Innovate NDSU Extension Recap
Three teams were recognized by their peers for their innovative projects.
1st Place - Team Whack Pack, Master Civic Ambassador Program
Team Whack Pack (L to R): Ryan Buetow, Nicole Wardner, Lynette Flage, Diane Hahn and Angie Johnson. Coached by Jerry Thomas (not pictured)..
Issue: Civic engagement, farm and business transition and rural communities. Solution: Create a Master Civic Ambassador program using local volunteers to help rejuvenate civic leadership, promote diversity and inclusion, and assist with transitions of boards and councils. This will help community leaders build a civic resume.
2nd Place - EXTenders, NDSU Extension Website Improvement & App
EXTenders (L to R): Kim Ruliffson, Paige Brummund, Dirk Monson (coach), Miranda Meehan, Desiree Steinberger and Jodi Bruns.
Issue: Lack of public understanding of NDSU Extension Service and lack of focus on NDSU Extension priorities. Solution: Improve NDSU Extension website to be more mobile and searchable. Develop an NDSU Extension Service app featuring the NDSU Extension calendar of events. The team also drafted a video ad and t-shirts explaining what NDSU Extension can do for you. The team proposed a mandate for all of NDSU Extension Service to use social media.
3rd Place - Bizoneyz, App to Address Public Disconnect with Agriculture
Bizoneyz (L to R): Kim Bushaw, Katie Wirt, Danae Wolfe (coach), Carmen Rath-Wald and Charlie Stoltenow.
Issue: Public disconnect with agriculture. Solution: Develop an app with augmented reality "Pokefarm" game, location-based agritourism pop-up facts, trivia game, location-based coupons and notifications when you are near an NDSU Extension office. The app would also include livestream videos showing on-farm ag production.
All the teams did a great job!
Participants were asked to share their Innovate NDSU Extension experience on social media. Here are some of their posts.