Search

Demand exists for a workforce with graduate degrees in agricultural and environmental sciences. However, research on effective graduate student recruitment into colleges of agricultural and environmental sciences (CAES) is limited. Prospective graduate students consider distinctive factors when selecting an institution, necessitating further examination of their communication channel use. Media richness theory posits communication media are on a continuum of leanness to richness, and agricultural communicators can select the proper medium for an audience based on the message and its richness. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of media richness during the recruitment of prospective graduate students. Nineteen graduate students representing 10 departments within a CAES participated in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative inductive coding revealed three prominent communication channel themes: online, indirect, and direct. Findings indicated participants began their journey using indirect and online channels with less personalization and moved into richer media with the capacity for immediate feedback as their interest increased. Participants expressed disappointment at online channels with outdated information because they felt impersonal. Participants preferred phone or zoom calls as rich media to understand institutional culture, valuing personalization and immediate feedback from current students.

New approaches are needed when working in rural communities to identify and communicate holistic evaluation impacts related to community-based health promotion efforts of Cooperative Extension. Specifically, there is a lack of recorded long-term programmatic impacts of these programs, including behavior changes related to consuming nutritious and healthy food. The current study explored rural community members' experiences with cognitive dissonance in relation to decreased adult obesity and the adoption of healthier food consumption practices related to an extension health promotion program, as cognitive dissonance can help explain several motivational components of potential behavior change. Through a qualitative research design using a thematic analysis of focus group data, the authors observed an overall positive association between community members' experiences with cognitive dissonance, resulting in the acceptance of healthier food choices over inherited unhealthy practices, increased knowledge and awareness about nutrient-dense food, and increased physical activity. The cognitive dissonance framework revealed positive indicators of long-term programmatic impact related to food choice and consumption patterns. However, the analysis also indicated that while interventions improved access to resources, socio-economic barriers still existed that would ensure sustainability and depth of positive changes leading to long-term behavioral change in rural communities.

Sharing the importance of agriculture, agricultural education, and programmatic efforts through Extension is vital to ensuring policy makers and the general public understand the need for supporting the overall agricultural industry. However, communicating such importance can be challenging without accurate, evidence-based language to describe what makes agricultural initiatives unique and effective. Furthermore, having knowledge of the unique strengths of Extension builds a foundation of resources agricultural staff can use in problem-solving, communication, and education techniques. A Delphi study was conducted to research the unique strengths of University of Georgia Extension in an effort to better educate and communicate with local and state stakeholders. Findings resulted in 11 strengths that gained 100% agreement from research respondents. Six thematic categories covering all agreed-upon strengths document strengths in an explicit way that can also help with internal communication and education efforts within the Extension organization.

The 21st century has brought with it unforeseen challenges and influential trends that will have significant impact of the livelihood and wellbeing of Georgia residents. Extension personnel within Georgia can extend their mandate by identifying issues that represent present and near-present threats and use these issues to inform programming and direct resource allocation. The conceptual basis for this study relied upon the community capitals framework and the consensus-building theory. Data were collected using a three-round Delphi process, with an expert panel comprised of 19 Extension leadership and administrative personnel. Descriptive statistics, including mean importance scores and absolute frequency counts, were computed. A final list of 21 unique issues resulted from the Delphi process and was analyzed thematically using the constant comparative method. Five heuristic themes resulted from this analysis: 1) Investment in Youth and Adults, 2) Agricultural and Rural Economic Development, 3) Agriculture and Food Safety Information, 4) Resource Access and Availability, 5) Social and Personal Economic Concerns. Comparison with the community capitals framework revealed that multiple capitals interacted within each of the resulting themes. Utilizing the Delphi technique in conjunction with the community capitals framework enables extension professionals to compare community resources and strengths and may allow for greater efficiency in addressing critical issues. The immediate efforts of extension personnel should be directed towards addressing issues within the Investment in Youth and Adults and Resource Access and Availability themes. We recommend using the associated community capitals as strategic entry points for further discussion and program development.

