Blanton Emily A, Anderson Ryan G, Drewery Merritt L
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
Transl Anim Sci. 2024 Feb 10;8:txae012. doi: 10.1093/tas/txae012. eCollection 2024.
Given projected deficits and a lack of diversity, there is a critical need to recruit and develop the next generation of the agricultural workforce. The objectives of our study were to evaluate if AgCamp, a one day workshop focused on agriculture delivered through a college student-led service-learning platform: (1) increased high school students' knowledge of agriculture, (2) changed their interests in pursuing degrees and careers in agriculture, and (3) increased their comfort and confidence in communicating with others in agriculture. We hosted high school students at AgCamp and provided them with instruction in animal science, horticulture, and agricultural mechanics. Pre- and post-test survey instruments were developed and distributed at the beginning and end of AgCamp. Data were analyzed with SPSS 26.0 using paired sample -tests. As a result of attending this outreach initiative, high school students ( = 26) reported having more knowledge of horticulture ( < 0.01) and agricultural mechanics ( < 0.01), but not animal science ( = 0.12), likely due to greater incoming knowledge of this sub-discipline, as reflected on the pre-test value. High school participants were also more interested in pursuing a college degree ( = 0.04) and career ( < 0.01) in agriculture and became more confident approaching other high school students ( < 0.01), college students ( < 0.01), and college faculty ( = 0.01) involved in agriculture. Ultimately, participating in AgCamp stimulated high school students' knowledge and interest in pursuing agricultural degrees and careers, indicating there is value in offering youth outreach as short-term programming to attract students to agriculture.
鉴于预计的人才短缺和缺乏多样性，招募和培养下一代农业劳动力至关重要。我们研究的目的是评估通过大学生主导的服务学习平台开展的为期一天的农业研讨会“农业营”是否：（1）增加了高中生对农业的了解，（2）改变了他们攻读农业学位和从事农业职业的兴趣，以及（3）增强了他们与农业领域其他人交流的舒适度和信心。我们在“农业营”接待了高中生，并为他们提供了动物科学、园艺和农业机械方面的指导。在“农业营”开始和结束时开发并分发了前后测试调查问卷。使用SPSS 26.0对数据进行配对样本检验分析。参加这项外展活动后，26名高中生报告称他们对园艺（P<0.01）和农业机械（P<0.01）的了解有所增加，但对动物科学的了解没有增加（P=0.12），这可能是因为在预测试值中反映出该子学科的初始知识较多。高中参与者对攻读农业大学学位（P=0.04）和从事农业职业（P<0.01）也更感兴趣，并且在与其他参与农业的高中生（P<0.01）、大学生（P<0.01）和大学教师（P=0.01）交流时变得更加自信。最终，参加“农业营”激发了高中生对攻读农业学位和从事农业职业的知识和兴趣，表明提供青年外展作为短期项目以吸引学生投身农业是有价值的。
