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Peer Advisory Groups

Peer Advisory Groups. Nathan Anderson Damona Doye Leland McDaniel. Why producers are interested. Outside perspective from peers Objectivity Overcoming blind spots Sounding board Different strengths Building better management Vision Support Networking

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Peer Advisory Groups

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  1. Peer Advisory Groups Nathan Anderson Damona Doye Leland McDaniel

  2. Why producers are interested • Outside perspective from peers • Objectivity • Overcoming blind spots • Sounding board • Different strengths • Building better management • Vision • Support • Networking • Cooperative projects, needs-based training • Accountability

  3. Characteristics of a peer group member • Ready to share all necessary details of the business • Progressive and forward thinking • Patient, respectful, trustworthy • Able to be challenged and accept criticism • Capacity to listen objectively and communicate skillfully • Decision-making authority • Open to change • Willing to make a commitment to the group

  4. Why Extension might be interested • Opportunity to serve clientele • Improve needs assessment • Facilitate change • Focus to programming • Document change • Augment existing educational programs • Increase profits, decrease losses

  5. Programs to which it could be an extension • Master Cattleman, Master Gardeners • Annie’s Project, women in ag conferences • Producers with specific interests • Beginning • Organic • No-till • Large (or small) • Commodity-specific groups • Management groups – litter, prescribed burn

  6. Range of models Family Business Institute High Plains Dairy Consultant centered 6-8 dairies Meet 4-6 times per year Idea sharing Metrics Touring Group purchases Speakers • Meet 2x per year for 2.5 days at host company site • Required attendance • Leave with high impact list of 5-6 items on which to act • 90 day check in between meetings

  7. AACREA/Argentina Range of models • Non-profit with 50 year history leading to 200 CREA groups • Promote technological and managerial development • Improve business efficiency • Activities beyond an individual’s abilities • 8-12 members + 1 advisor • Meet monthly • Consensus decisions

  8. What is needed? • Safety • Confidentiality • Chemistry • Structure • Scheduling and logistics • Ground rules and agendas • Commitment • Support • Facilitator

  9. Structure • Number of members? • 5-10, 8-12 producers? • By invitation? • Degree of similarity? • Geographic dispersion? • Frequency and length of meetings? • Format of meetings?

  10. Practices • Goals – specific or broad • Attendance • Confidentiality • Facilitation • Meeting conduct • Evaluation

  11. Focus • Education and skill development • Production • Financial • Introspection • Cooperative buying or selling • Organizational management • Marketing • Employee management

  12. Activities • Farm tours • Invited speakers • On-farm demonstrations • Field research trials • Production record review and critique • Financial record review and critique • Whole farm analysis

  13. Group dynamics • Forming • Storming • Norming • Performing • Transforming

  14. Discussion groups as an alternative • Ground rules • Decision-making methods • Closed versus open membership • Informal versus formal

  15. Obstacles • Getting started • Getting rolling • Getting useful

  16. Extension Educator role • Initiator • Host • Facilitator • Marketer • Spectator • Participant • Resource • Advisor

  17. Discussion

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