University agricultural educators are challenged to employ innovative approaches to prepare undergraduates in agriculture and natural resources to address complex global problems while understanding interconnected systems. Undergraduates, current members of Generation Z (Gen Z), prefer environmental sustainability and innovation, but solutions for addressing these preferences in educational settings remain elusive. Exploring Gen Z's environmental consumption values and how those values relate to their systems thinking tendencies may provide university educators with insights on how to approach complex topics with Gen Z students. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between Gen Z students' green consumer values and systems thinking tendencies. Data were collected using a web-based survey instrument of 68 undergraduate students at the University of Georgia. Findings revealed respondents somewhat agreed they had green consumer values and respondents often used systems thinking when seeking to make an improvement. A Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient indicated a positive, yet weak, association between systems thinking tendencies and green consumer values. The association necessitates further exploration. University agricultural educators should incorporate systems thinking educational strategies into classrooms to potentially increase Gen Z students' engagement in systems thinking when addressing complex agricultural issues, like sustainability. Additional implications for systems thinking and teaching are explored.

There has been a dramatic shift in how people engage with agriculture over the past 50 years in the United States, leading to little interaction between consumers and the farm. Despite extension initiatives to communicate with urban consumers about agriculture, the disconnect between consumers and agricultural producers continues to grow. Research has shown consumers rely primarily on the media for information about agriculture resulting in misconceptions about its impact on the environment. Consumers' negative views about agriculture's impact on the environment may lead to support for and implementation of environmental policies that create issues for agricultural producers rather than policies that support both production agriculture and the environment. This study, guided by audience segmentation and framing theory, sought to explore differences in public perspectives regarding agriculture's impact on the natural environment, specifically with rural, urban, and suburban residents. Data were collected from 797 Georgia residents living in rural, urban and suburban areas using an online survey instrument. The results found perspectives on agriculture's impact on the environment were moderately high and bimodal; both positive and negative. Statistically significant differences were found between urban and suburban residents' positive perspectives on agriculture's impact on the environment and between urban, suburban, and rural residents' negative perspectives on agriculture's impact on the environment. The findings imply extension educators need to tailor outreach programs based on the rurality of residents in order to effectively communicate with audiences, particularly when combatting negative framing with urban audiences.

Involvement with the 4-H program during youth has been empirically shown to have positive effects on participants and to influence their life perspectives and career development. The activities offered within 4-H allow individuals to build relationships with peers and mentors, develop life and leadership skills, and create a positive self-concept. The focus of this study was to identify key touchstones which influenced 4-H alumni life perspectives and inform program development to ensure individuals are exposed to these activities during their 4-H involvement. Although numerous studies have examined the positive outcomes of 4-H programming, limited research exists identifying the context in which these influential experiences occur. This study employed a modified Delphi approach, using an expert panel (n = 31) to identify and generate consensus regarding 4-H experiences, events, and programs deemed influential in expanding alumni life perspectives. Thirty-six items were retained following the Delphi process. Two items received unanimous consensus: (1) interaction with diverse groups; and (2) hearing dynamic speakers and listening to accomplishments they have achieved because of involvement in 4-H. Retained items were analyzed for overarching themes using the constant comparative method (CCM). Five themes emerged following the CCM analysis: (1) professional skills and leadership development; (2) networking and mentorship opportunities; (3) 4-H events, programs, and camps; (4) 4- H projects and educational opportunities; and (5) internal influences. These themes may be combined with Robert's (2006) model of experiential learning to identify the appropriate setting, duration, level, and intended outcomes of 4-H programming.

Rural stress is the physiological reaction brought upon by internal and socioeconomic stressors characteristic of rural residents. This type of stress is exacerbated by the complex issues facing rural populations and serves to inhibit the growth of vibrant, resilient communities. The current study sought to construct and validate an instrument intended to quantify perceptions of rural stress among neighbors and communities. The proposed scale was confirmed to have robust content, internal structure, and consequential validity. An exploratory factor analysis indicated one variable accounted for 57.74% of the total variance, while a one-way between subjects ANOVA found a statistically significant effect of group on scale scores under rural-urban continuum (RUC) conditions. One implication from these findings is that changes in communities may function as predictors of stress. Agricultural and extension educators hold a unique position that allows them to interact with the community on a daily basis. We recommend that they leverage this position to educate residents on the effects of stress, reduce the stigma associated with help-seeking behaviors, and discuss available stress management resources. Future research should consider modifying the instrument to focus on individual levels of stress instead of perceptions of stress within the community.

