The purpose of this research was to explore the strategies effective in building community networks and pooling the resources necessary for laying the foundation to develop a successful county 4-H Extension program in early careers of Extension agents. We conducted this three-round Delphi study with a panel of specially selected 24 successful 4-H…

Understanding and identifying the professional development needs of 4-H youth development professionals should be the first step in developing the Extension workforce. However, 4-H professionals find it challenging to use the Professional, Research, Knowledge and Competencies (PRKC), which consists of 348 unique competency items, to guide…

Purpose: The objective was to investigate the role of traditional leaders in the implementation of food security projects in South Africa. Design/Methodology: A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used as a research design. A purposive sample of seven individuals was selected representing the community, extension agents, and researchers.…

Land Grant Institutions (LGIs) and Cooperative Extension were founded to bring educational access to the states they serve. In contrast to this mission and the ubiquitous nature of Extension services in US counties, Extension offices can only be found in a small number of indigenous communities. Despite these inequities, there are Extension…

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to understand the perceptions Extension professionals have about healthy food retail programs (HFRPs). Family and Consumer Science (FCS) agents from one state in the southeastern United States were interviewed about their definitions of HFRPs, what challenges and benefits existed, and strategies for…

We conducted research to examine 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant and Sea Grant Extension program leaders' perceptions about Extension public policy education (PPE). Most agreed that PPE is important work. Existing PPE has focused on issue-oriented community development, natural resources, or agriculture topics. Our results indicate that there is…

Extension administrators discussed the competencies and characteristics of Extension professionals as they explored how Extension will need adapt to changing clientele, both in who they are and how they want to receive information. Extension education curriculum is not fully preparing future Extension employees in all required competencies,…

Extension professionals facilitate community development through the strategic manipulation of learning and power in peer-to-peer learning partnerships. We discuss the relationship between empowerment and power, highlight relevant literature on the difficulties power presents to learning and the efficacy of service learning tools to facilitate…

This article summarizes the results of an evaluation of the impacts of a community development program to develop leadership skills in its adult volunteers. The evaluation featured 20 questions about leadership skills learned as a result of volunteer experiences. Data analysis strategies beyond a simple means ranking resulted in evidence…

This study was conducted to find out how effective Extension Community Resource Development Advisory Committees are in achieving their purposes and functions. Both committee members and extension agents agreed that committees were meeting their purposes by making sound program decisions, securing community acceptance of programs, and improving the…

Responses from 64 of 80 extension agents specializing in community resources and economic development identified the "Journal of the Community Development Society" as the primary source of ideas and information. Frequently cited program topics were entrepreneurship, fiscal policy, budgeting, strategic planning, and leadership development. Among…

Data from 12 rural community problem-solving groups working with extension agents were studied to explore the relationship between group and individual growth and (1) agent self-actualization and (2) certain group trait variables. Individual and group growth was found to be highly related to small group size, high ratings of problem importance,…

The utility of Rothman's three ideal types of social action as applied to community issues and Extension agents were explored via analysis of condensed case study materials describing decisions and activities surrounding a specific issue in the target county of a Title V (Rural Development Act of 1972) Project in South Carolina. The three Rothman…

Nineteen papers are included in this document: "Potential and Impact: Assessment and Validation in Leadership Development" (Boatman); "Using an Organizational Diagnostic Instrument to Analyze Perceptions of the Virginia Extension Homemakers Council" (Newhouse, Chandler, Tuckwiller); "Image: Who Needs It?" (Hendricks,…

A Missouri study conducted to determine agricultural extension usage patterns found that heavy users of extension publications tended to be younger farmers, those with a relatively large amount of land, and pork producers. Extension meetings were a less frequent source of information than either publications or county extension office visits. (LRA)