Field Office Innovative Solutions (Part 3) Illinois NRCS All Employee Meeting March 2, 2005

Benefits to NRCS / SWCD Opportunity to educate non-farm people about “conservation agriculture” Opportunity to educate non-farm people about “conservation agriculture” Non-farm people are taxpayers—what do their conservation dollars buy? Non-farm people are taxpayers—what do their conservation dollars buy?

Benefits to NRCS / SWCD President Bush’s “faith-based initiative” President Bush’s “faith-based initiative” Build relationships with local agri- business

Benefits to NRCS / SWCD Farmers sell our product Farmers sell our product Recruit diversity Recruit diversity workforce, volunteers, SWCD board workforce, volunteers, SWCD board and committees and committees

Benefits to NRCS / SWCD Extends our areas of influence in towns, cities, and overseas Extends our areas of influence in towns, cities, and overseas Strengthens our internal partnerships Strengthens our internal partnerships Something to put on your outreach report! Something to put on your outreach report!

Benefits to Agriculture Non-farm people get “connected”; they can “put a face” on agriculture Non-farm people get “connected”; they can “put a face” on agriculture Farmers can explain: Farmers can explain: costs / returns program pmts. costs / returns program pmts. GMO’s nutrients / pesticides GMO’s nutrients / pesticides technology conservation practices technology conservation practices

Benefits to U.S. society People know where and how their food is grown People know where and how their food is grown Improve our image overseas as a “caring” society Improve our image overseas as a “caring” society

Benefits to U.S. society Breaks down perceived barriers: Breaks down perceived barriers:urban—suburban—rural—farmer religious denominations

What you can do: Look for interest—”fan the flames” Look for interest—”fan the flames” Have a speaker come to a meeting Have a speaker come to a meeting Attend a harvest celebration Attend a harvest celebration Help us find diversity among the non-farm partners Help us find diversity among the non-farm partners

More information See me or anyone from the Ottawa Field Office NRCS / SWCD staff See me or anyone from the Ottawa Field Office NRCS / SWCD staff Go to foodsresourcebank.org Go to foodsresourcebank.org

Success Some people dream of success….. While others wake up and work hard at it!

CREATING INDIVIDUAL WORK AREAS IN YOUR COUNTY By ADAM LUCIE SCT & JEREMY PIPER SC

MANAGING WORK AREAS In Carthage we divide our county into areas according to the number of employees we have. The District Conservationist keeps a log book of all work going on in the county. Applications are then handed to the employee responsible for the area the project is located in. Each staff member is responsible for their own area of the county. We work together on large jobs or when someone needs extra help.

NEGATIVE RESULTS OF OTHER MANAGEMENT STYLES NEGATIVE RESULTS OF OTHER MANAGEMENT STYLES The person closest to the door gets the most work. Work is not evenly distributed. The employee who has been working in the office the longest receives a larger work load. Allowing employees to only work with one program cheats them in the future.

ORGANIZATION Time is saved and the over all quality of work is improved. Travel distance and time is reduced. It is easier to track progress of employees and for employees to track their own progress.

Who’s Working on that? If a question arises about a project the staff will know who is responsible based on the area where it is located. Clients will become familiar with the staff member in their area. Staff members will know their section of the county which will allow them to better serve the public.

CLOSING Finally, managing your workload and staff can be accomplished many different ways. However the way we manage can make the difference between an office or a great field office.

Excellence is the result of caring More than others think is wise; Risking more than others think is Safe. Dreaming more than others Think is practical and expecting More than others think is possible.

Spores and More Mushroom Festival A Project of the Heartland of Illinois RC&D

Opportunity Lake Shelbyville is not being used to the capacity available Lake Shelbyville is not being used to the capacity available Businesses in the Towns around the Lake want to see an increase in Tourism Businesses in the Towns around the Lake want to see an increase in Tourism Many meetings have been held with State Legislators to look into increasing Tourism Many meetings have been held with State Legislators to look into increasing Tourism People have many outdoor interests in the Area People have many outdoor interests in the Area No Festivals involve each Town collectively No Festivals involve each Town collectively

Ah! Morels

Organizing a Planning Committee Involve all 4 towns of Bethany, Findlay, Shelbyville and Sullivan Involve all 4 towns of Bethany, Findlay, Shelbyville and Sullivan Build relationships Build relationships Determine Events and Activities to be held Determine Events and Activities to be held Utilize “Experts” on the subject Utilize “Experts” on the subject

ADVERTISE Secure Funding…RC&D Grant Secure Funding…RC&D Grant Determine the best way to reach people who may be interested Determine the best way to reach people who may be interested Those used: 3 TV Stations, Radio, Newspaper feature stories, Flyers and Posters Those used: 3 TV Stations, Radio, Newspaper feature stories, Flyers and Posters

Hold Pre-event Contest To get local people involved using their favorite mushroom patch To get local people involved using their favorite mushroom patch To build anticipation for the Festival Hunt To build anticipation for the Festival Hunt Train Contest Judges for Biggest Shroom Train Contest Judges for Biggest Shroom

Festival Kickoff

Mushroom Hunt Registration

Mushroom Hunt

Hunt Results and Auction

Town Festivals

Another RC&D Initiative

Heartland Graziers Heartland of Illinois RC&D Project An Opportunity to provide Assistance to New and Existing Graziers An Opportunity to provide Assistance to New and Existing Graziers Network with each other and share Ideas, experiences, successes, rent equipment or sell products Network with each other and share Ideas, experiences, successes, rent equipment or sell products Cooperate with other Agencies (Cooperative Extension Service, Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association) Cooperate with other Agencies (Cooperative Extension Service, Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association)

Workshops Provide Resource Information on Pasture Establishment, Management, Herd Selection, Marketing and Economics Provide Resource Information on Pasture Establishment, Management, Herd Selection, Marketing and Economics

Pasture Walks and Demonstrations

Innovation The best way to perfect The future… Is to create it.

Thank you for your attention!