Although there are questions concerning the extent of the problems facing rural Americans, there is considerable evidence that many nonmetropolitan communities are facing a multitude of serious challenges. These issues do not exist as distinct and unrelated problems. For instance, one cannot focus exclusively on depopulation without also confronting economic decline and lack of employment opportunities, deteriorating social bonds, cultural atrophy, decaying infrastructure, and so on. Rural communities are systems in which each problem is linked, and managing these issues requires a holistic approach. Despite the need for robust diagnostic tools to support agricultural educators to work with communities there has been a notable gap in empirical tools to do so. The purpose of the study was to develop and validate an instrument to gauge community perceptions according to the Community Capitals Framework. The results of the study found the proposed instrument demonstrated content, response process, and internal structure validity based on a pilot of six counties in Georgia. Furthermore, the scale demonstrated initial consequential validity based on county level comparisons and statistically significant observed differences.

Educators within agricultural and natural resource disciplines are tasked with educating students to critically engage with and problem-solve complex issues. As society's relationship with science and technology changes, coupled with an information-dense environment, strategies for sustainably addressing complex issues are needed. One potential approach for strategically addressing complex problems is systems thinking, which emphasizes the interdependence of the components of systems from ecological, social, and economic perspectives, among others. A mixed-methods study was used to explore the applicability of hypothetical case scenarios (HCS) as a teaching method to introduce and engage students in using systems thinking related to the seafood industry. Findings suggested HCS engaged students to think critically about socio-scientific issues. Participants demonstrated systems thinking capacity when discussing their decision-making processes in the hypothetical cases. The current study demonstrated the pedagogical potential of using HCS to enhance systems thinking capacities for students in the ANR disciplines. Implications for education and recommendations for future research are discussed.

New communication methods and technology continue to emerge and evolve -- as do societal trends -- making it paramount that Extension professionals stay abreast with the preferred communication channels of potential clientele. By being aware of clients' preferred communication channels, Extension professionals can increase the number of participants who benefit from their work while also improving the quality of the message being delivered. The present study examined the preferred communication channels of potential Extension clientele specifically when gathering information regarding their community. Specifically, a non-probability opt-in sampling procedure was employed whereby respondent (N = 3,347) communication channel preferences were analyzed from an audience segmentation and uses and gratifications perspective. Overall, the results indicated the most effective channels through which to reach potential Extension clientele under 50 years of age is through the internet and social media, while word of mouth and newspaper are preferred channels for those 50 and over. However, the results of the study indicate there are a variety of potential communication channels with varying degrees of preference among different audiences. Using study results as a starting point to inform communication channel strategy may help to Extension professionals ensure the correct message is provided to the correct audience via the correct channel.

4-H provides unique opportunities for youth to experience new things and prepare for their future. The purpose of this study was to examine how 4-H has influenced participant career trajectories. Data were collected using the Delphi method to produce a list of 70 unique items. There were 46 of 70 items that received 90-100% consensus in the final round of the process. A constant comparative method analysis identified six emergent themes having had the most influence of participant career trajectories: relationships, personal development, leadership development, life skills, civic engagement, and college and career preparation. The research provides a foundation of critical touchpoints which may impact participants' career trajectories. Additionally, specific recommendations for applying the results in 4-H and other youth development programs are provided.

The ability to evaluate and accurately articulate the outcomes associated with leadership development programs is critical to their continued financial and administrative support. With calls for outcome-based accountability, the need for rigorous evaluation is particularly relevant for those programs administered through the Cooperative Extension Service (CES). Using Bandura's (1977) Social Learning Theory, a robust evaluation of agricultural leadership development programs administered through the CES in the southern region of the United States was conducted. Several key findings are examined, specifically: program participant demographics match parity requirements for CES programming; program participants are highly satisfied with their program experience; and program participants have held a large number of leadership roles within their communities and industries.

