In an effort to gain better insight for outreach strategies, this student team wrote and conducted apublic attitudes survey of Fenwood Creek Watershed farmers and landowners. Their goal was to gain perspectives on broad topics such as local watershed health and conservation efforts. The team’s methodology focused on three areas: communication, research, and survey writing. They used their research findings to draft a survey, which was then sent out to the public with the help of Paul Daigle and Jeff Pritchard. The returned survey results were then inputted and organized into a dedicated spreadsheet for analysis, which the students were able to analyze and produce sensible recommendations. The keypoint from the survey analysis shows that residents have little understanding of sustainable practices and existing conservation groups. They believe there are issues facing their community but do not have the proper education and knowledge to solvethem. The student team recommends that future outreach efforts include in-person communication, public forums where residents can ask questions and communicate with agricultural professionals, and general education on the importance of conservation and current efforts towards these goals.
UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141