Agricultural News
Our Latest Road to Rural Prosperity Features Dr. Bailey Norwood Talking Supply Chain and Farm to Fork with Ron Hays
Wed, 29 Apr 2020 15:51:46 CDT
The Host of the Podcast Series Road to Rural Prosperity, Ron Hays, traveled to Stillwater to talk with Dr. Bailey Norwood, The Barry Pollard, MD / P&K Equipment Professor of Agribusiness at Oklahoma State University. Bailey joined the OSU faculty in 2003 was awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Excellence in College and University Teaching Award for Food and Agricultural Sciences by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities in 2015.
Dr. Norwood currently teaches three classes in the Ag Economics Department. Dr. Norwood and Hays go in depth into two of them- including a relatively new class he is teaching on Supply Chain Management in Agribusiness- Supply Chain is a hot topic in these days of market disruption because of COVID-19- he explains the concept of Supply Chain using the example of toilet paper as well as beef and pork, explaining that today's supply chain is very specific in how it operates- and when Black Swan events like the one that has developed with the coronavirus pandemic- it has been very difficult for big companies to suddenly shift supplies from one type of market to another. He believes that OSU is one of the leaders in teaching the concept of Supply Chain in the agricultural arena- and he says that one of the most important things that he believes his students can gain from the course is to simply put the phrase "Supply Chain" into their vocabulary.
They next talk about his very popular and ever changing Ag Literacy Course- Farm to Fork, A Panoramic View of Agriculture. Farm to Fork began about seven years ago as a Massive Open Online Course which Norwood says that OSU President Burns Hargis took a person interest in. Dr. Hargis wanted OSU to have MOOC at a time when they were very trendy- and he and others thought agriculture was a natural place for OSU to offer the online course- and Dr. Norwood stepped up and started putting it together.
In early years- the 16-week course is conducted entirely online and is open to anyone. "Farm to Fork" focuses on topics from livestock-care techniques and the industrialization of agriculture to the effect of locally grown food on a community's economy and the role of politics and culture in food.
Developing the course each year gives Norwood the opportunity to work with a team of videographers, video editors, software providers and animators. He said putting together these videos is a thrill.
In recent years, Dr. Norwood has had online and in person sessions- asking students taking the course in person to do a "hands on" project.
"OSU has been creative about using technology in the classroom, but this course has given me the ability to use technology to take us out of the classroom onto dairy, beef and swine farms, and into DNA and soil test laboratories," Norwood said. "Ironically, the Internet-based course takes participants outside more than a traditional class. The course is conducted through a robust Internet platform that facilitates discussion within virtual field trips, video lectures and reading."
There's a free version of it coming in a few weeks- and Bailey explains how to get on board. Details of the next Farm to Fork opportunity online will soon be available by going to his website- available here.
Today's Road to Rural Prosperity Podcast is sponsored by the Oklahoma Rural Water Association, Celebrating Fifty Years in 2020.
To listen to Episode 31 of the Road to Rural Prosperity- click on the PLAY button in the box below.
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