NAAE Region III Conference

Monday, June 18, 2018 – Professional Development Workshops

9:00 a.m. / Business meeting
10:30 am to 11:30 am / Protecting the Future of Livestock at Public Events
Presenter: Joe Yedlik, Retired, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Description: In today’s society, agricultural education outreach through fairs, kiddie barnyards, farm animal demonstrations and other interactive activities is more essential than ever. However, any time humans and livestock are in close proximity, there is an increased risk of enteric pathogens disease. It is critical that activity sponsors understand the situation and identify risk management strategies. If you work with FFA and 4-H youth to conduct interactive activities involving animals, this workshop is for you.
10:30 am to 11:30 am / How to Get a Million Dollar Loan
Presenter: William Fritz, Agricultural Educator, ND
How often do you hear, as a teacher, where is this used in the real world? This workshop is designed to turn your lessons into real world experiences for your students. You don’t have to develop new lessons just simply add the real world. You will see how the following lessons have motivated students to become agriculturist.
  • Agriculture Business - How to use your local banker to secure loan for a business start-up plan
  • Agronomy - students become agronomist for local farmers
  • Farm Management - Manage a virtual farm account
  • SAE - Classroom visits
  • Animal Science – Develop a Feedlot – Temple Grandin Project
  • Horticulture – Become a welding coordinator
  • Food Science – Product Development
  • Ag Communications – Blog
  • Many other ideas

10:30 am to 11:30 am / Breakout Education (Escape Rooms)
Presenter: Nikki Fideldy, Agricultural Educator, ND
Description: This workshop will showcase how escape rooms can be used in the classroom and FFA.
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. / Lunch on your own - Newbo City Market
1:30 pm to 4:30 am / Making Biotechnology Accessible to Students
Presenters: Val Bayes, Monsanto, Stacie Turnbull, York College, and Leah Sandall, University of NE-Lincoln
Description:Come learn more about genetic modification, food, and consumers through engaging discussion and activities. We will spend time talking about traditional breeding compared to genetic engineering and learn about ways of analyzing DNA. The discussion will focus on providing a foundation for understanding the specifics of genetic engineering and then how to share that information with students and others. Using hands-on activities and many examples our goal will be to prepare you to dispel the myths and teach the facts.
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm / SAE for All – Philosophy to Action: How to make it happen in the classroom
Presenter:Larry Gossen, National FFA Organization Local Program Success Specialist
Description:With the release of the SAE for All Guide by the National Council for Agricultural Education, it is now possible for everystudent to have a Foundational SAE that leads to an Immersion SAE. This extended workshop will guide you through the SAE for All Guides, help you understand the various SAEs, and provide you with examples for how to implement SAEs into your classroom.Finally, time will be provided for you to create an implementation plan for your classroom.To optimizetime for this workshop, the workshop will be broken down this way:
  • Hour 1: Philosophy and guiding principles
  • Hour 2: SAE for All guides and implementation guides; suggestions and brainstorming for each SAE
  • Hour 3: Round table discussions in small groups to discuss implementation,individual time to write plans to implement, andsharing out of ideas

6:00 p.m. / Social/Evening Meal

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 – Professional Development Workshops

8:00 a.m. / Breakfast with guest speaker
9:00 a.m. / 2nd Business Session
10:30 am to 11:30 am / The County Fair Partnership: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Presenters:Joe Yedlik,John Harms, Iowa State FairBoard, andScott Johnson, Iowa FFA Association Executive Secretary
Description: County Fairs require many peopleworking together to be successful. Good communication and documentation are essential especially with the rate of staff turnover on fair boards, within FFAprograms, an in the Extension/4-H offices. The development of strong partnerships is critical ifthe County Fair is to be aviable and important event for the youth and the community.If you work with Fairs, check out what this panelcan do for you.
10:30 am to 11:30 am / How Well Do You Really Know Your Team?
Presenter: Scott Ermer, Dean, Agriculture Sciences, Kirkwood CC
Description:The people you work with day in and day out, how well do you really know each other? As a team leader, do you struggle with developing a deeper understanding of your team ad gaining a new appreciation for what eachindividual brings to the organization? Through this interactive session, participants will move from surface level conservations to creative conservations that really matter and provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of all those around you.We will also discuss and examine generational perspectives and unearth conversations that will help your teams bridge the generational gaps that exist within our work teams and the students we serve. Participants will benefit from this session:
  • Engage in activities that will foster the development of work teams
  • Discover tools to help teams create deeper conversations
  • Recognize how generational differences may influence your leadership perspectives
  • Discuss how we bridge the generational gap among our work teams and students
  • Adding resources to your leadership toolkit

10:30 am to 11:30 am / Ideas Unlimited and “Old Dogs, New Tricks”
Presenters: State Ideas Unlimited Winners and participating agricultural educators
Description:State Ideas Unlimited Winnerswill be given extended time to share their idea with workshop participants.Additionally, agricultural educatorsare asked to bring a lessonand/or share an idea with workshop participants.
11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. / Lunch – Guest Speaker TBA

