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The Journal of Extension

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Full-Text Articles in Business

Prompt Engineering Principles For Generative Ai Use In Extension, Paul A. Hill, Lendel K. Narine, Aubree L. Miller Sep 2024

Prompt Engineering Principles For Generative Ai Use In Extension, Paul A. Hill, Lendel K. Narine, Aubree L. Miller

The Journal of Extension

The prevalence of Generative AI (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) is increasing rapidly. For Extension professionals, the utilization of prompt engineering is key to leveraging GenAI and LLMs effectively. Prompt engineering involves crafting prompts that elicit desired LLM responses. This article discusses prompt engineering principles, providing examples and guidance. The application of prompt engineering in Extension is explored, showcasing its potential to enhance programs, deliver personalized advice, engage audiences, and disseminate research-based information. By learning prompt engineering skills, Extension professionals can harness the power of GenAI and LLMs, enhancing their ability to address complex challenges in the 21st century.


Tracing Atlantic Sea Scallops Using Radio Frequency Identification (Rfid) Technology, Will Shoup, David Rudders, Jonathon Peros Sep 2024

Tracing Atlantic Sea Scallops Using Radio Frequency Identification (Rfid) Technology, Will Shoup, David Rudders, Jonathon Peros

The Journal of Extension

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) represents a technology that has the potential to enhance many aspects of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. Driven by fishery management and market forces, fishery product traceability benefits fisheries managers, consumers, and fishermen. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of RFID technology in the scallop fishery, a solution is proposed that would help establish clear Chain of Custody (CoC) so that the scallop supply chain can be better documented. Implementation and acceptance of any new technology will hinge on effective communication and extension efforts that can leverage the multi-benefit aspects of adopting RFID into the fishery.


The 2021 Kansas Rural Grocery Survey: Revaluating Extension’S Role In Rural Grocery Issues, Jacob A. Miller-Klugesherz, Jessica Ramirez, Rial Carver, Erica Blair, Leah J. Tsoodle, Lauren Scheufler Sep 2024

The 2021 Kansas Rural Grocery Survey: Revaluating Extension’S Role In Rural Grocery Issues, Jacob A. Miller-Klugesherz, Jessica Ramirez, Rial Carver, Erica Blair, Leah J. Tsoodle, Lauren Scheufler

The Journal of Extension

Kansas State University’s Rural Grocery Initiative, housed under research and extension, surveyed rural Kansas grocery stores in 2021 (N = 48). This is the second RGI survey, following up on the ownership and customer surveys in 2008. This survey broadly assesses owner characteristics, store features, and challenges. Using descriptive and thematic analyses, we identified two topline conclusions for grocers and their respective Extension services. First, grocers need to identify transition plans earlier and more often. Second, grocers can overcome competition and distribution challenges by diversifying their sourcing, supply, and offerings.


Understanding Consumer Belief Of Locavorism On Food Consumption At Farmers’ Markets: Implications For Extension Professionals, Youngdeok Lee, Christopher Sneed, Michelle L. Childs Aug 2024

Understanding Consumer Belief Of Locavorism On Food Consumption At Farmers’ Markets: Implications For Extension Professionals, Youngdeok Lee, Christopher Sneed, Michelle L. Childs

The Journal of Extension

Using an intercept method at two local farmers’ markets (n= 192), this study found the notion that local foods taste better and are more nutritious (i.e., lionization) and the notion that buying locally supports and contributes to the local economy and community (i.e., communization), positively influences consumers’ attitude towards shopping at their local farmers’ market. This positive attitude subsequently influences consumer purchase behavior. Extension professionals can utilize these data-driven results to aid in effective farmers’ market promotion by communicating micro-benefits (e.g., nutrition, taste) and macro-benefits (e.g., economic impact) to potential and current farmers’ market consumers.


