Agriculture, food, and natural resource (AFNR) systems need leaders to catalyze positive change. Thus, Extension professionals have consistently developed innovative and impactful leadership programming. In the current study, the alumni of one such program in Michigan were surveyed to evaluate the sustained impact of the program. Program alumni…

This study sought to describe agriculture and natural resources (ANR) opinion leaders' ethical orientations by illuminating how they determine what is right/wrong or good/bad when making decisions that impact the ANR industry. ANR leaders' ethical perspectives impact decisions regarding complex critical issues and influence others' behavior. We…

The binary work/leisure continues to be used to categorize many human activities, but falls short for ways of life in which a particular set of values undergirds all activities. This paper discusses regenerative forms of growing and harvesting food -- in particular, permaculture and natural farming -- as values-based practices that blur the…

Scientists' social responsibilities can include ethical research conduct, transparent public communication, and accountability to society to develop solutions. Scientists describe mounting pressure to advocate for their work amidst political, financial, religious, misinformation, lack of public trust, and other influences. The purpose of this…

This study investigates the extent to which ecological awareness is integrated into the middle school curricula (Grades 6-8) in Turkey. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, content analysis was conducted on 13 compulsory courses from the 2022-2023 academic year. The analysis involved thematic coding and frequency distribution of 171…

Current models of best practice in science education advocate for students to learn science by engaging in applied contexts that integrate the various science disciplines. Permaculture offers one such integrated context for elementary science. Although permaculture is relatively new in PK-12 education, the broader practice of school gardening has…

Continuous professional development is critical for Extension staff, and many agriculture-focused Extension employees are tasked with outreach related to a wide variety of natural resource topics. The purpose of this study is to help prioritize trainings needed by Kansas Extension agents and specialists based on their current level of knowledge…

The author gives some simple but effective suggestions on 'going green' at home, including: (1) Get your children to love the outdoors; (2) Eat healthy and organic; (3) Reduce organic waste by composting; (4) Teach your children about the three Rs of recycling; and (5) Minimise your water consumption. Trusted adults modelling good eco-practices…

Scholarship within the social sciences of agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) exists, in part, to inform solutions to complex problems. Increasingly, complex problems are found at the nexus of social and ecological systems; therefore, scholarship within the social sciences of AFNR must mirror this social-ecological characteristic.…

Outdoor activities can harness children's personal and social abilities differently than indoor activities. Children experience a variety of words associated with science learning through smelling, feeling, and tasting. The direct contact with nature and vegetation is the point where children's communication ability is harnessed as they begin to…

This study describes student interest in the agricultural content pathways established by the National Council for Agricultural Education. Differences exist between male and female students concerning curriculum choices in agriculture, food, and natural resources. Male students were most interested in food products and processing systems, while…

Issue #49 of the Bank Street Occasional Paper Series, "Indigenous Pedagogies: Land, Water and Kinship," brings together Indigenous educators and researchers to demonstrate how Indigenous teaching and learning takes form across contexts. Indigenous knowledge systems, values, and ways of being are understood and enacted within…

Agriculture organization (AO) members are key stakeholders within the agriculture and natural resources (ANR) sector, and their engagement in policy decisions can help direct future policy formulation and implementation. Such policies and regulations are often determined by and voted upon by elected officials, and, therefore, the decisions made by…

Agricultural educators, leaders, communicators, and extension professionals are faced with the increasingly difficult task of sharing science-based information to a public that is exposed to an array of media options, which are not always factual. Additionally, issues related to agriculture and natural resources (ANR) have become increasingly…

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…