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 – Professional Development Tours

1:30 pm to 6:00 pm / Tour Option #1: Abbe Hill Farms and Grow: Johnson County Tour
Description: Abbe Hills is a Mount Vernon, Iowa, CSA serving families in the Cedar Rapids area with tasty, local vegetables. They grow more than wonderful vegetables - they grow healthy soil, clean water, and biological diversity. Abbe Hills Farm is the home of an heirloom open pollinated field corn that has been grown and improved since 1903 for sale to the community and surrounding areas. The Abbe Hill Farms portion of the tour will be led by farmer Laura Krouse and will help to give you an idea about all that is involved with a CSA and how to serve your community in a sustainable way.
Grow: Johnson County is a hunger-relief and educational farm initiative of Iowa Valley RC&D focused on reducing food insecurity and empowering a new wave of local growers. Currently, they utilize three acres of land located in Johnson County Poor Farm in Iowa City, IA, where they grow organic fruits and vegetables that are donated to local hunger-relief agencies and provide hands-on gardening and farming experience for community members of all ages and backgrounds. The Grow: Johnson County will be led by Scott Koepke and will allow you to see innovative ways for vegetables that can help students pursue SAE ideas with vegetable production.Limited to 15 participants.
1:30 pm to 6:00 pm / Tour Option #2: Feed Iowa First
Description:Founded in 2011 by Sonia Kendrick, Feed Iowa Firstbegan as a summer project to grow and provide fresh vegetables to food banks. The Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was Sonia's first partner, letting her use 1/2 acre of land to plant her garden. Sonia realized that her model of urban farming could make a significant difference in Iowa's food system. By partnering with schools,faith organizations, community agencies and businesses of all sizes, Feed Iowa First finds open spaces to grow fresh produce that's harvested to supply those in need with nutritious food. Feed Iowa First also helps support beginning farmers through training and investments that ensure the next generation of farmers and food production. This tour is led by Sonia Kendrick and will start The Hotel at Kirkwood Center with an introduction and overview of Feed Iowa First. After the presentation concludes, participants will then tour one of the 30 farms in the operation and conclude with a tour of their packaging and shipping facility.Limited to 10 participants.
1:30 pm to 6:00 pm / Tour Option #3: Diamond V
Description:Diamond V manufactures natural immune support products that optimize animal health, animal performance, and food safety worldwide. Their customers include livestock, poultry and aquaculture producers, food processors, food retailers, and food service suppliers.Diamond V operates two technologically advanced manufacturing facilities that accommodatemany types of microbial-based fermentation platforms, both located in Cedar Rapids. Participants will tour the south production facility located onDiamond V's Corporate Campus.Limited to 15 participants.
1:30 pm to 6:00 pm / Tour Option #4:Kinze Manufacturing
Description: Jon KInzenbaw founded Kinze Manufacturing in 1965.Kinzehas grown into one of the largest, privately held agricultural equipment manufactures in North America. The company's world headquarters and manufacturing facilities span more than 30 acres under one roof. As a market leader in innovating, durable and high- quality planters and grain carts, Kinze continues to reinvest into the future with state-of-the-art facilities and manufacturing equipment.Please note, still photography and videography are not allowed. No open-toed shoes or sandals admitted. Limited to 25 participants.
1:30 pm to 6:00 pm / Tour Option #5:Culver's Garden Center, Gift Shop and Greenhouse, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and Bluegrass Enterprises
Description: Culver's is located on 26 acres. As you first approach the retail space, you will find a beautiful display garden. It features three ponds, a stream, and waterfalls. Among these water features, you will find hardy trees, shrubs, and perennials, with the purpose of seeing these plants in a true landscape.Just beyond the garden center and gift shop you will find 14 greenhouses. Here, you will find high quality annuals andperennials. In theoutdoor living area, you will find a stunning patio with two fireplaces, one upright and one large fire pit, plus a beautiful outdoor kitchen including a pizza oven. Thenursery isfull of unique trees and shrubs.While in the nursery, you will find several paths with different styles and colors. These paths were constructed to show guests the numerous options for patios, walkways, and more for any setting, whether it is residential or commercial.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc at Marion, Iowa operates a research and product development center involved in genetic research, as well as the development and testing of new products and seed hybrids.
Blue Grass Enterprises opened in 1969 to satisfy a demand in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas for quality nursery grown sod. Since then they have worked hard to establish professional working relationships throughout Iowa and to provide the best sod, seed and turf products possible. Their own Master Blend Kentucky Blue Grass is grown from meticulously selected cultivars. Blue Grass Enterprises designed Master Blend to be an ideal for homeowners seeking darker, denser, and slower growing (for less mowing) lawns.Blue Grass Enterprises is the only sod farm in Iowa licensed to grow RTFsports turf, an honor reserved for top sod farms around the world.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. / Social
7:00 p.m. / Dinner
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
8:00 a.m. / Breakfast with Guest Speaker
9:00 a.m. / 3rd Business Session

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