Extension program participants tell story after story of the impact of Cooperative Extension on their lives, their families, and their businesses. Despite huge amounts of qualitative data, very little quantitative data exist showing the aggregated public value of Extension programs--especially across program areas. The lack of data leaves Extension administrators high and dry when they are asked to show public value, a circumstance sometimes resulting in reductions in human and financial resources. A simple, yet powerful Extension public value instrument was developed and used in Georgia along with analysis methods designed to showcase the short-, medium-, and long-term impacts of Extension programs.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a robust scale, based on the community capital framework, to provide an empirical measure of community perceptions. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed measure was completed by a sample of Georgia citizens (n = 3374) representing a diverse cross-section of community characteristics. Findings: Data indicate that the six proposed scales (natural, social, human, cultural, built-financial, and political) subsumed within the instrument measure unique underlying latent variables with evidence of internal validity through multiple analytic techniques. Practical implications: This study represents an initial examination of a quantitative instrument -- the Community Diagnostics + Social Impact (CD + SI) Toolkit™ -- that can be used by researchers, educators, and community development professionals to measure the stocks of the various capitals within a community. Theoretical implications: The theoretical implications of this study are that the CD + SI Toolkit™ holds promise as a valid and reliable instrument for establishing holistic community profiles, identifying targeted areas for in-depth research inquiry or programmatic design, guiding policy design and implementation, and ultimately evaluating the impacts of community development programs and policies. The CD + SI Toolkit™ addresses an omission in the literature and in broader community development. Originality/value: While various frameworks such as the CCF exist to provide a more general blueprint for program development and assessment, the CD + SI Toolkit™ represents an effort to specifically quantify the community capitals and establish a replicative process for measuring community capitals. The results of this initial validation effort demonstrate the potential for such a tool.

