes

o Topics related to specialists, emerging technologies, etc would be a great fit

o States with specific courses are contracted to deliver courses in other states via the CPTP network

o List areas of training

Develop a priority list of training/information needs

Land grants, Industry organizations, other agencies

Topics related to specialists, emerging technologies, etc would be a great fit.

o Define various student groups and prioritize

Agency conservation professionals, tech service providers, producers, environmental groups,producer groups

o Needs to be written up

o Provide as stand alone courses

o Showcase model for successful training programs

o Build a collection of case studies, both successes, failures for sharing on the ground experiences

o More training programs available for basic conservation training well advertised and available across

the region

o Develop individual topics

o Strategic discussions for each topic

o Determine what is needed

o Complete an assessment of areas of expertise and trainings provided by states to coordinate

professional development and eliminate duplication

o Access existing course work and source for each state i.e. MN listo Assessment training for resource mgmt

o Common curricula standardizing certification

o Determine performance objectives for individual topics what you need to know at three different

levels: (NRCS jargon)

o Awareness

o Advise and provided technical assistance with help

o Provide TA without help

o Limit audience at first, focus strictly on training for agency service providers

o Standardize templates that can be modified

E.g. for this topic

for this level of training

for this type of training here is what you should cover(training outlines fleshed in by

states and trainers)

o General I+E may factor in new and emerging issue, but keep focus on professionals

Curricula Ideaso Core topics

o Emerging Issues - An emerging issues track so we stay relevant

o Nutrients as core focus priority

o Materials and curricula for social networking skill building such as in tmdls

o Identification of 3-5 topics best suited regional ownership

o 2 new or adapted trainings offered with CEUs on water quality by spring of 09


22/28


23/28

Draft


24/28


25/28

Draft

Too much duplication with other regional/national groups.

Too much presentation on Thursday.Discussions cut off too early. But I wouldnt have atned to stay longer.

Website tour presentation.A lot of talking. Necessary but long at times.

Full Bill OverviewNone

?

Web based tracking system.Breaks? Good content and process.

How useful were each of the following components of this workshop given your reasons for attending?

Presentations Not at all Minimally Generally VeryOpening Session - Welcome and IL Beach State park 0 4 12 3

Overview and History 0 5 9 5Results of the Multi-State Needs Assessment 0 1 11 7State Training Overviews 0 0 8 12

Presentation of Web-based Course Tracking System 1 1 8 86 Hats Thinking Exercise 0 2 11 5

Chicago Wilderness Presentation 0 8 6 5Farm Bill Overview 3 2 15 0

Creating a Shared Vision 1 3 9 6Round Table Discussions 0 2 2 16Futures Planning 0 0 8 12

Networking Time/Opportunities. 0 0 4 16

Would you be interested in attending another regional conservation training working session?

Yes No19 0

If yes (#5), what recommendations would you have for future gatherings?More states. More organizations from those states. State Agencies.

Highlight case studies of what worked and what didnt.Keep the focus on discussion. Bring in case studies of successes.

More thorough approach - more time to do some decision making.Allow more individual networking time.More time for roundtable and less presentations. More time for state presentations. Clear instructions

to provide more information.Focus on detail more.

Create an outline of this weeks results - identify closed ends and open ends.More roundtable/group exercises.

Hammer out details of the next steps.Be organized again, this event was well organized. Good Job.Progress made. Examples of Regionalization to Date.

Great job. Wondeful place and fantastic food.

Timing, later in year (summer) may allow better attendance.

Who else from your state (individuals or organizations) would you consider engaging in futurediscussions about regional approaches to conservation professional training?

That will evolve.Make sure that we include professional organizations in providing input on curriculum (and TSP too).

Someone who really does curriculum in our state.Other training coordinators. Program Managers.

Ag Grower Organizations.NRCS, DEQ, DNR, RC&D, Department Environmental Quality.

NRCS State conservationist and NRCS Straining coordinator.


26/28

Draft

We had a good representation!

Assistant State Cons.Crop consultants.

Kevin, actually I will use the contact list often.WALCE County Employee Assoc.

Any other thoughts?Nice job! Great location

Still struggling with this opportunity and how to avoid another group collaboration trap - benefits vs.meetings/time.

Develop a process that connects retired conservation professionals with new employees formentorships.

Its a start! The biggest step has been taken!Good Job.

Good Meeting.Go forth an be dangerous!


27/28

Draft

Individuals Expressing Interested in Future Participation in Developing Aspects of

the Conservation Professional Training Program

Tim Geiseke ContentSpecifically related to Resource Assessment Course

507-359-1889 [email protected] Minnesota

Andrew Nesseth Curriculum Development related to TSP training certification and Resource Assessment Training

course


Christy Roman Groundwater

231-533-8363 [email protected] Michigan

Dennis Johnson GrazingOrganic curriculum


Kevin Blanchet Manure


Eileen Kladivko Cover cropDrainage

765-494-6372 [email protected] Indiana

Angie Williams Website training inventory


Nathan Mueller Cover crops


Shannon Zezula Data base Website of existing training

317-290-3200 ext 388 [email protected] Indiana

Pat Murphy Topic content Development and other topics and process if needed608-662-4422 ext 258 [email protected] Wisconsin

Jeff St Ores Topic content development


Kevan Klingberg Nutrient/CNMP topical development and Group leadership

715-983-2240 [email protected] Wisconsin

Coreen Fallat Group planning

608-224-4625 [email protected] Wisconsin

Ann Lewandowski Web contact for Minnesota612-624-6765 [email protected] Minnesota


28/28

Draft

Thank you for all your input, hard work and support

From left to right back row: Dennis Johnson, John Brach, Al Kean, Kevin Klingberg, Ricard Nichols,

Duane Friend, Timothy Larson, Bill Bond, Ann Lewandowski, Kim Leizinger, Pat Murphy, Coreen

Fallat, Tim Gieseke, Kevin Blanchet, Les Everett, Jeff St Ores, Eileen Kladivko, Dwayne Johnson,Tammy Larson, Mary Fleissner, Angela Williams, Mike Rahe, Courtney Schmidt, Luther Smith,

Rebecca Power

Kneeling from left to right: Ingrid West, Janice Kepka, Shannon Zezula, Ted Funk, Kevin Erb, Andrew

Nesseth, Nathan Mueller, Stanely Solomon jr. Wayne Anderson, Christy Roman,

Not pictured: Robin Shepard, Ruth Book, John Rogner, Bob Feffer

Thank you to the Environmental Resource Center staff

for all the hard work that went into this event:

Rebecca Power, Kevin Erb, Ingrid West, JenniferKushner, Janice Kepka, Kim Leizinger and Alyssa Daul.

Thank you to the Regional Team for helping to

coordinate state participation: Les Everett, Ann

Lewandowski, Dennis Johnson, Kevin Erb, Richard

Proost, Ted Funk, George Czapar, Eileen Kladivko, Brad

Joern, Jon Rausch, Greg LaBarge, Lois Wolfson.

Special Thanks to Pat Murphy of NRCS for all his

encouragement and support and to the Great Lakes

Regional Water Quality Team and CSREES for their

financial support which made the effort a reality.

Documents

wrapup photos and notes