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Hundley-Whaley Farm Learning Discovery Center Program Development Meeting

November 2, 2000, Albany Community Center

MINUTES

Don Null called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Registering in attendance were:

The meeting began with a light dinner. Null made a Power Point presentation to the group that summarized the progress that has been made, and the immediate future plans for the Learning Discovery Center. Null indicated that the shell of the facility had been completed and that request for bids for the interior was nearly ready to present to the public. Plans are to open bids for the interior work on January 17, 2001. More funding will need to be obtained to completely finish the facility. Null indicated that the purpose of the meeting was to develop a plan for that would aid the University of Missouri to deliver "need-based" educational programs at the Center.

Deans Gardner and Chippendale followed Null on the program. They explained the need for having community input into the development of programming plan.

Then, Duane Williams explained the process that would be used to determine and prioritize the programs that should be offered at the Learning Discovery Center. This process would also be used to discover the resources that would be needed for program delivery. Those attending divided into three groups. John Ferguson, Dean Larkin and Ellen Brand were asked to facilitate the groups in their deliberations. The following programs were reported out of the group deliberations.

Group I (Lee Langerock reporting)

1. Follow up to field day. Too much information for anyone to get in one day.
2. Marketing Ag Products
3. Classes and short courses for Ag and others, including public and community services
4. Value added crops and non-traditional crops.
5. Classes for non-Ag businesses
6. Environmental education
7. Consumer awareness/ farm tours and trips for city youth
8. Tap into new technology in bio-technology and life sciences
9. Equipment demonstrations and maintenance (farm and non-farm)

Group II (Steve Alexander reporting)

1. Facility open to non-Ag audiences and the community
2. Alternative crop education
3. Local site for training in medicine, nursing, etc
4. Regional extension center with full staffing
5. Creator of income stream for education and research

Group III (Mark Cadle reporting)

1. Value added research center
2. Permanent, full time research and extension staff
3. Observatory for astronomy
4. Ag tours for non-Ag audiences
5. Help retain youth in the region
6. Small conference center
7. Host site for cultural events
8. Research and education for production agriculture
9. Research and education on environmental quality
10. Showcase for NW Mo. Natural resources
11. Interactive conference and meetings with public officials and others
12. Information technology center for NW Mo.
13. Be a focal point for economic development
14. Professional continuing education center
15. Higher education/distance learning

Following the group reports, Williams aided the audience as a whole to consolidate programs that were similar. Considerable discussion was held on consolidating UO&E programs and specialists at the learning Discovery Center. Blake Hurst cautioned the group about the political shortcomings associated with too much consolidation of extension staff within the area. He believes that the University will loose region-wide support if they try to push for eliminating county extension offices. He thought the people would support new or additional staffing at the Center.

The following list of programs was identified after consolidation. Then the individuals making up the group was given a chance to vote on the five highest priority programs. The following is the final list with votes received in parenthesis.

1. Permanent, full time extension and research staff. (18 votes)
2. Consumer awareness: farm/city field trips for youth and adults (10)
3. Small business Ed: regulations, tax, financial, employee mgt; develop agribusiness opportunities (9)
4. Research and Education for production agriculture (8)
5. Small conference center (8)
6. Information technology center for NW MO (8)
7. Marketing info: traditional and non-traditional; world markets (7)
8. Make facility open and available - FFA, Economic Development, County Commission, Cultural Events (7)
9. Higher Ed/distance learning(6)
10. Observatory and telescope (5)
11. Utilize NW Educational Consortium: short courses, adult Ed, computers; Ag and non-Ag. (5)
12. Showcase NW MO natural resources -flora and fauna (4)
13. Create/leverage funding (4)
14. Value-added for traditional crops - alternative crops (4)
15. Be focal point for economic development (3)
16. Equipment demonstrations - maintenance, new technology (3)
17. Tap into new technology in bio-tech and life sciences (3)
18. Follow-up to field day: chemicals, yields, varieties (2)
19. Professional continuing Ed center (1)
20. Interactive conference and meetings with public officials and others (1)
21. Research and education in environmental affairs for non-Ag (1)
22. Help in youth retention in NW Missouri (1)

Williams then led the group is a discussion of resources needed to carryout the programs that were identified. The following resources were identified.

1. Money: Local, State, Federal, Private, Industrial/Research, User Fees
2. More staffing
3. Good relationships with elected officials.
4. Good Contacts
5. State funding - other departments
6. Communities where professionals want to live
7. Technology - equipment and access, staffing
8. Partnerships with training institutions
9. Effective and involved advisory group
10. Advertising/marketing plan; promotion
11. Business plan for the center; leveraging; tied to programs

After discussion on the resource needs, Don Null summarized the evening's activities and asked John Gardner what additional information was needed. John responded that he would need names of specific contacts and stakeholders. Don thanked all participants and offered to send out the minutes of the meeting. Greg Macy suggested posting them on the web site. Don agreed to do this. The session was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Recorded by John Ferguson and Don Null

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