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Evaluation of Farm Tours as an Effective Teaching Opportunity

Agricultural Economics & Community Development

Lauren Butler
County Extension Director/ Livestock Agent
UF/IFAS Extension Okeechobee County
Okeechobee

Abstract

Butler, L.* Okeechobee County, Florida

Goodiel, Y. Martin County, Florida

 Ryals, J. Collier County, Florida

 Wooten, H. Orange County, Florida

Educational farm tours offer learning opportunities that cannot be duplicated in a classroom setting[1]. Annually, the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) hosts a conference with both multi-day pre-conference farm tours and various day-long commodity tours for Extension professionals. The objectives are to increase Extension Agents’ agricultural awareness and appreciation of the production region of focus and to contribute to an understanding of a global agricultural system.  A byproduct of the objective is utilizing survey results as a tour training tool. A group of UF/IFAS Extension Agents developed an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved survey (#202201589) for the 2022 NACAA AMPIC in West Palm Beach, Florida to quantify participants’ experiences and learning gains. The tours included diverse forms of agriculture from beef cattle operations to ornamental horticulture. Tours used a range of teaching methods including demonstrations, discussion, and immersion in operations. The Qualtrics survey was given to 479 participants and received 140 consenting responses. 66% indicated an increase in their knowledge on the appropriate commodity, systems, and technology, 75% indicated an increase in knowledge of ecosystem services, 64% indicated an increase in workforce and career diversity, and 68% indicated an increase in knowledge of Florida agriculture policy and economic contributions. Participants were also asked to rank their perception of agriculture; results indicated an overall increase in agricultural appreciation. There is a direct impact of appreciation and knowledge gain of Florida’s agriculture. Increasing agricultural agents’ knowledge of Florida’s diverse agriculture, operators, and workers contributes to participants’ understanding of the global economy. While educating Extension Agents about the entire American agricultural system that supports a global food system is a direct benefit, an indirect benefit surfaced in the form of a useful data set on how to deliver impactful farm tours. Finally, the output, an IRB approved farm tour survey, can be utilized to evaluate the impact of Extension farm tours, and thus, the impact of Extension on society. These results could be used as a train-the-trainer tool to educate future Extension employees in conducting farm tours. The results indicate utilizing tours as educational tools for Extension agents is effective.

 

[1]  https://archives.joe.org/joe/2020february/iw3.php

Authors: Lauren Butler, Yvette Goodiel, Jessica Ryals, Hannah Wooten
  1. Lauren Butler County Extension Director/ Livestock Agent, University of Florida, Florida, 34972
  2. Yvette Goodiel Sustainability/Commercial Horticulture, University of Florida, Florida, 34994
  3. Jessica Ryals Sustainable Ag/Food Systems, University of Florida, Florida, 33901
  4. Hannah Wooten Commercial Horticulture, University of Florida, Florida, 32789