UVI AgDiscovery 2021

AgCOM: What’s so Special about Communications Specialists?

On Day 1 of the UVI AgDiscovery Virtual Summer Program, School of Agriculture PR Specialists DaraMonifah® Cooper and Leandra Kent presented on and spoke with students about their everyday work in AgCommunications. 

Students learned about… 

•The AgCOM/PR Profession 

•How to Effectively Document their AgDiscovery Experiences 

“Screenshots, Scripts & Special Events Media Documentation” 

1. Presentations & Field Trips 

2. Social Interaction 

3. Closing Program Prep

Box Garden Build & Demo Garden Tour

Extension Agent Albion "Chico" George presented on and spoke with students about how to build a box garden. Students then took a virtual tour of the demonstration garden and learned about some of the local plants, fruit trees, and effects of hurricanes.

Tuesday, July 20th

On the second day of the UVI AgDiscovery Virtual Summer Program, Mr. Stafford Crossman gave an overview of the Cooperative Extension Service. Mr. Zachary Davis Eldred presented on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Co-Director/Assistant Director of AgDiscovery Dr. Louis Petersen spoke about Sustainable Agriculture (SARE). Extension Agent III Ms. Toni Thomas talked about the medicinal plants of the Virgin Islands and gave a second look at the demonstration garden on the Orville E. Kean Campus. Co-Director Ms. Sarah Dahl-Smith talked about 4-H and healthy habits. In the afternoon, Extension Agent II Vanessa Forbes demonstrated how to build compost out of a bucket and other materials.

Wednesday, July 21st

Day 3 of the UVI AgDiscovery Virtual Summer Program was a busy day with multiple presentations from different, well-informed members of the Agricultural Experiment Station on St. Croix. Dr. Robert Godrey, the associate director and professor, gave an overview of the entire department. Dr. Zimmerman, Assistant director, and associate professor, spoke on Biotechnology and Agroforestry, Research Specialist Mr. Donald Bailey talked about Aquaculture, and Research assistant professor Dr. Henry Awika discussed horticulture. Research Specialist III Mr. David Hensley presented on agronomy. The students took a field trip to the Aquaponics from Mr. Kirk Lewis.

Thursday, July 22nd

Day 4 of the UVI AgDiscovery Virtual Summer Program was “Rep Your School” day. Director of Residence Life Ms. Trudi Golphin and Career Services Coordinator Ms. Anyha Lord-Ferris spoke about residence life and job opportunities for students. School of Agriculture Recruiter Ms. Denise Lake spoke about the Agriculture Program at UVI. The students took a field trip to Mr. Grantley Samuel’s farm.

Friday, July 23rd

On Day 5 of the UVI AgDiscovery Virtual Summer Program, Extension Agent Raejae Joseph gave an excellent presentation on some of the uses of technology in Agriculture. We watched Nexus the robot move around the classroom using sensors and watched videos of larger machinery doing agricultural tasks like separating strawberries! The field trip was a tour of the Farm Pod developed by Mike Straight and engineered by Bennet (last name) and their pet dog, Gus. 

Saturday, July 24

On Day of 6 the UVI AgDiscovery Virtual Summer Program, the LaReine Farmer’s Market was buzzing with vendors selling a variety of local products, including tamarind balls, mangoes, ackee, and chlorophyll, while listening to live steel pan music. Head camp counselor Torhera Durand along with special guest Khalarni Rivers of VI Crawl talk about the history and elements of storytelling and perform original stories like “Why Crabs Have a Crack on Their Backs,” “Crocodile & the Devil,” and “Bro Nansi & the Food Run.”

The two-week program is sponsored by the USDA APHIS office and is hosted at various land grant universities. For more info, follow us on Facebook, YouTube Playlist, LinkedIn, and Twitter, which all live stream the activities.

#AgDiscovery #NIFAimpacts