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Facilitation Skills for Working With Farmer Discussion Groups

http://media.cce.cornell.edu/hosts/agfoodcommunity/FacilSkillsWorkbook.doc
Cornell Small Farms Program in cooperation with TFC Associates and NESARE A 56-page collection of key concepts, guidelines and worksheets for effective group facilitation, as well as short profiles of 24 Extension Educators and the farmer groups they work with. Prepared for a July 29, 2004 Facilitation Skills Training sponsored by the Cornell Small Farms Program and NESARE.

Farmer-to-Farmer Learning Groups

http://media.cce.cornell.edu/hosts/agfoodcommunity/f2flearninggrps.pdf
Kathy Barrett, D. Merrill Ewert, Cornell Cooperative Extension This guide was written for farmers, Cooperative Extension educators, and other members of the agricultural community who are interested in establishing and facilitating farmer-to-farmer learning groups. These guidelines were developed by asking farmers, extension educators, and industry people who have been involved with learning groups why the groups met, what integral purpose they served, and how they operated. Publication is in PDF format.

Facilitating Farmer-to-Farmer Discussion Groups

http://media.cce.cornell.edu/hosts/agfoodcommunity/facilf2fdisc.html
Cathy Sheils, NY FarmNet, David Grusenmeyer, PRO-DAIRY Discusses the facilitation roles of CCE Educators and/or farmer members.

Supporting Farmer Discussion Groups

http://media.cce.cornell.edu/hosts/agfoodcommunity/farmerdiscgroups.html
Cornell Small Farms Program Issues and suggestions for and from CCE Educators. Based on discussion at the July 29, 2003, CCE Small Farms Booster Meeting at Sap Bush Hollow Farm, Warnerville, NY.

The Power of Farmer-to-Farmer Discussion Groups

http://media.cce.cornell.edu/hosts/agfoodcommunity/powerf2fdiscgrps.html
David Grusenmeyer, PRO-DAIRY, Cathleen M. Sheils, NY FarmNet, January 2004 Information about forming and maintaining discussion groups. Farm Support Group Manual NY FarmNet, Cornell University, 1993 Describes how to organize and guide a farm support group. The manual first presents defining information -- who, what, and how -- that will help you determine the best structure for your group. Includes detailed explanations of group phases and highly structured weekly formats. 13 pages. $8. E-mail requests to nyfarmnet@cornell.edu or send check/money order to:
NY FarmNet
415 Warren Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

5 Stages of Group Development

http://www.gmu.edu/student/csl/5stages.html
George Mason University Center for Service and Leadership Leadership tips from GMU. The 5 stages are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.

Farmer-to-farmer networks: effective grass-roots sharing

http://www.cias.wisc.edu/archives/1996/10/01/farmertofarmer_networks_effective_grassroots_sharing/index.php
University of Wisconsin Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems The ideas and suggestions for developing farmer to farmer networks from a year long case study of the Lafayette County (WI) Grazing Network.

Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture Through Farmer Groups: The Experience of the Kansas Heartland Sustainable Agriculture Network

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/kcsaac/Pubs_kcsaac/ksas4.htm
Jerry Jost, David Norman, Stan Freyenberger, Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops A case study of farmer cluster groups by the Kansas Rural Center.

Farmer Discussion Groups: Getting Started

http://media.cce.cornell.edu/hosts/agfoodcommunity/farmdiscgrps-getstart.pdf
Sarah Flack, Kate Duesterberg, Stephanie Gilbert, Center for Sustainable Agriculture, University of Vermont, 1999 Provides helpful hints for anyone interested in organizing a farmer discussion group. Includes case studies as well as tips for successful group interaction. Publication is in PDF format.

Study Circles Resource Center

http://www.studycircles.org/
The Study Circles Resource Center helps communities organize study circles, small-group, democratic, peer-led discussions that give people opportunities to make a difference in their communities. In study circle programs, communities across the country are bringing hundreds -- and sometimes thousands -- of diverse people into democratic, face-to-face groups to address critical issues. Study Circles Resource Center
697 Pomfret St.
Box 203
Pomfret, CT 06258
Phone: (860) 928-2616
Fax: (860) 928-3713
E-mail: scrc@studycircles.org