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Historical Awards – John P. Ellbogen Foundation Awards

Wyoming Communities, Agriculture and Rural Living Project Fund

2021

Phase I (new projects)

Budgeting. Cash flow. Net worth. FICO scores. 401(k) plans. The proliferation of jargon surrounding financial literacy is enough to make a person’s head spin. So our aim is to make things a little easier for Wyomingites. We aim to offer the basic concepts to know when it comes to personal finance. The key to our class is to focus on the concepts that will help those in search of financial literacy guidance, not just instructions about what to do. Most people in Wyoming will leave school with little – if any – training in money management. As a result, they are likely to experience frustration as they try to understand what is in their best interest. This project will develop an online self-study class to equip participants to better understand money principles and build money management skills. The end result will be that they can enjoy a life with fewer financial hassles and heartache. Awarded $6,640 (1 year project).

This project will create a teaching and learning space for the community, the garden is not meant to be a community garden in that sense, but an area where classes will be taught for adults and youth on how to garden and what you need to be successful as a gardener in Wyoming. Participants will learn how to start a garden of their own, whether it is in a pot on the patio or larger space. The garden area has been designed to include a sidewalk with wheelchair accessible beds, and a pollinator garden outside the fence. Produce grown in the garden will be used for CNP classes and also donated to the local food banks. Awarded $6,000 (1 year project).

Many recent alums and/or current senior 4-H members have stated that they wished they knew they could have done or tried more things (projects, activities, etc.) within their 4-H career. Participants in this 11 month program will have the opportunity to explore different project areas from the typical agriculture areas to the new STEM areas but also realize that one can explore human development, civic engagement, aerospace, gardening and so much more. Stakeholders, community members and industry leaders will be the key to allowing youth to truly experience new ideas and project areas. This exploration will open up new possibilities to Wyoming youth and may encourage them to stay and/or return to Wyoming following their education or military service. In turn this should help the economy of our communities and state and strengthen our agricultural roots. Awarded $10,240 (2 year project).

Phase II (expansion of projects previously awarded)

At the conclusion of Phase I, participants showed their understanding of the importance of product development, the importance of a plan, and knowing the cost of product production. Many participants that researched and developed ideas now need refinement to grow into flourishing businesses. The Phase I group will be invited to continue to hone their business plans and increase their knowledge of entrepreneurship. Additionally, an internship opportunity will be added for participants to job shadow experts in their anticipated focus area or work with a development group such as Impact 307 to further their thinking on marketing, pricing and development of their product. Evaluation of the initial educational plan led to alteration of the presentation format to better serve the participants. The new format will include a full weekend of presentations, laid out in a progressive format so that at the conclusion of the weekend, participants would have the tools needed to develop and design a business and if asked, present a business pitch. Awarded $13,720 (2 year project).

Wyoming ranchers face many challenges operating a sustainable ranch. The Wyoming Ranch Camp will provide an experiential, in depth, learning experience for recent high school graduates and college age youth. Ranch camps will be conducted in the spring of 2022 and 2023 targeting new audiences at different locations around Wyoming. Participants will learn ranch management through a 5-day camp covering meat science, animal science, economics, ranch recreation and range management. The curriculum will be taught by UW Extension Specialists, Educators, and Industry Partners. Participants will compete as teams to develop a complete ranch plan from the information they are taught. Ranch plans will be evaluated by principal educators as well as ranch managers. The winning team will each win a $500 scholarship to the University of Wyoming. Awarded $13,400 (2 year project).

2020

Phase I (new projects)

UW Extension will collaborate with 6 community partners to implement a hands-on teaching gardens in Rawlins. Approximately 850 square feet of lawn will be replaced with a demonstration and research garden bed. Planning, planting, and maintaining the bed will be components of hands-on classes such as: “how to design and plant a landscape” and “how to make your greenery winter ready”. The content of the courses for the season will change annually depending on clientele interests but will focus on the themes of pollinator planting, deer-resistance, and Wyoming native plants. Additionally, two raised beds will be established for weekly youth produce gardening classes with the potential to supplement Cent$ible Nutrition courses. Awarded $6,680 (1 year project)

The current state of the pandemic has made many business owners have to bend with the times. Many small business owners will be forced to close their store fronts due to the increase in public health and safety requirements and the wellbeing of their employees. This provides a great opportunity for small business owners, mainly, food service to look at other options. The Rocky Mountain Youth Entrepreneur Series is a two year project. The first year will allow participants to learn about vision and mission statements, research the food truck/CSA/Farmers Market industry overview, design their company and think through a product and service plan. The second year will delve into market analysis, competitive analysis and an operational plan to include finances, growth and contingency and wrap up with a capstone project. Awarded $6,860 (1 year project)

