Iris Mayes

• Small acreage farming and ranching
• Soil health and pH
• Farmers' markets
• Master gardeners
• Community horticulture
• Food access
• Plant and tree problem diagnosis
• Pesticide education
• Agricultural literacy
• Idaho Veteran Farmers

• Mayes, I. 2019. Understanding Dangerous Work: Implications for Pesticide Education in Idaho. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Idaho.
• Mayes, I., Agenbroad, A., Werlin, J., Graf, S. 2019. Sustainable small acreage farming in Idaho: finding and evaluating land, University of Idaho. BUL 932.
• Mayes, I., Holyoke, L. 2019. Understanding dangerous work: implications for pesticide applicator education in Idaho. WSU Dryland Field Day Abstracts: Highlights of Research Progress. http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/css.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/19114614/FDA-2019-Complete.pdf
• Mayes, I., Holyoke, L. 2019. Exploring pesticide safety education in Idaho. Career and Technical Education Research Journal. In press.
• DePhelps, C., Golden, L., Newman, S., Mayes, I. 2019. Using Technology to Reach Rural Small Farm Audiences. Journal of Extension. https://www.joe.org/joe/2019august/rb2.php

Impact statements

• Cultivating SuccessTM webinar series delivers statewide small farm education
• Course helps new and existing farmers navigate standard financial statements
• Cultivating Success: collaborating to grow and support sustainable Idaho small farms 
• Growing the community food system through annual Food Summit outreach 
• Latah County Master Gardeners provide community service and education 
• Potlatch Kids Co-op Garden; working with community partnerships
• Farmer’s market improves access to fresh produce and benefits community vitality 
• Afterschool program activities shown to improve youth STEM skills
• Cultivating SuccessTM grows 49 new sustainable small acreage farmers in Idaho
• “Funding for Farmers” series brings new research & structures to Palouse area farms

Iris is the small farm and horticulture educator for Latah County. This program includes a Master Gardener program, plant clinic for community pest problems, community garden education series and educational programming for small acreage producers. In 2019 she is collaborating with colleagues to pilot a farming education program for U.S. military veterans. Her Ph.D. research focuses on pesticide safety education. She recently completed work on a three-year beginning farmer rancher grant funded by USDA-NIFA that re-launched Cultivating Success™ Idaho.

• Idaho Association of Agricultural Agents Scholarship, 2018.
• National Communication Award for Learning Module for Starting Your Sustainable Small Farms, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, 2018.
• Western Region and State of Idaho Award for Newsletter article, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, 2018.