Evaluation
Full Evaluation Results
The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) hosted its' 3rd annual Agroforestry Academy, July 20th - 24th, 2015, on the MU Campus and at a diversity of nearby farms that demonstrate agroforestry practices. Pre- and post-Academy surveys were completed by all trainees to help evaluate the impact of the week-long training.
During the Agroforestry Academy week, 24 trainees spent Monday through Friday 8am-12pm on-campus in the classroom for presentations given by specialist professionals in key focus areas of agroforestry. A relaxing campus lunch followed each morning's classroom presentations. From ~1-6pm each day, the group traveled to nearby farms to learn from landowners who are currently practicing agroforestry. The group returned to campus for dinner each day, which enabled further discussion and collaboration. All trainees also participated in a case study agroforestry design plan, presented in small groups to the case study farm landowner at the close of the week. Design groups met in the evenings to apply what they had learned each day to their case study plan. Compared to previous Agroforestry Academies which focused on "training the trainer" with natural resource education professionals, the 2015 Academy was organized to engage a greater number of farmer-landowners. In particular there was a special focus on providing agroforestry training to US military veteran farmers.
A Dropbox account has been established for the continued sharing of documentation of the week's presentations, as well as ongoing documentation of trainees' experiences in agroforestry. The Training Manual for Applied Agroforestry Practices 2015 Edition, and Handbook for Agroforestry Planning & Design, which were made available in print for Agroforestry Academy participants, are also available digitally on the Center for Agroforestry website.
At the onset of the Academy, all participants were asked to complete a survey designed to assess their motivation to participate and their level of perceived knowledge in the topics scheduled for presentation during the week. At the end of the final day of the Academy, a second survey was administered to assess overall reaction to the content and organization of the Academy, perceived change in knowledge of agroforestry practices, and future interests, opportunities, and barriers to agroforestry adoption.
Objectives of the evaluation surveys are to:
- Document the demographic characteristics of the Agroforestry Academy trainees,
- Identify participants' motivation to attend the Academy,
- Evaluate participants' reaction to the content and organization of the Academy,
- Assess the perceived level of knowledge before the Academy related to specific topics and compare this with the level of knowledge after the Academy in order to estimate the perceived gain,
- Obtain suggestions that will help better organize similar events in the future,
- Obtain participants' input related to the implementation of agroforestry practices (e.g. drivers and barriers for agroforestry adoption, training and assistance needs).
The information gathered from the 2015 pre- and post-academy surveys are an essential tool for the future success of Agroforestry Training Academies and for the continued education and adoption of agroforestry practices in North America.
In 2015, the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) Agroforestry Training Academy prepared 24 trainees to be informed representatives of agroforestry benefits, and to be better prepared for implementing agroforestry practices on their own farms. Of these 24 participants, 9 were US military veterans who benefitted from a scholarship to attend.
As the network of agroforestry voices grows in the context of intensive trainings, we anticipate stronger connections between landowners and agencies, and an increased potential for support from agencies toward landowner adoption of agroforestry and other perennial land management practices.