A Multi-State Agricultural Literacy Assessment of Extension Professionals and Volunteers

Cooperative Extension employees and primary volunteers have opportunities to improve agricultural literacy among community members, yet little is known about the agricultural literacy proficiency of these community educators. It is generally assumed that Extension workers and volunteers are agriculturally literate; this study sought to provide evidence of existing agricultural literacy proficiency and identify high and low knowledge domains in Kansas, New Mexico, and Utah participants. The following objectives guided the study: 1) Describe the agricultural literacy proficiency of participants by state and focus area, 2) Determine the influence of years of service on agricultural literacy proficiency, and 3) Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Extension professionals and volunteers related to agricultural literacy. The Judd-Murray Agricultural Literacy Instrument (JMALI) assessment was used to capture data. Results showed that Extension professionals and volunteers were either factually literate or applicably proficient. Data indicated that role, years of service, and career stage had no significant relationship with assessment instrument score. We also determined that participants showed a high domain knowledge of agriculture and its connection to the environment but struggled to answer questions related to current topics of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Further research is needed to understand better why early career professionals and younger volunteers had proficiency scores like those with fifteen or more years of experience. The study shows the need for ongoing professional development for Extension employees and primary volunteers focusing on STEM integration and knowledge-based instruction.