The purpose of this study was to determine students' perceived confidence in mechanics skills increases through exploration and enlargement of the college education experience. This paper describes the relationship between West Virginia University first-semester agricultural education pre-service teachers' perception of their confidence in…

Purpose: We sought to determine the perceived importance and development of agricultural students' employability skills, and the factors and experiences that influence their development. Design/Methodology/Approach: We used a cross-sectional survey research design and conducted a census of Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life…

Preparing students for career success is a common goal across higher education. Yet, despite this longstanding goal, many recent graduates, including graduates from agricultural communications and journalism degree programs, are ill-prepared for career success. Thus, we surveyed agricultural communications and journalism employers (n = 45) to…

A priority of agricultural teacher education programs is to develop technically competent, prepared school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers. SBAE teachers should be knowledgeable in various agricultural subject matter, such as agricultural mechanics. Using Roberts and Ball's (2009) Content-based Model for Teaching Agriculture as the…

The United States economy is requiring employees to have knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Researchers have identified agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) education as a context in which STEM concepts can be formally taught and highlighted. Additionally, researchers have identified where,…

State crop scouting competitions (CSCs) promote agriculture by introducing youths in Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska to various agricultural disciplines while focusing on integrated pest management (IPM). High school students compete as teams to address crop management issues at various stations. Each station is led by university representatives. Two…

Contests that take place within the rural milieu have tended to be ignored. Yet a wide range of contests are associated with the rural/agricultural lifestyle. In New Zealand, for example, there are contests which judge specialised agricultural skills such as shearing, fencing, wood chopping or pruning, as well as those which assess assorted skills…

THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE VOCATIONAL COMPETENCIES NEEDED FOR EMPLOYMENT BELOW THE MANUFACTURING LEVEL IN THE AGRICULTURAL-CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN MICHIGAN. NINE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED IN THE INDUSTRY WERE LISTED--RESEARCH, TRANSPORTATION, PROCESSING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, SALES, SERVICE, OFFICE RECORDS AND MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND…

A study was conducted to identify the skills and training needs of Uintah Basin (Utah) beef cattle producers. A questionnaire form was mailed to a random sample of 210 beef producers. The questionnaire consisted of a list of 106 skills to be rated by the respondents. Two basic questions were asked about each skill: (1) How important is the skill…

Provides suggestions for mechanics skills to be included in an ornamental horticulture program. (HD)

Former agricultural students from five Southern land-grant universities evaluated the relevance of curriculum competencies and skills to their careers. Using a 4-point scale, 291 respondents from 1862 institutions and 105 respondents from 1890 institutions rated 15 action competencies and 23 agricultural competencies. On action competencies,…

To improve vocational educational programs in agriculture, occupational information on a common core of basic skills within the occupational area of the commercial vegetable producer is presented in the revised task inventory survey. The purpose of the occupational survey was to identify a common core of basic skills which are performed and are…

Designed to provide instructional materials for use by vocational agriculture teachers, this unit on breeding livestock contains materials for use in teaching the importance of breeding, the physiology of livestock breeding, reproductive processes, sire selection, and breeding systems. Lessons on each of these competencies contain the following:…

Designed to provide instructional materials for use by vocational agriculture teachers, this unit on feeding livestock contains nine lessons based upon competencies needed to be a livestock producer. The lessons in this unit cover the importance of good feeding practices, the identification of nutritional needs and the composition of feeds for…

To improve vocational educational programs in agriculture, occupational information on a common core of basic skills within the occupational area of the farm manager (owner-operator) is presented in the revised task inventory survey. The purpose of the occupational survey was to identify a common core of basic skills which are performed and are…