9 pages, Teaching is an important part of an Extension agent’s duties; however, little is empirically understood about effective teaching practices in an Extension context. The purpose of this study was to explore the adult teaching practices of exemplary extension agents. Through a nomination process, seven agents in Florida were interviewed. The analysis revealed four themes: (a) approach to teaching adults, (b) awareness of learners, (c) planning, and (d) learning to teach. Each theme had several sub-themes. Recommendations for practice and additional research are provided.
5 pages, Farmers face unique occupational and interpersonal stressors that increase risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes. To educate farmers and their families about these risks, one state’s Family and Consumer Sciences faculty partnered with Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty with input from county agents to develop a series of online educational programs that were delivered as part of the state Agricultural Enhancement Program. Twenty-eight participants completed the pilot project and feedback surveys. Lessons learned include the need to have speakers from farming backgrounds, incorporate health topics that emphasize the connection with farming, and to include engaging visuals.
10 pages, The legalization of hemp cultivation in the United States has provided opportunities for farmers to grow a new crop. Despite these opportunities, significant social, economical, and technical challenges to growing hemp have been well documented. The purpose of this research was to explore Nebraska conventional farmers’ perceptions toward hemp cultivation. Using the diffusion of innovations theory as a framework, one-on-one interviews were conducted with seven conventional farmers in Nebraska. Data were analyzed using deductive coding methods. Results are presented in four emergent themes describing farmer perceptions: 1) limited prior exposure; 2) perceived technical challenges; 3) advantages; and, 4) impartial feelings.
5 pages, While strategies may differ across geographical regions, FACS Extension professionals work to enhance nutrition education and increase food security in their communities. The four dimensions of food security developed by The Food and Agricultural Organization were reconceptualized to understand food security on an individual or at a community level. Using experiences from a summer internship with two urban counties, the EEUESA Model described here was designed to aid FACS Extension professionals in their efforts for nutrition education and to better understand how programming targets food security in their communities
Mott, Rebecca (author), Tummons, John (author), Simonsen, Jon C. (author), Cletzer, D.A. (author), Peckman, Jaelyn (author), and Plaugher, Seth (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2024-06-19
Published:
USA: Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences (ACE)
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 208 Document Number: D13278
5 pages, The Covid-19-induced moratorium on campus visits allowed faculty from University of Missouri’s Agricultural Education & Leadership (AEL) program and Missouri Extension time to reconsider our campus visit structure and be more purposeful in our recruitment efforts. We organized a showcase to expose high school students to career paths and help them understand how our program could help prepare them for career success in the formal agriculture classroom, Extension, or the agriculture. We urge extension professionals to consider how they can be involved with events that raise students’ awareness about career opportunities while simultaneously recruiting the next generation of extension employees.
Levinson, Jeremy (author), Lamie, Dave (author), Vassalos, Michael (author), Eck, Chris (author), Chong, Juang (author), and Reay-Jones, Francis P. F. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2024-05-15
Published:
USA: Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences (ACE)
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 208 Document Number: D13277
9 pages, The Train-the-Trainer approach is widely used in Cooperative Extension education to efficiently disseminate research-based information to many clientele groups, including farmers. This paper compares the traditional Train-the-Trainer model to a comprehensive Collaborative Train-the-Trainer model and discusses weaknesses of the traditional model that are addressed in the Collaborative model. Sources of information used by farmers (growers) and overall effectiveness were measured through a survey instrument created and distributed to farmers in South and North Carolina. The Collaborative Train-the-Trainer model, which emphasizes peer-to-peer interaction and feedback loops, represents an enhanced approach for conceptualizing and implementing Extension educational programs.
4 pages, Resource constraints have lowered the number of collegiate livestock judging teams, dropping the number of opportunities for collegiate judging, even though interest among students remains high. These opportunities can be provided for less expense through student-led extracurricular organizations. This approach increases the student initiative required, but also provides an increased opportunity for developing and demonstrating leadership skills.
6 pages, Using an intercept method at two local farmers’ markets (n= 192), this study found the notion that local foods taste better and are more nutritious (i.e., lionization) and the notion that buying locally supports and contributes to the local economy and community (i.e., communization), positively influences consumers’ attitude towards shopping at their local farmers’ market. This positive attitude subsequently influences consumer purchase behavior. Extension professionals can utilize these data-driven results to aid in effective farmers’ market promotion by communicating micro-benefits (e.g., nutrition, taste) and macro-benefits (e.g., economic impact) to potential and current farmers’ market consumers.
4 pages, Advances in technology are transforming how youth and parents interact with programs. The Strengthening 4-H Communication through Technology project was implemented in eight county 4-H programs in Northwest Minnesota. This article outlines the intentional process used to effectively implement technology in program planning. The project includes: assessing current communication tools used; evaluating participants' preferences for receiving information; educating staff on current research trends; and training teams of youth and adults with the Forrester Research Model (2011) to implement social media as a program communication tool. The process helps staff identify audience and purpose of using technology for their specific needs.
5 pages, Professionals, such as Extension personnel, who communicate with a range of non-specialists about scientific or technical information face particular challenges. A common goal of all such professionals is to effect at least some change in their audiences' understanding and perhaps in their actions. A key challenge for many of these professionals is a lack of familiarity with research relating to communicating and making decisions about scientific and technical topics. Public Science Communication Research and Practice, a series of publications from Oregon State University, is designed to identify, distill, and highlight useful social science research to help professionals communicate more effectively.