The present study examined whether perception of critical community issues was dependent on respondents' rurality, geographic region, or extension district in the state of Georgia, located in the southeastern United States. A non-probability sampling procedure was employed. A total of 3,374 responses were collected. Five critical community issue themes were analyzed: (1) youth and family development, (2) civic engagement and community development, (3) agriculture and economic development, (4) nutrition education and food availability, and (5) water. Descriptive statistics were analyzed. A series of chi-squared tests of independence were used to test for significant relationships between perception of critical community issues and geographic grouping. Statistically significant differences were observed between all groups (rurality, region, and district). Specifically, significant relationships were observed between all groups and perception of youth and family development and agriculture and economic development. A significant relationship between region and perception of civic engagement and community leadership was observed. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between rurality and water observed. The results indicate that programming efforts should be informed both by proximal communities as well as non-proximal communities sharing common characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication capacity development is critical for Extension professionals, who work to bring agricultural and health research to the public. With social media being an almost ubiquitous communication channel, it has immense potential as a health communication resource for diverse and rural audiences. The current study, guided by an audience segmentation framework, explored the health communication patterns on social media of rural Georgia residents across demographic characteristics through a non-probability opt-in sampling online survey. Cluster analyses of social media users revealed three distinct groups: low, medium, and high users. Descriptive characteristics of each cluster were presented, to guide Extension health communication practices in rural Georgia. Additionally, inferential statistics revealed a relationship between cluster membership and perceptions of health information on social media: high frequency users were more likely to positively perceive the health information, while low users were more likely to negatively perceive the information. Implications for health promotion and Extension practitioners include using audience segmentation strategies to increase the effectiveness of tailored messages to enhance the success of social media communication for rural residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural marketers and grocery retailers are tasked with developing effective online marketing of local food products as consumer purchasing preferences shift. Local food sales are increasing through intermediated channels including grocery stores, and consumers are turning to online grocery shopping for their food purchases. Exploration of consumer preferences for visual and textual elements of an online local food product can provide marketing practitioners with strategies to optimize the purchase intent for local food among diverse audiences. Consumers are demonstrating interest in sustainability and information about food production, yet limited research has applied these interests to explore preferences for how local food is presented online. The purpose of this study was to explore consumer preferences for an online grocery design displaying local strawberries, and their purchase intention for local strawberries after viewing one of three designs. An online survey of 906 respondents from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama was used to collect data. Findings revealed that most individuals (42.9%, n = 389) prefer the online design with added information about environmental impact measures associated with local strawberries. However, there were demographic differences in preferred attributes of an online grocery design, and purchase intent was similar for local strawberries regardless of the design. Agricultural marketers should incorporate audience segmentation principles when customizing online grocery platforms for different individuals. Consumers should be presented with their preferred online design according to influential demographic variables and the type of grocery market providing the product. Additional recommendations for agricultural marketers and grocery retailers are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts of the world, water scarcity is increasing due to climate change and the deterioration of the quantity and quality of water sources. In the southeastern U.S., water conservation is of particular concern because of the decades-long water war between the states of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama over two shared river basins. Individuals can only do so much to conserve water in their home, but different forms of donations can contribute to larger efforts resulting in greater environmental impact. Using a conceptual framework connecting self-identity to water conservation contribution engagement, the purpose of this study was to determine if personal water conservation behavioral intent impacted contributions to organizations supporting water conservation so effective communication strategies can be developed. Previous studies connected self-identity and intention to engage in pro-environmental behaviors, but there is a lack of research on the connection to water conservation donation behavior. Respondents were recruited to take an online survey using non-probability opt-in sampling. Self-reported intent to engage in water conservation behaviors, current contribution behaviors (if they donate to an organization that protects water, are a member of a water conservation organization, own a specialty license plate that supports water conservation, and volunteer for water conservation events), and total family income in the past year were obtained. Data were analyzed using point-biserial correlations and binary logistic regressions. The results indicated personal water conservation behavioral intent was positively correlated to water conservation contribution behaviors. Personal water conservation behavioral intent and income level were significant predictors of contribution behaviors. Environmental communicators and educators should encourage those who identify as conservationists to increase their self-identity through contributing to organizations. Future research should be conducted to determine if actual versus perceived discretionary income and/or time is a predictor of contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's college graduates in agricultural and life sciences must be prepared to work in a global society. Increasing the integration of international content into on-campus courses requires globally competent faculty members. This study reports faculty's initial attitudes and beliefs about Latin American culture prior to participating in a 12-day professional development experience in Costa Rica and what they expected to gain from the international experience. A basic qualitative design was used for this study. Ten agricultural and life sciences faculty at the University of Georgia were included in the population. A survey instrument with four open-ended questions was used for data collection. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and trustworthiness was maintained by including an audit trail, triangulation, acknowledgement of researcher bias, and member checks. Three major themes (and several subthemes) emerged from the responses to the question on attitudes and beliefs about Latin American culture: U.S comparisons, beliefs about the country/region, and Latin American values. The preflection process and results should be integrated into international faculty experiences and used to help participants and trip organizers maximize faculty learning, and, ultimately, student learning. (Contains 2 figures.)

