CREATING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN VETERINARIANS AND SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Objective 1: Conduct a participatory needs & project design assessment to determine the underlying reasons why, in spite of various organizations having hosted several training programs in the region over several years, there has not been more progress with regard to maintaining and sustaining small and medium sized ranches. This would also include an examination of the barriers and challenges small and medium sized ranchers and veterinarians face in creating partnerships.Objective 2: Develop a comprehensive set of three lessons focusing on Sustaining Small & Medium-Sized Ranching Operations for use in veterinary programs and extension programs with each lesson to include (a) a learning activity pack, (b) an assessment pack, and (c) resources to share with ranchers to create collaborative, productive partnerships between ranchers and veterinarians.Objective 3: Provide experiential opportunities for veterinarians and ranchers in a 1-day workshop titled "Partnership Pathways".Objective 4: Assist universities in the creation of a workforce pipeline with the qualifications to pursue careers in rural food animal medicine, and in the creation of partnerships with ranchers to help maintain and sustain small and medium-sized ranches beyond the life of the project.