Incorporating Subjective Measures Of Problematic Money Issues In Extension Workshops, Lucy M. Delgadillo Ph.D, Luke Erickson Aug 2024

Incorporating Subjective Measures Of Problematic Money Issues In Extension Workshops, Lucy M. Delgadillo Ph.D, Luke Erickson

The Journal of Extension

This study highlights the importance of incorporating subjective measures of identifiable problematic money issues in financial education workshops conducted by extension specialists. Addressing problematic money behaviors such as overspending, financial infidelity, and financial enabling empowers individuals to overcome harmful financial habits and improve basic money management practices such as paying bills on time and saving. The distinction between problematic money issues and money disorders, as well as overspending and compulsive buying, is clarified. The study uses empirical testing on problematic money behaviors and their association with fundamental money management practices to inform the development of comprehensive financial training and counseling …


When A Health Insurance Provider Says “No”: A Health Insurance Claim Navigation Tool, Dorothy Nuckols, Catherine Sorenson May 2024

When A Health Insurance Provider Says “No”: A Health Insurance Claim Navigation Tool, Dorothy Nuckols, Catherine Sorenson

The Journal of Extension

The purpose of health insurance is to pay for preventative and nonpreventative health care. Unfortunately, claim denials are frequent and most people do not contested these denials. Consumers lack both knowledge and self-efficacy to challenge their health insurance decision. Conflict is stressful can occur when a health insurance claim is denied unexpectedly. Faced with uncertainty of health care cost coverage, consumers are more likely to delay or forgo healthcare and jeopardize their health. To address this challenge, increase awareness of claim appeal processes and to provide consumer guidance, [STATE] Extension developed a Health Insurance Claim Navigation Tool.


Using Excel To Teach Agri-Business And Financial Literacy Concepts To 4-H Youth, Halee Prather, Maryfrances Miller, Marcy Ward, Craig Gifford May 2024

Using Excel To Teach Agri-Business And Financial Literacy Concepts To 4-H Youth, Halee Prather, Maryfrances Miller, Marcy Ward, Craig Gifford

The Journal of Extension

Teaching youth agribusiness subject matter and financial literacy through 4-H livestock projects is an important task. This article discusses using Excel as a record keeping tool to expand knowledge and comprehension of financial concepts and profitability in the beef industry. A description of the Excel record book contents and parent feedback is presented. Using the Excel record book expanded conversations about the beef industry and proved to be a favorable tool for increasing youth understanding of critical agribusiness concepts.


Upstarts T3: An Asynchronous And Cohort-Based Entrepreneurship Train-The-Trainer Program, Surin Kim, Maria Rosario T. De Guzman, Kieu-Anh Do, Irene Padasas, Claire Nicholas, Olivia Kennedy, Anna Erdmann, Andy Larson Apr 2024

Upstarts T3: An Asynchronous And Cohort-Based Entrepreneurship Train-The-Trainer Program, Surin Kim, Maria Rosario T. De Guzman, Kieu-Anh Do, Irene Padasas, Claire Nicholas, Olivia Kennedy, Anna Erdmann, Andy Larson

The Journal of Extension

UpStarts is a reverse-mentoring youth program designed to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among participants and a sense of connection between youth and adults. Effective facilitators are critical to the success of the program. This paper describes an asynchronous, cohort-based virtual train-the-trainer (T3) program for potential UpStarts facilitators that was developed to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. Participants of the initial UpStarts T3 program reported positive feedback for the training and a high sense of efficacy in implementing UpStarts in their communities. The current T3 model is emerging as a promising means of preparing facilitators to implement UpStarts …


Ensuring Responsible And Transparent Use Of Generative Ai In Extension, Paul A. Hill, Lendel K. Narine Sep 2023

Ensuring Responsible And Transparent Use Of Generative Ai In Extension, Paul A. Hill, Lendel K. Narine

The Journal of Extension

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems capable of generating human-like text, images, and ideas from existing data based on user-defined prompts, will inevitably impact Extension, including increasing efficiency, productivity, and performing tasks previously exclusive to humans. There are ethical and risk-related considerations surrounding the use of generative AI, including concerns about bias and unintended consequences. It is important for Extension to consider these implications and take steps to ensure that generative AI is used in a responsible and transparent manner. Extension must ensure that educators and staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively utilize and integrate this technology.


Assessing The Snap Consumer Environment At Farmers Markets, Gabrielle C. Young, Sarah Misyak, Meredith Ledlie Johnson, Natalie E. Martin, Elena Serrano May 2023

Assessing The Snap Consumer Environment At Farmers Markets, Gabrielle C. Young, Sarah Misyak, Meredith Ledlie Johnson, Natalie E. Martin, Elena Serrano

The Journal of Extension

The SNAP at Farmers Market Environmental Assessment was developed as a tool for market managers to examine SNAP participant accessibility for redeeming SNAP benefits at farmers markets. By completing the SNAP at Farmers Market Environmental Assessment, the tool can serve as a guide for providing practical next steps for market improvement. Extension practitioners and researchers, including SNAP-Ed staff, can use the assessment tool to support policy, systems, and environment change efforts that promote access to local, high-quality foods by SNAP consumers, the redemption of SNAP benefits, and potentially increased sales at farmers markets.


