MEDFORD, December 19, 2019
Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC) , an online school created by Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA), will open courses to the general public beginning Spring Semester 2020. The school was created to deliver custom coursework in managed grazing dairy production and farm business management for DGA Apprentices across its multi-state network and to enhance on-the-job training received during the Apprenticeship.
MGIC will now offer the same slate of six classes required for Apprentices to anyone interested in gaining a practical education that can be put to use on the farm: Dairy Cattle Health and Wellness; Milk Quality; Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Feeds and Feeding; Soil and Water Resources Management; Farm Business Management; and Managed Grazing Systems for Dairy Cattle. Students can take courses individually or complete all six within five years to earn a Managed Grazing Dairy Certificate.
MGIC classes are one credit (36 hours) each and run for 12 weeks during Spring Semester and Fall Semester. There is also a condensed Summer Session to accommodate varied and busy farming schedules. The classes combine independent study with synchronous educational opportunities as well as one-on-one support from MGIC School Director, Jamie Washburn.
According to Washburn, “The online format provides flexibility that Apprentices and other producers and farm workers need, while also connecting people across the nation in a shared learning community.”
Washburn, who holds a Master's degree in Ruminant Nutrition and a Bachelor's in Animal Science, both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, teaches all the classes. She has a broad background in livestock nutrition and production, research, and education but brings in speakers during live video sessions to provide additional expertise.
“Jamie has already proven to be a tremendous asset and she isn’t afraid to think outside the box,” says DGA Executive Director Joe Tomandl, III. “We’re excited about the potential of MGIC to provide value and access to anyone who is interested in learning about regenerative agriculture.”
Registration for Spring Semester at Managed Grazing Innovation Center opens on December 23, 2019 with classes beginning January 6, 2020 through March 28. Learn more and sign up for a class or two on the DGA website: https://www.dga-national.org/mgic
MGIC and DGA are supported in part by a 2017 Educational Enhancement Team (EET) grant from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and by other funding partners, industry sponsors, and individuals.
Contact
Joseph Tomandl, III, DGA Executive Director, joe@dga-national.org 715-560-0389
Jamie Washburn, MGIC School Director, jamie@dga-national.org 618-559-8300