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The Southern Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC) strives to highlight outstanding extension outreach programs. Through this effort, the Center seeks to highlight Extension Risk Management Education resources and extension scholarship. The symposium features impactful outreach efforts detailing best practices in program development and stakeholder engagement. The highlighted projects include discussions on innovative program delivery and promotion activities as well as extensive evaluation processes. SRMEC funded projects focus on enhancing farmer behavior and knowledge through risk management education. SRMEC seeks to empower producers to manage risk through exceptional program delivery and evaluation. The featured project’s directors will detail their experiences developing the grant funded activity and keys to successful program delivery. Projects were selected because of successful in-depth delivery and implementation activities, transparent and impactful evaluation, and demonstration of value of the training to the project participants.

Moderator: Ron Rainey Professor & Center Director, University of Arkansas

1. Justin Benavidez, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Where’s the Beef? Economic and Legal Considerations for Direct Beef Sales

2. William Crutchfield, Virginia State University. Risk Management Education for Socially Disadvantaged, Veteran, and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers in Virginia.

3. Charlie Jackson, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. Farmer Risk Management Rebound from COVID-19.

The Southern Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC) strives to highlight outstanding extension outreach programs. Through this effort, the Center seeks to highlight Extension Risk Management Education resources and extension scholarship. The symposium features impactful outreach efforts detailing best practices in program development and stakeholder engagement. The highlighted projects include discussions on innovative program delivery and promotion activities as well as extensive evaluation processes. SRMEC funded projects focus on enhancing farmer behavior and knowledge through risk management education. SRMEC seeks to empower producers to manage risk through exceptional program delivery and evaluation. The featured project’s directors will detail their experiences developing the grant funded activity and keys to successful program delivery. Projects were selected because of successful in-depth delivery and implementation activities, transparent and impactful evaluation, and demonstration of value of the training to the project participants.

Moderator: Ron Rainey Professor & Center Director, University of Arkansas

1. Megan Leffew, University of Tennessee Extension, Center for Profitable Agriculture. Helping Tennessee Farmers Evaluate and Implement New Enterprises and Marketing Strategies

2. John Bovay, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Virginia Sustainable Farm and Agribusiness Education Initiative

3. Angie Martin, Texas Corn Producers Association. Who’s Going to Fill My Shoes: Planning from the Beginning to the End for Succession in a Farming Operation

The Southern Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC) strives to highlight outstanding extension outreach programs. Through this effort, the Center seeks to highlight Extension Risk Management Education resources and extension scholarship. The symposium features impactful outreach efforts detailing best practices in program development and stakeholder engagement. The highlighted projects include discussions on innovative program delivery and promotion activities as well as extensive evaluation processes. SRMEC funded projects focus on enhancing farmer behavior and knowledge through risk management education. SRMEC seeks to empower producers to manage risk through exceptional program delivery and evaluation. The featured project’s directors will detail their experiences developing the grant funded activity and keys to successful program delivery. Projects were selected because of successful in-depth delivery and implementation activities, transparent and impactful evaluation, and demonstration of value of the training to the project participants.

Moderator: Ron Rainey Professor & Center Director, University of Arkansas

1. Laurence Crane, NCIS. DEVELOPING MARKETING PLANS AND STRATEGIES FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, LIMITED RESOURCE, AND NATIVE AMERICAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN OKLAHOMA

2. Cameron Farlow, Organic Growers School. STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS: RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION & WHOLE FARM SUPPORT OF BEGINNING FARMERS IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

3. Kim Niewolny, Virginia Tech. REDUCING HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RISK FOR BEGINNING, MILITARY VETERAN, AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS THROUGH FARM STRESS, WELLNESS, AND SAFETY EDUCATION

Successful Extension Risk Management Outreach Programming

The Southern Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC) strives to highlight outstanding extension outreach programs. Through this effort, the Center seeks to highlight Extension Risk Management Education resources and extension scholarship. The symposium features impactful outreach efforts detailing best practices in program development and stakeholder engagement. The highlighted projects include discussions on innovative program delivery and promotion activities as well as extensive evaluation processes. SRMEC funded projects focus on enhancing farmer behavior and knowledge through risk management education. SRMEC seeks to empower producers to manage risk through exceptional program delivery and evaluation. The featured project’s directors will detail their experiences developing the grant funded activity and keys to successful program delivery. Projects were selected because of successful in-depth delivery and implementation activities, transparent and impactful evaluation, and demonstration of value of the training to the project participants.

Moderator: Ron Rainey Professor & Center Director, University of Arkansas

1. Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Texas A&M. Owning a Piece of Texas: Agricultural Landowner Legal Education Project.

2. Megan Leffew, Center for Profitable Agriculture -University of Tennessee.Business Planning and Marketing Education for Tennessee Farmers

3. E’licia Chaverest, Alabama A&M University.Financial Literacy Training for Veterans and Socially Disadvantaged Producers in Alabama

SRMEC seeks to promote the ERME program and its funded projects by annually selecting the top three performing projects. The projects of excellence are selected by our advisory council from the previous round of completed projects. All projects are evaluated across three criteria: 1) project relevance and impacts, 2) materials developed and communication, and 3) evaluation & success stories. Click the following hyperlink to view the reports and resources resulting from all 2017 SRMEC projects.

Congratulations to 2018 Projects of Excellence:

1. Developing Marketing Plans and Strategies for Historically Underserved Producers in Arkansas Strike Force Counties

   Project Director: Laurence Crane

   Organization: National Crop Insurance Services

2. Biosecurity Education for Organic and Pastured Poultry Producers

   Project Director: Kevin Ellis

   Organization: National Center for Appropriate Technology

3. Risk Management Education for Limited Resource and Socially Disadvantaged Producers in Strike-Force Communities in Alabama

   Project Director: Duncan M Chembezi

   Organization: AAMU Small Farms Research Center

SRMEC held an online training to provide details for applicants interested in responding to the 2020 request for applications (RFA). The webinar provides details on the Extension Risk Management education program, the Southern region's current priorities, and details on budget preparation. Proposals are due within the RVS system November 19th at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Slides from the webinar are available.

SRMEC, in collaboration with Agricultural Marketing Research Center at Iowa State University, addresses common questions and provides available resources to help navigate USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant Application. The online training was held December 19, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. To view the archived webinar visit the following link: