In the early and mid-1990s, interest in sustainable agriculture, small acreage farming, ranching and market gardening, was steadily increasing.  At that time there were few opportunities to study sustainable small acreage systems in Washington and Idaho and agricultural programs offering on-farm experiential education were rare in Extension and on land grant university campuses. Undergraduate and graduate educational programs in food systems, sustainable agriculture and organic agriculture systems did not exist at either Washington State University or the University of Idaho, the states’ two land grant universities, at that time. 

​

In 1997, Rural Roots, a small acreage farming organization, began partnering and pooling resources with the University of Idaho and Washington State University to offer a wide range of sustainable small acreage farming and ranching programs in the Inland Northwest (eastern Washington and North Idaho).  These programs included workshops, farm tours and conferences, and conducting direct marketing research. 

​

Program participants and small farmers and ranchers across the region were surveyed, formally and informally, to determine their educational needs and priorities.  Consistently, we heard the need for: 1) more in-depth programs on all aspects of small acreage production and business planning; 2) to learn from successful farmers and others that are “doing it;” 3) more on-farm experiences; and 4) programs that allow people with full-time jobs and families to participate.

​

In Spring of 2000, Rural Roots and the University of Idaho Extension began focusing efforts in the area of hands-on small farm education with support from the Washington – Idaho Partnership 2020 project, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  Partnership 2020 allocated funds for Rural Roots and University of Idaho Extension to create a pilot year-long on-farm education program for sustainable small farmers and ranchers.  At the same time, Partnership 2020 funds were also awarded to Washington State University Crop and Social Sciences faculty for the development of two sustainable food systems courses. 

​

One year later, a USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant was awarded jointly to Rural Roots, University of Idaho (UI) and Washington State University (WSU) to combine the two sustainable food systems and the three on-farm education courses to offer a certificate in Sustainable Small Acreage Farming and Ranching. This program is now called Cultivating Success™.

 

Since 2001, we have continued to expand Cultivating Success™, modifying course offerings based on needs assessments and feedback from small acreage farmers and ranchers across Idaho and Washington.  Over time, the academic Cultivating Success™ courses were replaced by new sustainable food and agriculture undergraduate and graduate degree programs at both UI and WSU. 

 

The number of community-based Cultivating Success™ small farm programs continues to grow.  Today, Cultivating Success™ courses and workshops are offered in-person and online in both Idaho and Washington. Every Cultivating Success™ educational program is designed to equip small farmers and ranchers with the knowledge and the skills needed to be successful farm/ranch business operators. Cultivating Success™ workshops, courses and webinars are co-taught by UI and WSU Extension faculty, experienced farmers and community experts and program content is continually being updated with the latest research, resources and skill-building tools.

 

Visit our Programs page to learn about upcoming courses and workshops. Cultivating Success™ believes life is better when you get your hands dirty!