Vision
The AgNR vision is to be the Agricultural Leader through research-based science, community engagement, and outreach in the delivery of excellent high-quality agricultural education programs.
Mission
Our mission is to provide high-quality research-based agricultural education to meet Texans’ needs, with emphasis on limited resources, underrepresented, and socially disadvantaged citizens.
Action Item
Goal No. #1: To provide effective leadership and strengthen state-wide agriculture and natural resource program.
Objective 1: Redesign the infrastructure of AgNR to create a more efficient unit by 2021.
- Visit all AgNR counties and assist agents with program development and implementation.
- Meet with state and regional Ag groups, leaders, and organizations to gain technical agriculture support, state agriculture issue knowledge, and establish relationships.
- Create an internal focus group to help steer and continue to improve the Unit.
- Revitalize the AgNR Unit to build agriculture relevance, incorporate technology, strengthen management and leadership practices, and apply operational protocols.
- Develop a new AgNR operation process and program planning process.
- Encourage County Agents to build partnerships with local county agriculture organizations (USDA, SWCD, TWA, etc.)
- Conduct weekly/monthly staff meetings.
- Institutionalize formal policies, systems, and structures related to program development and delivery.
- Repurpose Specialist staff to align activities with research projects, extension programs, and Plan of Work.
- Develop a train-the-trainer program for learning and implementing different programs in counties.
Action Item
Goal No. #2: Educate farmers and ranchers on the economic merits, management, and benefits of farm management.
Objective1: Reach 100,000 farmers, landowners, and ranchers by 2025.
- Partner with federal, state, & local organizations to conduct Ag education programs for landowners.
- Improve AgNR Extension Agents’ programming knowledge for successful program implementation in each county
- Raise public awareness through the website and develop fact sheets, brochures, rack cards, etc., education materials on Agriculture program for Extension Agents.
- Conduct campus-based public invited Extension programming.
- Create a systematic approach to program planning of extension education programs across county lines to monitor effectiveness.
- Provide outreach, marketing, evaluation, and database development assistance to build an agriculture base and reach and contact with farmers.
- Build a Small Farm Institute and develop relevant outreach education programs to reach farmers, ranchers, etc.
- Reach limited resources, a new beginning, female, and traditional producers, farmers, and ranchers through various education technology methods.
Action Item
Goal No. #3: Encourage Extension Agents and Extension Specialists to integrate diverse and innovative research-based extension education programs.
Objective: Conduct at least 300 education programs annually by 2024.
- Provide professional development training to County Agents and Specialists on program and organization development, leadership, and new program
implementation process. - Cultivate innovative needs-based extension programming.
- Incorporate and develop new programs to address Texas issues annually.
- Implement programs that support POW critical issues.
- Establish marketing and outreach expectations for county programming.
- Create a diverse group of soil, water, plant, animal programs.
- Keep abreast of new agriculture developments, issues, and emerging technology across the state.
Action Item
Goal No. #4: Seek after external and internal financial resources to expand programs, services, and staff.
Objective: Secure 1 million dollars in financial services to build staff, expand programs, and provide services by 2022.
- Form partnerships with organizations, agencies, groups, and local entities to apply for funding to expand programs.
- Work with Fiscal, OSP, and Research to apply for grants and obtain funding for program expansions.
- Encourage staff to apply for at least eight grants per year.