Throughout the United States, the agricultural, forestry, and natural resource industries are facing a multitude of challenges. While each industry is facing unique challenges on a national level, these challenges vary in scope and topic, and they are not necessarily generalizable to smaller geographic regions. Based on the socio-economic importance of agriculture in the state, along with five distinct geographic regions ranging from coastal to mountainous, this study compiled a comprehensive list of critical issues facing the agricultural, forestry, and natural resource industries in the state of Georgia. The study used the Delphi methodology with an expert panel composed of agricultural, forestry, and natural resource opinion leaders. Using a three-round consensus-building process, a total of 40 critical issues were identified with eight items receiving 100% agreement amongst the panelists. The final list of items were then analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify themes within the retained items. Six themes emerged based on the analysis, including (alphabetically) economic considerations, operations and infrastructure, policy, public perceptions, regulations, and workforce. The proposed themes, and subsumed critical issues, represent a heuristic framework within which to facilitate dialogue amongst agricultural, forestry, and natural-resource-related industries, as well as inform future research and praxis oriented efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community gardens are increasing in popularity and are associated with extensive physical and mental health benefits, increased access to fresh produce, and increased social connections. However, evidence is primarily from research in urban and school settings, and little is known about the role of community gardens in rural settings as part of policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes to promote health. This study explores the implementation of community gardens as part of an obesity prevention project, titled Healthier Together (HT), in five rural Georgia counties with limited food access and high obesity prevalence (>40%) using a mixed-methods research design that included data from project records, a community survey, interviews, and focus groups with county coalition members. Nineteen community gardens were implemented across five counties, 89% distributed produce direct to consumers, and 50% were integrated into the food system. Few (8.3%) of the survey respondents (n = 265) identified gardens as a food source, but 21.9% reported using an HT garden in the past year. Themes emerging from interviews (n = 39) and five focus groups suggested community gardens were a catalyst for broader community health change by increasing awareness of the value and absence of healthy food and generating excitement for future PSE initiatives to more comprehensively address food and physical activity access. Practitioners should consider placement of rural community gardens to optimize access to and distribution of produce as well as communication and marketing strategies to increase engagement and leverage gardens as gateways for PSE approaches to improve rural health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to assess the economic impact and knowledge retention of participants that attended the Northeast Georgia Beef Cattle Short course over an eight-year period. The course is an educational program hosted by the University of Georgia Extension Service that brings evidence-based science, technology, and economic and management strategies to Georgia beef cattle producers. The short course is taught annually, lasts a full day, and offers guest speakers and demonstrations from University of Georgia faculty and staff along with industry professionals. Non-formal feedback received from participants showcases its value and supports its continuation, but little is known about how the program impacts beef production in Georgia. The goal of the study was to quantify the long-term impact of the short course while developing an assessment tool that can be used to analyze and improve the course moving forward. Qualtrics was used to distribute a survey to 308 attendees of the short course to gather information on respondents' role in the cattle industry, knowledge of the concepts taught, comfort level utilizing what was learned, and self-reported economic impact. The response rate was 22% for this study. 41% of respondents are retired individuals, 18% were involved in agricultural production and the remainder of participants represented outside professions. 14% of respondents reported that they believed the knowledge they gained during the short course allowed them to save or gain more than $20 per head. An additional 84% reported an economic impact up to $20/head. The most frequently reported source of cattle information was extension programs, at 17%. Based on these data, Extension has a significant impact on the Georgia cattle industry. In order to further develop the program, the recommendation is made that future courses can be developed to further build relationships with cattle producers and larger operations across the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the implementation of policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) obesity prevention interventions in rural Georgia from 2016-2023 under The High Obesity Program (HOP). Poor diet and sedentary behavior are significant risk factors for obesity. Guided by the Social Ecological Model, which identifies multiple levels that contribute to health behavior, HOP (CDC-DP18-1809) aims to improve individual nutrition and physical activity behavior through increased access to affordable healthy food, safe and convenient places to be physically active, and policies to support obesity prevention behaviors. Citizens of five rural Georgia counties (Clay, Calhoun, Steward, Taliaferro, Dooly) with a high prevalence of adult obesity (>40%). HOP, known as Healthier Together (HT) in Georgia, works at the local level to implement evidence-based strategies and leverage partner resources to address obesity and its associated factors. Beginning in 2016, HT facilitated development of community coalitions, needs assessment and prioritization, intervention selection, implementation, and evaluation. Coalitions selected community gardens, healthy food pantries and coolers, sidewalk repair, walking trails, playground modifications, and active community design. Counts of interventions implemented and sustained, food pantry healthy standard implementation checklists, themes identified from qualitative project staff records (program and coalition meeting agendas, county activity reports), and annual progress reports were used to evaluate process and implementation outcomes. HT planned and implemented 22 community gardens, 8 coolers, and partnered with 7 food pantries. Of those, 72%, 50%, and 72% of gardens, coolers, and food pantries, respectively, are still active. No food pantries fully implemented healthy standards. HT repaired/enhanced 11 playgrounds; one is planned for 2023. Nine walking trails were installed; 8 are still accessible. Four counties received walking signs, (50% installed). All counties received active design plans. HT implemented obesity prevention PSE interventions with varying degrees of sustainability. Staff identified grant restrictions, large geographic spread, and limited human and material resources as significant challenges for rural communities which can inform future strategy selection. Center for Disease Control and Prevention [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]