THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS AN INTEGRATED SOCIETAL APPROACH

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THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS AN
INTEGRATED SOCIETAL APPROACH

• Mel Dewsnup
• Department of Agribusiness, Science Technology
• Brigham Young University Idaho
• Rexburg, Idaho 83460-1300

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The 1988 National Research Council

• Agriculture is too important a topic to be
  taught only to the relatively small percentage of
  students considering careers in agriculture and
  pursuing vocational studies.

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The Strategic Plan For Agricultural Education
(Deeds, 1991)

• Goal 1 is update instruction in and expand
  programs about agriculture. The discussion of
  the goal mentions meaningful programs to educate
  the public and a basic program for all students
  in the nation.

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Literacy or Awareness

• Literacy implies being educated, cultured, able
  to read and write, having knowledge or
  competence. (Merriam Webster, 1990)
• Awareness implies being cognizant, conscious,
  sensible, alive, awake, having knowledge of
  something. (Merriam Webster, 1990)

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Findings and Recommendations

• K-12 schools should integrate agriculture into
  curriculum.
• The USDA should develop a National Center for
  Agricultural Literacy.
• Undergraduate programs in colleges and
  universities should require agriculture as G.E.
  credit.
• Establish a coalition of scientific societies
  with expertise in Agriculture.
• An increased effort should be made by media to
  air agricultural news stories and events.
• State education leaders, school administrators
  and school boards should develop and implement a
  plan to foster instruction about the food and
  fiber system.
• Teachers should be encouraged to modify lesson
  plans to incorporate materials about scientific,
  economic, and public health aspects of
  agriculture.
• Senior government officials and political leaders
  in the U.S. Departments of Education and
  Agriculture must direct efforts to upgrade
  agricultural literacy.
• Curriculum development projects funded by the
  National Science Foundation and U.S. Department
  of Education should include the development of
  instructional modules and materials leading to
  agricultural literacy.
• Many science teachers hold positive attitudes
  toward the integration of science in the
  agricultural education curriculum.
• Many science teachers to not have background in
  agriculture.
• It is recommended that science teachers and
  agriculture teachers team up.
• A significant number of science teachers agreed
  that students should get science credit for
  agriculture classes that integrate science.

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Strategy

• Build effective strategies in program development
  and use relational synergy as the primary vehicle
  to integrate agricultural awareness and literacy
  into our society.

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Synergistic Approach

• The act of working together, cooperating with one
  another.
• The remembrance that the whole is greater than
  the individual.
• Interact as discrete agencies (departments) in
  order to produce a product that is greater
  because of the sum of its parts.

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Societal Approach

• Societal approach infers companionship or
  association of individuals for common ends.
• Organized groups working together or periodically
  meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or
  profession.
• An enduring and cooperating social group whose
  members have developed organized patterns of
  relationships through interaction with one
  another.
• A community, nation, or broad grouping of people,
  having common traditions, institutions, and
  collective activities and interests.

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Leadership a GrassrootsPersonable Effort

• Begins with ME (Vision and Management)
• Extends to the Department (Administration,
  Faculty,Staff, Students)
• Extends to the College (Administration, Faculty,
  Staff, Students)
• Extends to the University (Administration,
  Faculty, Staff, Students)
• Extends to Society at Large

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Develop Strategies

• To develop implies an action of unfolding
  gradually and expansion by a process of growth,
  CHANGE IS REQUIRED.
• To be successful it is imperative that a
  strategic plan of action be developed,
  implemented and coupled with consistent control
  and evaluation procedures.

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Develop a Well Trained, Committed, Personable and
Caring Faculty and Staff

• Professional development opportunities. (PDLs,
  SLs,CRLs).
• Professional Conferences for faculty and students
  (AgrowKnowledge, NACTA, NAAE, PAS, ACTE, FFA and
  many others).
• Ongoing research to enhance learning of faculty
  and students.
• Assume service leadership roles at sponsoring
  institution, local community, state and
  nationally.

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Develop Synergistic Relationships (More WE less I)

• Match skills, personality, desires with need
  (Human Resource Right).
• Interdisciplinary Relationships (Agriculture,
  Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Geography,
  Education and others)
• Inter-University, College and K-12 Relationships
  (U of I, USU, CSI, Local K-12)
• Industry Relationships (Forage Genetics,
  Monsanto, Pioneer, Nor Sun, John Deere, Cenex,
  Production Growers and others)
• Administrative Support (A Holistic Approach)

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Develop Societal Agricultural Awareness

• General Education curriculum.
• Media Centers across campus.
• Public Relations program (on campus, off campus).
• Applied Science in-service to all K-12
  pre-service teachers.
• Agriculture students active in University,
  community and state service.
• Student Gardens for non-agriculture students (Ag
  majors assist)
• University Farm Field Day
• Farmers Market (University Community)
• Ag Rendezvous, Awards Banquet, Career Fairs, Ag
  Day Spud Bar, PAS week and more.
• Superintendents, Principles and Counselors (K-12)
  Round Table Barbeque.
• Summer workshops (Ag in the Classroom type
  Activities) K-12 invited.

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Who Moved My Cheese?

• Change Happens
• Anticipate Change
• Monitor Change
• Adapt to Change Quickly
• Change
• Enjoy Change
• Be Ready to Quickly Change Enjoy It, Again

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AgrowKnowledge Conference 2005Ventura, CA

• Building Co-Operation Between Education
  Disciplines
• Perceived Barriers
• Students and Faculty Compartmentalized
• Training not connected
• Too much book learning by teachers
• Only way to teach is the way I was taught
• Education has not changed much
• Environment students come from, students are
  different
• No child left behind
• State/National Standards
• Resistance of Ag Teachers to buy into Standards
• Tech Prep vs. Dual Credit vs. AP credit

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DEFINING QUESTIONS

• How can we disseminate agricultural information
  with greater efficacy (power)?
• How can we enhance relationships with our
  educational associates and others in an effort to
  employ their skill, intellect and resources to
  assist raising greater awareness of agriculture
  and its importance?
• Who is primarily responsible for leading the
  Agricultural Awareness initiative in our society?

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THOUGHTS

• We must create and gather willing participants.
• We must penetrate not only the mind, but also the
  heart, the heart validates the learning process.
• We must believe that it can be done without doubt
  or question and remain faithfully focused,
  steadfast and resolute.
• As we share that which is most precious, our
  capacity will be enlarged and we will have more
  to give.
• Business as usual is not good enough. We must
  become more courageous and transformational with
  our educational stewardship.

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NOW WHAT?
SHARE IT WITH OTHERS