Activate & Accelerate Early Stage, High Potential Cooperative Extension Projects - Available to All Land-Grant Universities

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Working with the Extension Foundation team has brought another level of skill sets to the work that I am doing. I would not readily have the capability to develop the online portion of the curriculum I have been working with. I would have to hire someone with that capability and spend time explaining the target audience and extension mission. With the Foundation team, they already get the Extension mission
Dr. Chris Gunter
Dr. Chris GunterNorth Carolina State University
We are excited about this great opportunity to expand our program outreach to target the millennial population in an urban county. This partnership with the Extension Foundation and NPSEC has been an exceptional process working together to promote the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University and the Pollinator Pilot Campaign in an amazing mass media approach like never before
Dr. Carolyn Williams
Dr. Carolyn WilliamsPrairie View A&M University
Extension Foundation’s wrap around services have been very helpful. The eFieldbook provides an opportunity to create a unique and robust complementary resource. The NTAE catalyst team has provided us validation, support, and advice. The encouragement to design professional development webinars has allowed us to focus more purposely on the key components of our project.
Tom Smith
Tom SmithNational Pesticide Safety Education Center
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About New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE)

New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) is a grant from USDA-NIFA in partnership with Oklahoma State University and it will begin its fourth year starting on September 1st, 2022. The Foundation is inviting your project and program teams aligned with USDA and ECOP strategic goals/priority program areas to apply and receive some funding and support from the Extension Foundation for one full year. Programs with a focus on DEI, Climate, Economic & Workforce Development, Health Equity, Positive Youth Development, Urban Programs, and Broadband Access/Digital Skills are encouraged but not required.

What Types of Projects Should Apply?

There are three types of projects that NTAE will support in Year 4 at various stages of development and implementation.

  1. Incubation projects. These projects are still in the idea stage and pre-planning stage.  Work on these projects will take project leaders through an innovation process designed to help them think through their project ideas, audiences, outcomes, and plans. These projects will plan, test, and create a pilot. The Fellowship amount is $5000. 

  2. Acceleration Projects. These projects are in the pre-planning stage and may have been piloted, developed a curriculum, or are in another stage of early implementation. Project Fellows receive $10K to support their project. Acceleration projects will share their content and learning processes with CES through digital engagement and publishing. 

  3. Expansion Projects. These are already-implemented projects that need support to expand into state, regional, or national projects. Each selected project will receive $60,000.

Award Uniqueness

Over the course of one year, the project leader and team are coached to identify new possibilities and strengthen their planned impact. Each team receives additional support to create materials and experiences that engage Extension resources to speed development and generate a change where it is desired. The full value of this program is in the accelerator experience. Awardees can expect robust and productive interaction with a group of catalysts and key informants in a mentoring role to help you and your team grow professionally over the course of a one- year partnership.

Depending on the type of project, there is up to $60K in Fellowships available, and all projects receive support from Extension Foundation Catalysts, Coaches, and Key Informants. Catalysts are experienced CES Administrators that provide mentorship and guidance to projects, and Key Informants have subject matter expertise across areas such as publishing, evaluation, partner development, leadership and team development, project management, marketing, and more. Projects have access to these resources to advance their projects.

Through NTAE, the Extension Foundation provides a set of services most projects rarely have access to. The services that create deeper impact, greater leverage for impact and greater sustainability for the project. These services in collaboration with the great ideas and planned projects make for extended successes and sustainability of projects.

The one-year journey for the project leader and team will be unique. Please expect the time commitment for the team leader to be as much as 10 to 20 percent (4-8 hours per week) on average over the course of one year. By the end of one year, your program is stronger, better-resourced, and more easily adopted or adapted by others across the Cooperative Extension system to serve the needs of people and communities.

Programs Served

Click Here To Learn About Programs Served Through The NTAE Program Accelerator

Program Outcomes - Year 1

Bridging the GAPs
North Carolina State University

  • 125 Growers Trained Nationally
  • 25.8% increase in grower knowledge
  • 79 trainers in 30 states and territories trained
  • 3 Funded projects with more than $500K in funding

Indigenous Food Sovereignty
College of Menominee Nation & University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Shared work with other 1994 Tribal Colleges and Universities to provide a roadmap for local food and sustainability practices. 
  • Continue to categorize and prioritize work.

 

Mass Media & Pollinator Stewardship
Prairie View A&M University and the National Pesticide Safety Education Center

  • Allowed CES to test out the idea of the benefits of mass media.
  • NPSEC and PVAMU continue to work together on delivering digital advertising to Texas communities regarding pollinator stewardship.
  • Effort has now expanded beyond Texas. NPSEC is working with Pawnee Nation College to take guides developed and translating them into the Pawnee language. 
  • Working with other Extension educators interested in pollinators, and modifying guides to be state/regionally specific to their area. 
  • New partnership with private sector digital provider includes Texas 4-H Foundation for youth focus.

Weather Ready Farms
Nebraska Extension

  • Partnership with AmeriCorps began in fall 2020. This partnership was supported by the Extension Foundation. Weather Ready Agriculture VISTA member, started one-year national service term with this program. The focus is on helping the program further develop the Hail Know resource package, and professional development for Extension educators on socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. 
  • Submitted a NC-SARE Research & Education grant application for $129,000 for an expanded pilot of WRF in eastern Nebraska.
  • Developing a “funding pitch” package of resources that can be used as we approach Natural Resource District boards and others regarding sponsoring/funding WRF in their watersheds.
  • WRF was featured in the March issue of Successful Farming

Testimonials

Oregon State University: Prescribed Fire Program

University of Connecticut: Understanding Food Marketing Labels Program

Nebraska Extension: Weather-Ready Farms

Southern University: Disaster Preparedness Program

North Carolina State University: Bridging the GAPs and Juntos Programs

Nebraska Extension: Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit

NTAE Programs & Fellows in the Media

Published Stories

Video Features

Ashley Mueller, Nebraska Extension
Weather Ready Farms

NTAE Podcast Features