Agricultural communication, as a standalone discipline, has been taught for more than 100 years. Research has been conducted documenting evolution of the discipline within university settings. As the agricultural communication profession and university programs grow in popularity, a trickle-down effect may be occurring within School-Based…

Because of discrepancies among U.S. states regarding how they assess school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teacher performance and program quality, little knowledge has existed regarding how these differences might influence critical decisions regarding hiring, pay, promotion, and dismissal. In response, the purpose of our study was to…

School-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers face challenges and difficulties while working in the agricultural education profession. Burnout, work and family life balance, and time management are just a few of the challenges. The professional development needs of agricultural educators should be addressed. Fessler and Christensen (1992)…

There are many benefits to being involved in a school-based agricultural education program (SBAE). Engagement of students in SBAE programs provides students with a milieu of opportunities; as such, it is imperative to determine strategies for recruitment and retention that are impactful. Research surrounding the recruitment and retention of SBAE…

Teachers must be retained in the profession to meet the ever-growing demand for SBAE teachers across the United States. Although the literature has identified several factors which influence SBAE teacher retention, previous research has not examined the psychological needs satisfaction of Minnesota SBAE teachers. While critical to retention,…

Alternative certification is often seen by policymakers and local school districts as the answer to the teacher shortage problem. Yet, little is known about the experiences of alternatively certified teachers in agricultural education. This case study sought to explore the experiences of alternatively certified agriculture teachers through a…

Recruitment and retention of agriculture teachers is a major concern in the field of school-based agricultural education (SBAE). A major reason cited for this concern is perceived shortcomings in teacher compensation. To remedy this factor, Illinois implemented an extended contract grant program to provide agriculture teachers with additional…

Cooperative Extension employees and primary volunteers have opportunities to improve agricultural literacy among community members, yet little is known about the agricultural literacy proficiency of these community educators. It is generally assumed that Extension workers and volunteers are agriculturally literate; this study sought to provide…

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between career retention factors and selected demographic characteristics of school based agricultural educators within the state of Alabama. Identifying these factors will help state leaders determine what is or is not working and how to make changes that will have the largest impact on…

Teacher educators play a multifaceted role in designing and implementing curriculum to nurture preservice teachers' growth in content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and teaching efficacy. Amidst evolving educational landscapes and diverse classroom environments, there's an increasing emphasis on fostering teacher agency and autonomy to navigate…

Facilities are a critical component of an agricultural education program. Yet, there has been limited research done on agricultural educators' perceptions of facilities, especially since the facilities and resources of every agricultural education program can be highly variable. The purpose of this study was to understand the participants'…

Technology use in agriculture or "AgTech" (Agricultural Technology), is rapidly changing conventional farming practices and decision-making processes. To ensure the industry can successfully harness the power of AgTech, digital skill development of workers is crucial. This can be achieved by adequate education of the future workforce,…

Agricultural Education uses a combination of classroom and laboratory instruction, experiential learning, and leadership education to prepare students for jobs in industry. With the recent promotion of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) as an option for educational programs, this technology allows teachers to…

This article provides results from a survey of instructors who have offered the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) to youth planning to work in agriculture. Youth younger than age 16 who wish to be employed on non-family farms are required to complete an approved safety training program to operate tractors and other…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the California Agricultural Teacher Induction Program (CATIP) and examine its effectiveness in California School-Based Agricultural Education. Prior literature about networking and mentorship was reviewed to aid in formulation of the survey questions asked in this quantitative study. Participants for…