{"ops":[{"insert":"Project evaluations included a resource inventory that was generated in 2017 and is updated annually. The resource inventory documents change that can be attributed to the project, such as the acreage of land in production, crops produced, marketing avenues, revenues, and knowledge or behavior change from training. To inform the resource inventory, the project team conducted interviews and focus-group discussions. During the focus-group discussion, the project team, consisting of Tribal leaders, members, and Extension educators, engaged in conversations about the objectives that were achieved and identified areas that required further attention.\n\nIn addition, program evaluation surveys (pre and post) were incorporated into all the workshops, training, or classroom teaching to measure immediate outcomes quantitatively. Thus obtained results were shared to the program participants in the next workshop/event to inform the the future events. While many of the outcomes of the program were measured through quantitative analysis of the data, more qualitative methods were used to contextualize quantitative findings, assess what is working and what needs to be revisited, and ascertain the broader impacts of the program in the community. \n\nThe FRTEP project has achieved several measurable outcomes since its inception in 2017. The project goal to improve food security in the MPTN was accomplished through the establishment of meechooôk farm and cultivation of more land. Before the project started, only 1.5 acres of land was being cultivated on the reservation, but in 2022, that number had grown to 10 acres including the pasture. In 2022, approximately 40,000 heads of lettuce and 250 lbs of tomatoes grown in two hydroponic greenhouses were harvested. In the same year, summer squash, pumpkin, winter squash, cucumber, watermelon, basil, chard, and strawberry were cultivated and harvested from open fields spanning 1.5 acres. A container farming (40 ft x 8 ft x 9 ft) was started in December 2022 and in the last six months 10,000 heads of lettuce has been harvested from the container. Cows and pigs were added to the farm in spring 2022. Since then, 12 piglets were sold and three pigs were slaughtered. In 2022, the meechooôk farm-grown produce and meat was distributed to180 tribal community members (15% of the MPTN population) every other week in food boxes supported by USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Additionally, 30 diabetic patients have been getting prescribed fresh produce from the farm since spring 2022 that is supported by Food Rx Program. In addition to sharing the farm products with the tribal members through the above-mentioned programs, farm products are being sold at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino and local supermarkets. Final numbers for 2023 are still being calculated.\n\nAdditionally, the project has encouraged more households to start backyard gardening and established a school garden that program participants maintain. Jeremy Whipple, the Executive Director of the Tribal Department of Agriculture, has credited the FRTEP grant for this change, noting that before the project started, farming was seen as a hobby and not a potential source of income. Through the FRTEP grant, Meechooôk farm is equipped to scale up its production and sales, which will continue to improve food security and boost the economic viability of the Tribe's agricultural enterprises. \n\nDuring a focus-group discussion conducted with 12 Tribal leaders and members in 2022, there was a consensus that the health of the tribal members has improved since the start of the FRTEP through consumption of fresh nutritious food, an increase in number of tribal members practicing healthy eating habits, and exercise learned through the trainings provided by UConn Extension educators. \n\nThe UConn FRTEP project has had a significant impact on strengthening the relationship between UConn Extension and MPTN. The longstanding history of engagement between the two parties, with many Tribal members graduating from UConn and being part of the UConn Foundation Board, has been further enhanced through the extensive training and information provided by UConn Extension educators and staff to achieve the project goals identified by both parties. The FRTEP grant has built on the relationships and infrastructures that has enabled MPTN to secure additional funding from other agencies, including the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Native American Agricultural Fund, to support their agricultural enterprise.\n\nThis successful partnership between UConn Extension and MPTN to improve the food security and sovereignty has been recognized by local and national news outlets including, The Day, Civil Eats, The Washington Times, US News, and The Hour. USDA NIFA has also highlighted the UConn’s FRTEP project through NIFA Update on September 21, 2022. The success of the project has led to the creation of the MPTN Department of Agriculture in 2021, which continues the education, nutrition, and farming work previously done in collaboration with UConn Extension. More information is available at s.uconn.edu/MPTN.\n\nReferences:\nAbraham, M., K. Davila, and C. Seaberry. 2020. 2020 Health disparities profile: Middlesex and New London Counties including Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN). State of Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (CTOHS) and DataHaven. \nProto, J. 2020. Food insecurity in Connecticut. Office of Legislative Research, Connecticut.\n"}]}