Cooperative Extension strives to deliver relevant programming to residents. However, problems facing communities are increasingly complex. We used a three-phase needs assessment to describe Utah residents' perceptions of issue areas for Extension programming. We gathered data from 1,043 Utah residents. Results highlighted four priority issue areas…

The purpose of the study reported here was to gather information about the extent and scope of 4-­H health ambassador programs. An online survey was sent to land-­grant institution health contacts. Fifteen of the 36 individuals responding indicated that their states had such programs, and 13 completed the remainder of the survey questions.…

Purpose: To assess the inclusivity of on-farm demonstration across Europe, in relation to age, gender, and geographical location of participants. Methodology: The paper is based on a survey of 1162 on-farm demonstrators (farmers and organisations) and three supra-regional workshops. Findings: Overall, on farm-demonstrations were found to be…

With a limited body of literature examining residents' preferences for Extension topic areas, this brief report examined the educational interests of Utah residents. It explores opportunities for future programming based on residents' preferences for topic areas and their information-seeking behaviors. Data were gathered from Utah residents in May…

Sharing the importance of agriculture, agricultural education, and programmatic efforts through Extension is vital to ensuring policy makers and the general public understand the need for supporting the overall agricultural industry. However, communicating such importance can be challenging without accurate, evidence-based language to describe…

Sustainable eating may benefit both the environment and human health. Currently, no Extension programs addressing healthy and sustainable eating are available that target adults in communities. Since sustainable eating is a sensitive topic, this project engaged Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension agents in Kentucky, to garner their…

What is credible and actionable evidence can vary by program discipline in the Cooperative Extension Service. Through a series of interviews with program leadership from Agriculture, Natural Resources, Youth Development, Family Development, and Community Vitality, a case study of one state's Extension system is described. While programs certainly…

In recent years much attention has focused on the role of enhancing a teacher's professional knowledge and skills in helping to improve the quality of early care experiences for young children birth-5. In the study reported here, an environmental scan of the early childhood professional development programs offered within the Extension system…

Dwindling public funding as well as greater competition for grant dollars create a challenge for Extension. For Extension to remain a financially viable organization, educators have to be able to produce substantive, measurable program outcomes and impacts. Evaluative data can inform program development and delivery, and helps administrators…

Extension Food and Nutrition Plans of Work (POWs) were analyzed to determine program content, target audience, delivery methods, evaluation tools, and expected impact. The study indicated that Extension's strength in nutrition is family-based, interpersonal instruction in life-cycle nutrition and food management. (JOW)

Describes a study conducted to test the extent to which the employment criteria for positions in extension, continuing, or adult education in American universities are congruent with the content of graduate programs in the field. The results revealed a discontinuity that suggests that programs are guided by marketing rather than educational…

This report surveys popular literature on the consumer education needs of young adults. Twenty-one articles (1950-1976) in popular periodicals were examined in order to determine the emphases of educational competencies and the readership of each publication. A change in content was noted from producer-oriented to consumer-oriented awareness,…

Because of concerns about its ability to meet the shifting demands resulting from changes in today's society, the Virginia Extension Homemakers Council (VEHC) undertook a systematic program to change its organizational structure. In 1983, representatives of the VEHC and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service (VCES) met to identify the causes…

A national study of training offered by nonschool organizations in the United States indicated that, in addition to schools and colleges, 28 other types of organizations offer training and education. The total number of persons served by traditional educational institutions in 1984 was around 80.4 million. In contrast, 151.5 million may receive…