Selecting Appropriate Technology For An Effective Online Extension Course, Paul A. Hill, Amanda D. Ali, Emy A. Swadley, Russell O. Goodrich May 2023

Selecting Appropriate Technology For An Effective Online Extension Course, Paul A. Hill, Amanda D. Ali, Emy A. Swadley, Russell O. Goodrich

The Journal of Extension

Technology is a strategic asset in accomplishing the land grant mission. Selecting appropriate technology for Extension program management and delivery is essential to achieving planned outcomes, but can be challenging. This article describes the technology platforms selected by a new, legislatively funded Extension program delivering an online course in a hybrid distance-learning experience. The descriptions and application of these technology platforms will assist Extension professionals in choosing technology suitable for delivery and management of their programs as they plan for impact.


Go Pick Me Out A Winner: Visitor Perceptions And Priorities Regarding Operational Attributes At U-Pick Farms In Western New York, Nicholas Pitas, Ya-Ling Chen May 2023

Go Pick Me Out A Winner: Visitor Perceptions And Priorities Regarding Operational Attributes At U-Pick Farms In Western New York, Nicholas Pitas, Ya-Ling Chen

The Journal of Extension

This study seeks to identify visitor priorities for and perceptions of operational attributes at U-pick farms. Using a survey of farm visitors in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region, we applied importance-performance analysis to identify priorities, and the repositioning framework to create strategies for addressing them. Our results indicate that U-pick visitors generally perceive high levels of service quality, especially on attributes that they perceive as most important. Priorities for improvement include produce-related factors (price and availability of specific varieties) and visit logistics (information to plan a visit). Real, psychological, and associative repositioning strategies for Extension professionals and U-pick operators are discussed.


Evaluating Utah's Rural Online Initiative: Empowering Organizational Leaders Through Remote Work, Paul A. Hill, Amanda D. Ali, Lendel K. Narine, Andrea T. Schmutz, Tyson M. Riskas, Debra M. Spielmaker Sep 2022

Evaluating Utah's Rural Online Initiative: Empowering Organizational Leaders Through Remote Work, Paul A. Hill, Amanda D. Ali, Lendel K. Narine, Andrea T. Schmutz, Tyson M. Riskas, Debra M. Spielmaker

The Journal of Extension

Compared to urban counties, Utah's rural counties experienced high levels of unemployment. Informed by a statewide needs assessment, Utah State University Extension developed a remote work leadership course to equip business leaders with knowledge and skills to create remote jobs as a solution to rural unemployment. This descriptive evaluation study collected data from course participants (N = 62). Findings showed short-term outcomes were achieved; participants experienced increases in knowledge and skills and had more positive intentions toward creating remote jobs and hiring employees from rural counties. Extension professionals can design and evaluate their programs using the framework in this study.


Oneoppf: A Personal Finance Professional Development Resource, Barbara M. O'Neill, Martie Gillen, Selena Garrison, Molly C. Herndon Sep 2022

Oneoppf: A Personal Finance Professional Development Resource, Barbara M. O'Neill, Martie Gillen, Selena Garrison, Molly C. Herndon

The Journal of Extension

This article describes personal finance programming available through the OneOp Personal Finance team (OneOpPF) for the professional development of Extension educators and military Personal Financial Managers for outreach to their clientele. Included is a brief description of six OneOpPF deliverables (webinars, blog posts, Question of the Day tweets, podcasts, social media, and newsletters) and a discussion of impact indicators such as online outreach statistics and continuing education units awarded to program participants. The article concludes with four best practices for working with military stakeholders and a description of how OneOpPF program materials can be accessed by Extension professionals.


The Adoption Of Food Safety Practices And The Implications Of Regulation For Small Scale Farms, Elizabeth Canales, Juan Silva, Joy Anderson Jun 2022

The Adoption Of Food Safety Practices And The Implications Of Regulation For Small Scale Farms, Elizabeth Canales, Juan Silva, Joy Anderson

The Journal of Extension

In this article we examine the adoption of food safety practices among produce growers in the south and discuss implications of food safety regulations in the U.S. Produce growers have adopted standard food safety practices to varying degrees, but there is still an adoption gap, particularly among small scale operations. Market-driven and regulatory food safety enforcement continues to tighten, and this can further hinder market access for small scale producers.


