Three UT Extension professionals recently completed a two-day training program in the Kentucky Cooperative Winter School program: John Goddard, County Extension Director in Loudon County; Chris Ramsey, County Extension Agent in Sullivan County; and Rob Holland, Extension Specialist with the Center for Profitable Agriculture. The training, which was held at the Barren River State Park in south-central Kentucky, was sponsored by the Kentucky Center for Cooperative Development.

The three Tennessee Extension educators were among a total delegation of 65 cooperative managers, board members, farmers and other agricultural leaders who participated in various training exercises aimed at improving the development of cooperatives. The conference included presentations by professors in agricultural economics and consultants for farmer cooperatives. Conference attendees participated in various interactive and hands-on learning projects aimed at improving board and manager relations, cooperative principles and cooperative strategic planning and management.

The UT Extension personnel participated in the conference as part of a pilot educational project between the Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) and the Kentucky Center for Cooperative Development (KCCD). The multi-state pilot program was recently launched between the two organizations. As part of the new program, the CPA has identified and select two farmer groups that are poised for mutual benefits through some type of cooperative effort. Overall, the pilot project will build on the CPA’s five-year success in providing direct technical assistance (feasibility, marketing and production) to farmers, entrepreneurs and groups in rural areas to create a new program emphasis in the area of “Cooperative Development.” The program will improve the understanding and application of cooperative development strategies in the state and will increase the consideration of cooperative efforts by farmers, entrepreneurs and groups in rural areas.

Contact:
Rob Holland
Center for Profitable Agriculture
The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service
931-486-2777, rwholland@utk.edu, http://cpa@utk.edu