A Community-Engagement Approach to Managing Agricultural Drought
Extension Education
Stacia Conger
Extension Irrigation Specialist
LSU AgCenter
Bossier City
Abstract
Most agricultural water use is attributed to irrigation as a form of drought risk mitigation. The mid-South has increased its portion of national irrigation totals from 4.6% to 12.2% since 1985. Thus, the long-term goal of this project is to inspire behavioral change in overall water consumption across increasing drought risk scenarios to enhance regional environmental sustainability. This goal will be accomplished through university-community partnerships and community engagement that helps with solving community problems and enables universities to meet their civic missions. The Carnegie Foundation developed a community engagement classification framework to help universities deepen service practices and strengthen bonds between campus and community. This framework emphasizes creating more reciprocal partnerships within extension programs, allowing key stakeholders to serve as co-creators of knowledge while creating programs, research, and scholarship that better meets the needs of communities. This project’s community engagement was used to capture feedback from stakeholders throughout the development of the irrigation scheduling webtool called Drought Irrigation Response Tool (DIRT). Thus far, two meetings have been held to capture direct feedback about webtool functionality, usability, features, and aesthetics. Pre- and post-meeting reflection captured additional comments and assessed collaboration and integration of community voice using the Carnegie community partnership scale. Results demonstrated that stakeholders (n=11) became significantly more aware of irrigation resources (60% to 86%) and technologies (58% to 82%) provided by the LSU AgCenter. They also rated the LSU AgCenter irrigation program as a more credible resource (87% to 96%), collaborative partner (83% to 90%), and felt involved in impactful decisions (78% to 86%). Additionally, the LSU AgCenter increased overall impact on stakeholders, valued expertise, and knowledge of AgCenter resources and personnel for making irrigation decisions. Stakeholders that participated in both sessions continued to rate the AgCenter more favorably as a credible resource, collaborative partner, and felt more valued as a community expert. Efforts to progress through the collaboration and shared leadership stages of the engagement process will continue once DIRT is released publicly.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
Click to view Poster
Authors: Stacia Conger, Meggan Franks, Carol Friedland, Robert Rohli, April Divine
-
Conger, S. Extension Irrigation Specialist, LSU AgCenter, Louisiana, 71112
-
Franks, M. Program Evaluator, LSU AgCenter, Louisiana, 70803
-
Friedland, C. Director, LSU AgCenter LaHouse, Louisiana, 70803
-
Rohli, R. Professor, Louisiana State University, Louisiana, 70803
-
Divine, A. Extension Associate, LSU AgCenter, Louisiana, 71112