Portales, NM – August 2, 2024 – Eastern New Mexico University was awarded a $490,000 AGRI competitive grant by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The grant, awarded to Dr. Kalynn Baldock, assistant professor of agriculture and department chair, with a sub-award to NMSU’s Dr. William Norris, focuses on agricultural science teachers' industry-aligned education and development.

"I am excited for this opportunity to work with agricultural educators throughout New Mexico," said Dr. Kalynn Baldock, assistant professor of agriculture at ENMU. "This grant will allow us to partner with businesses in various agricultural industries to give these educators an opportunity to gain skills they can incorporate into their classrooms.

This project aims to provide targeted professional development opportunities for New Mexico secondary agricultural educators. This 48-month project would select a cohort of ten New Mexico agricultural educators each year for a total of 40 participants over the life of the project.

The first cohort would receive a year-long immersive animal science experience, with each following year's cohorts receiving comprehensive professional development on agricultural power and technology, welding, and plant science. These themes were selected based on the professional development needs of agricultural educators.

The model used in this project uses industry partners to provide a three-day meeting conducted on New Mexico State University's campus, monthly Zoom meetings with the participants, and an industry immersion experience for the participants. Furthermore, each of the participants would be paired with a mentor to provide them with continuous support throughout the project's duration.

For more information on the grant awarded to Eastern New Mexico University, visit https://www.nifa.usda.gov.