ADC NEWS RELEASES | CPA NEWS RELEASES

May 2, 2003

TRAINING FOR AG LEADERS PLANNED IN “FARMLAND PRESERVATION WORKSHOP”

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

A professional development workshop that will provide training in farmland and forestland preservation will be held this summer at two locations in the southern U.S. convenient for Tennesseans. According to workshop planners, this is a "train the trainer" program which is designed to educate leaders and educators who will pass on what they learn to those who contact them for assistance.

One workshop will be held in the Memphis area on August 5 and 6 one will be held in Atlanta on August 12 and 13. Session topics planned for the workshop include an in-depth look into why agricultural land is being lost to development and other uses, reasons some communities have decided to protect agricultural land, land planning, conservation easements, farmland protection programs at the state level, and how to talk about farmland preservation in the community. Opportunities, challenges and plans of action will be discussed during small group discussions.

The workshops are being funded by a grant from the southern region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Registration is $25, which covers the 1-½ day workshop, resource notebook and lunch on second day of workshop. Participants are responsible for all other meals, overnight accommodations and travel expenses. If financial assistance is needed for registration and/or travel expenses, please submit a detailed letter of request to Anita Poole at the Kerr Center, P.O. Box 588, Poteau, OK 74953, apoole@kerrcenter.com by June 25.

Deadline for registration is July 2, 2003. Each workshop is limited to approximately fifty participants. For a registration form or more information about the workshops, instructors and hotel accommodations contact Barbara Chester or Anita Poole at the Kerr Center, 918-647-9123, bchester@kerrcenter.com or visit www.kerrcenter.com.