Application deadline: April 30, 2008

Suggested Topics

Suggested Topic Areas

• Upper New River watershed quality
• Forestry (including timber and alternative forest products)
• Livestock raising, breeding, and processing
• Crop cultivation
• Energy efficiency/self-sufficiency
• Development of locally owned, sustainable small businesses
  (e.g., crafts, tourism, food products, toiletries)
• Marketing of agricultural products (timber, livestock, alternative forest products, crops, etc.)
• Eco-tourism and agri-tourism opportunities
• Other topics  you are interested in pursing

Note: a single project may involve more than one topic. For example, a project could deal with both production and marketing of livestock, crops, or timber, or could deal with forestry and water quality.

Examples of Possible Topics

You are encouraged to create topics of your own. However, the following examples are of interest and would be acceptable choices for your final project. You can also choose a narrower issue within a topic and approach it in any way you think will be most effective.

Upper New River Watershed Quality

• Research storm water management practices like rain gardens and identifying places in the community where they would be effective, aesthetically pleasing and/or become useful in teaching the community how to better protect our water resources.

Forestry (including timber and alternative forest products)

• How can the people of Grayson County grow and market alternative forest products (e.g. black cohosh, ginseng, bloodroot)?
• What forestry methods can Grayson County landowners use to increase growth rates and marketability of their timber (for example, tree spacing, types of timber in most demand, cutting schedules and methods, pest control)?

Livestock Raising, Breeding, Processing, and Marketing

• How can the people of Grayson County work with Food City to market locally grown products (this might include looking at the example of Food City’s cooperation with those raising hair sheep and local produce in the region)?
• How has Meadow Creek Dairy in Grayson County been so successful? What lessons can local farmers draw from their success?
• How has Nimian Ranch (http://www.nimanranch.com) been so successful? What lessons can local farmers draw from their success?

Crop Cultivation

• What specialty, high-return agricultural crops are being successfully produced and marketed in other areas of the country?
• What specialty high-return agricultural crops are suitable for cultivation in Grayson County?
• How can information on these crops best be provided to local residents?
• How could such crops be successfully marketed to maximize profits?

Marketing

• What avenues are available for direct marketing of agricultural products on a local basis?
• How can the people of Grayson County use Internet resources to connect with people who would like to buy their products?
• What resources are available to help local entrepreneurs set up new enterprises?

Eco-tourism and Agri-tourism

• How could one set up a successful local business to provide guides for fishermen?
• What are the opportunities for setting up a business to serve tourists interested in birding, horse camping, hiking, etc?
• Are there opportunities for agri-tourism (where tourists stay and sometimes participate in farming activities) on working farms?