Creating a Field School - Difficult but Rewarding.

Experiential learning is a proven method to improve a knowledge base to participants. Small, hands-on trainings differ from field days in that participants do more than listen to a speaker standing in front of a backdrop of crops. We offered in-depth agronomic trainings for wheat production. We limited enrollment to facilitate highly involved trainings that included plant sampling, making specific measurements and observations, troubleshooting, and developing solutions. Challenges include planning a program around targeted growth stages that are dependent on environmental factors, scheduling specialist and staff time, and convincing participants to pay a $60 fee when they are accustomed to attending field days at no charge. Keys to success include starting small and expanding programs over time. Participant feedback is also vital to success. Although initiating a field school program can be challenging, it is also very rewarding to hear positive participant feedback.