A Case Of Shifting Focus Friction: Extension Directors And State 4-H Program Leaders’ Perspectives On 4-H Lgbtq+ Inclusion, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Donna Westfall-Rudd, Eric Kaufman, Megan Seibel, Rama Radhakrishna Dec 2021

A Case Of Shifting Focus Friction: Extension Directors And State 4-H Program Leaders’ Perspectives On 4-H Lgbtq+ Inclusion, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Donna Westfall-Rudd, Eric Kaufman, Megan Seibel, Rama Radhakrishna

The Journal of Extension

Contemporary Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth are identifying and communicating their identities earlier in childhood than generations before as a result of more awareness and more acceptance of gender identity and sexual minorities by society. A qualitative study of U.S. 4-H program leaders and Extension directors generated an emergent theme around the importance of serving LGBT youth and the resulting implementation challenges. The administrators of 4-H, the largest youth serving organization in the country, recognize the presence of LGBTQ+ youth in 4-H and believe the organization must be inclusive. But challenges remain in ensuring youth experience inclusion at …


Small Farmers’ Use Of Social Media And Other Channels For Marketing Their Agricultural Products, Carlos Alberto Moreno-Ortiz, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Alba J. Collart, Laura Downey, Susan Seal, Roberto Gallardo Dec 2021

Small Farmers’ Use Of Social Media And Other Channels For Marketing Their Agricultural Products, Carlos Alberto Moreno-Ortiz, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Alba J. Collart, Laura Downey, Susan Seal, Roberto Gallardo

The Journal of Extension

We examined small farmers’ use of and preference for different channels for marketing agricultural products and explored differences by gender, age group, and education level. Farmers markets and social media were preferred channels, with participants under age 55 being more likely than those 55 and over to prefer and use social media and agree that social media would be useful for promoting products and increasing sales. While selling via social media could provide a larger market, one challenge is that the average age of Mississippi farm operators is 59. Therefore, Extension must consider multiple approaches for delivering training on marketing.


Extension Administrators’ Perspectives On Employee Competencies And Characteristics, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Donna Westfall-Rudd, Megan Seibel, Eric Kaufman, Rama Radhakrishna Jul 2021

Extension Administrators’ Perspectives On Employee Competencies And Characteristics, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Donna Westfall-Rudd, Megan Seibel, Eric Kaufman, Rama Radhakrishna

The Journal of Extension

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, falling short on use of technology, diversity and pluralism, volunteer development, marketing, and public relations, risk management, and the community development process. Additionally, the Extension educator workforce development pipeline is not preparing a demographically representative population, leaving state administrators struggling to hire prepared professionals, especially those with in-culture competency (e.g., racial and ethnic …


Extension-Led Demonstration: Grameen Microfinance Methods And Capital Access For Low-Income Female Entrepreneurs, Mark A. Edelman Apr 2021

Extension-Led Demonstration: Grameen Microfinance Methods And Capital Access For Low-Income Female Entrepreneurs, Mark A. Edelman

The Journal of Extension

A nonprofit community development financial institution and Extension collaborated to conduct a demonstration project to evaluate efficacy of Grameen peer-group microfinance methodology in addressing barriers faced by low-income women entrepreneurs in a small metro area. Program performance metrics achieved by 284 culturally diverse, low-income entrepreneurs (almost all women) over 5 years included a program loan repayment rate of 99%, increased average client income, bank savings accumulation, and increased opportunities for improved credit scores. Client survey responses indicated program methods developed confidence and skills in finances, leadership, and teamwork. Extension professionals may play various roles in such endeavors.


Regional Advisory Councils To Support Nascent Rural Entrepreneurs, Sharon R. Paynter, Michael L. Harris, Dennis Barber Iii Jun 2020

Regional Advisory Councils To Support Nascent Rural Entrepreneurs, Sharon R. Paynter, Michael L. Harris, Dennis Barber Iii

The Journal of Extension

Traditional economic development efforts have been unable to address the nuances of rural communities. Entrepreneurship can be an important process and a vital component for building rural resiliency. As part of RISE29, a grant funded program, regional advisory councils have been established an act as a crucial extension tool for East Carolina University. The goal of these councils is to incorporate the narrative and discourse of the importance of entrepreneurship as a part of inclusive rural economic development strategies.