Phase II (expansion of projects previously awarded)

The Niobrara County STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Fridays was introduced in Phase I to address child care issues resulting from the move to a four-day school week for all students kindergarten through 12th grade in 2019. STEAM Fridays were conducted in person each Friday morning until the pandemic forced the remaining sessions to be delivered virtually via Facebook Live. In 2019-2020 a total of 51 youth participated, representing 32 families over 29 sessions. Phase II, will include in-person sessions each Friday morning that the Niobrara County School District is in session. Topics will provide experiential, hands-on interactive learning of lifelong skills such as leadership development, food safety, food science and preparation, career exploration, math and problem solving skills. The target audience is youth 5-18 years of age. With current University and Public Health restrictions limiting group sizes indoors, appropriate modifications will be made to the project. The anticipated number of students is 20-25 each week most of whom are a non-traditional audience. Awarded $10,000 (1 year project)
Until December 2019, Wyoming was the only state in the US without any food policy councils. But now, producers, local food stakeholders, food security and justice collaborations, institutions of higher education, and other leaders from across the state have formed the Wyoming Food Coalition. With this project we will a) support the Food Coalition’s Working Groups and Leadership Team, and b) host a state-wide summit and meetings of the Working Groups and Leadership Team. Whereas Phase I of the Local Food Promotion project was about helping a small group of professional advisors coordinate across a three-state area, Phase II focuses on system change in Wyoming in a grassroots effort. The ultimate aim of the two objectives is to create three-year strategic plans and pilot Working Groups’ local food system initiatives. These three year plans will help strengthen local food systems by connecting stakeholders and amplifying their voices so that Wyoming producers, eaters, and environments thrive. In short, this project will move the state closer to the Coalition’s vision of sustainable local food economies that are diverse, thriving, and equitable. Awarded $8,450 (1 year project)
2019

Phase I (new projects)

Beginning in the fall of 2019, the Niobrara County School District will move to a four-day school week for all students kindergarten through 12th grade, leaving child care as an emerging need throughout the community. The Niobrara County Extension Office, Nutrition and Food Safety and 4-H are teaming up with 4-H Volunteers, Niobrara County Homemakers and other community partners to provide a safe, learning environment for any school-aged youth needing childcare. STEAM Fridays will feature hands on activities in science, technology, engineering, art and math at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds each Friday morning throughout the school year. Awarded $5,000 (1 year project)
Wyoming ranchers face many challenges to operating a sustainable ranch. The challenges can be daunting for experienced producers and overwhelming to young and beginning producers. The Wyoming Ranch Camp will provide an experiential, in depth, learning experience for recent high school graduates and college age youth to hone and practice their skills to better prepare them for these challenges. Participants will learn ranch management through a 5-day camp covering meat science, animal science, economics, ranch recreation and range management. Participants will compete as teams to develop a complete ranch plan from the information they are taught. Ranch plans will be evaluated by principal educators as well as ranch managers. Each day a top hand buckle will be awarded to one of the participants. Members on the winning team will each be awarded a $500 scholarship to the University of Wyoming. Awarded $6,700 (1 year project).

Phase II (expansion of projects previously awarded)

In 2015, a UW Small Acreage landowner survey determined that “protecting natural resources on the land” and “growing native plants” were priorities. As a result, the Discover Native Plants (DNP) program was created with funding from Phase I to foster knowledge and stewardship of native plant communities and landscape productivity. In Phase II, the existing project will be scaled up with new partnerships and additional workshops. The curriculum will also be adapted to meet the needs of a broader range of Wyoming communities. Potential partners in Phase II include the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, Conservation Districts, The Nature Conservancy, Wyoming Native Plant Society, Wyoming Weed & Pest, Wyoming Game and Fish and R&E Centers. These expanded partnerships and curriculum will help Wyoming citizens become familiar with relevant plant species, including general knowledge of local flora and specific knowledge of weeds, horticulture and wildlife. Awarded $3,500 (2 year project).
Research identifies family mealtime as a factor for reduction in substance abuse, increasing healthy food consumption, improvement in student grades and enhancing family connection. The curriculum and workshops developed in Phase I for Real Kids, Real Fun, Real Foods provided children with skills to help prepare family meals with whole and minimally processed foods, ensure food safety and model family time together in the kitchen and at mealtime. The curriculum, specifically geared toward students, included recipes, food safety reminders, and nutrient information. The addition of YouTube videos in Phase II will allow students to access lesson reinforcement on their own and with their parents. A series of 5 baking lessons will also be created to supplement the initial curriculum. The pilot program conducted in Platte County will be expanded to additional counties in Phase II. Awarded $7,200 (2 year project).

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