Project Grant 20237000141004

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HE PURPOSE OF FOCUSSED IS TO EXPAND TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY'S (TXST) CAPACITY TO TEACH FARM OPERATIONS AND CULTIVATION FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THROUGH SOIL AND EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT AT TXST'S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES STUDENT FARM. BOBCAT FARM, ESTABLISHED IN 2021, IS A 1.4-ACRE FARM WHERE STUDENTS EXPLORE TOPICS IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT, AND SOIL HEALTH AND RESTORATION. THE LONG-TERM VISION OF BOBCAT FARM IS TO BE A SELF-SUSTAINED WORKING FARM THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND OUTREACH TO STUDENTS AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY. TO ACTUALIZE OUR LONG-TERM VISION, THE FOCUSSED PROJECT SEEKS TO EXPAND BOBCAT FARM'S CAPACITY THROUGH THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THREE GOALS: GOAL 1) IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AT TXST THROUGH DEVELOPING A MULTIPURPOSE POST-HARVEST PROCESSING STRUCTURE; ADVANCE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN INNOVATIVE REGENERATIVE TECHNOLOGIES; AND INCREASE STUDENT RECRUITMENT AT A HISPANIC AND MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION WITH 57% MINORITY ENROLLMENT. GOAL 2) INCREASE BOBCAT FARM'S PRODUCTION AND PROFITABILITY BY INCREASING CROP AREA; SELLING PRODUCTS TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY; AND DEMONSTRATING VIABLE CROP PRODUCTION ENTERPRISES. GOAL 3) EXPAND IMPACT OF BOBCAT FARM ACROSS TXST TO PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH OUTREACH TO NON-AGRICULTURE STUDENTS; PROVISION OF PRODUCE TO TXST'S FOOD PANTRY, AND DISSEMINATION OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH OUTCOMES. OVER TWO YEARS, FOCUSSED WILL INVOLVE AN ANTICIPATED 594 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH CURRICULUM AND VOLUNTEER OUTREACH. NINE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PRODUCTS WILL BE DEVELOPED, AND EIGHT FACULTY/STAFF WILL BE INVOLVED WITH FOCUSSED. FUNDING FROM FOCUSSED WILL SUPPORT PROJECT MANAGEMENT DURING THE STARTUP PHASE OF BOBCAT FARM.?