Digital Commons Network^™

Revisiting The Master Food Volunteer Program: Examining How To Enhance Nutrition Education In The United States, Stacey Viera, Lindsey Haynes-Maslow

Journal of Extension

America’s diet-related illness crisis intersects with a lack of nutrition literacy, nutrition security, and systemic inequities. The Cooperative Extension Service’s (CES) national infrastructure could potentially provide equitable access to quality nutrition education in the US utilizing a Master Food Volunteer (MFV) model. This research brief examined preliminary evidence for the MFV model as a support for CES agents and paraprofessionals, and results show a paucity of evidence. Further research and a pilot program with pre-established measures for health-related knowledge and behaviors could elucidate the model’s potential to increase equitable access to evidence-based programming, nutrition, and implementation guidance.

The “Space Between”: Situated Professional Development To Enhance 4-H Educators’ Pedagogical Design Capacity For Effective Curriculum Enactment, Martin H. Smith, Gemma Miner, Lynn Schmitt-Mcquitty

Journal of Extension

Curricula are planned and written by curriculum developers; they serve as instructional guides for educators. Educators make adaptations to written curricula to meet learners’ needs and achieve intended learning outcomes. The efficacy of curriculum adaptations is enhanced when educators have a high pedagogical design capacity, which can be improved through effective professional development. Lesson study is a model of situated professional development centered around ongoing improvement of curriculum enactment. Educators work collaboratively to make curriculum modifications and data-driven decisions to improve their teaching practices. Lesson study occurs at regular intervals over an extended duration.

Development And Evaluation Of Impact Statements For The Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program (Efnep), Kylie Pybus, Ronald L. Gibbs Jr., Karen Franck, M. Catalina Aragón

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals often communicate program outcomes to external stakeholders using impact statements. We developed and evaluated four impact statements for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). We drafted the statements after conducting literature reviews for core content areas of EFNEP that include diet quality, food resource management, physical activity, and food safety. Subsequently, we evaluated the statements by facilitating expert panels made up of subject matter experts and communication professionals (n=14) from 12 Land-grant Universities. These impact statements aim to support EFNEP and other Extension professionals when communicating program value with key external stakeholders.

Using Technology For Community Engagement: Four Key Web-Based Platforms For Adoption In Extension, Chasity D. Tompkins, Erica Pullen, Cassandra Hainsworth, Bradley Averill, Rebecca Hardeman

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals engage with communities to present programming, find solutions, and disseminate research-based knowledge. While traditional means of communication and face-to-face meetings are still important, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the ways these professionals connect to their communities. Web-based platforms can provide unique, alternative ways to engage communities in programs, evaluations, and information sharing. Our team of Extension professionals share platforms that create engaged communities by meeting virtual demands.

Competency Needs Assessment Of 4-H Youth Development Professionals, Matt Benge

Journal of Extension

Understanding and identifying the professional development needs of 4-H youth development professionals should be the first step in developing the Extension workforce. However, 4-H professionals find it challenging to use the Professional, Research, Knowledge and Competencies (PRKC), which consists of 348 unique competency items, to guide professional development trainings. The purpose of the study was to determine the professional development needs of National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) members. A Borich model was used to create a top 10 prioritized list of each PRKC domain to guide professional development of NAE4-HYDP members.

Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course: Program Evaluation, Nicola Oosthuizen, Pedro Fontes, Graham C. Lamb, Jason J. Cleere

Journal of Extension

Survey results (n = 3,748) collected over a period of 7 years from the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course (BCSC) were analyzed to evaluate course demographics and the impact of the course on attendees. Results of this survey demonstrate that attendee demographics of the BCSC are representative of beef cattle producers in the United States and that the BCSC is effective at delivering information that positively impacts beef production in Texas. Extension professionals can make use of these findings to tailor future education programs to better serve the needs of beef cattle producers nation-wide.

Time, Money, Or Knowledge: What Factors Are Associated With Implementing Youth Cooking Programs?, Alison C. Berg, Nancy O. Taylor, Courtney S. Brown, Silvia Q. Giraudo

Journal of Extension

Research suggests participating in youth hands-on cooking programs, like those offered by Extension and 4-H, can improve nutrition behaviors and reduce the risk for obesity. We surveyed [STATE] Extension professionals (n = 127) to explore factors (e.g., employee characteristics, resources, county demographics) related to offering youth hands-on cooking programs and curricula used. Over 2/3 of participants offer programs and reported creating their own curriculum. More years of experience, having received Extension Specialist training, and increased confidence were positively related to offering these programs. Results suggest training could increase confidence and program implementation and standard curricula may be needed.

Journey Mapping: A New Approach To Extension Program Design And Evaluation, Jennifer Hawkins, Neil Linscheid, Somongkol Teng

Journal of Extension

With origins in service and human-centered design and customer experience, journey mapping is a research and evaluation method that allows users to visualize the journey a person or group takes while engaging in a service, program, or system. Using this method, individuals provide feedback on their experience, highlighting successes and challenges along the way.

Minnesota Extension educators have utilized journey mapping in program design and evaluation contexts and have found great value in both. This article highlights three use cases which provide insight into lessons learned during the process and how Extension staff may use the tool in the future.

After The Disaster Guidebook: Designing A Post-Disaster Communication Intervention For Rural Landowners, Channing Bice, Susan Carter

Journal of Extension

Extension is well-positioned to facilitate communication strategies that foster community resilience and disaster recovery, particularly for rural residents. This paper proposes a new approach to post-disaster communication that strengthens rural community capacities in locally and culturally relevant ways. The findings revealed specific post-disaster information needs, preferences for local resources, and communication that encourages resilience through a document analysis and interviews with informants recovering from the 2020 Colorado wildfires. The practical recommendations discussed serve as a starting point for Extension professionals in other areas to consider ways to engage with their communities before, during, and after a disaster.

Program Reporting In Cooperative Extension, Nav R. Ghimire Dr.

Journal of Extension

This article explores the challenges of reporting outcomes of the Extension educational programs at land-grant universities and presents a model highlighting the focus and expectations of reporting in Cooperative Extension. This model provides a rationale for recognizing the relationship between program planning, evaluation, reporting, and employee-performance appraisal and their implications for organizational growth and learning.

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

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.

Direct Marketing Via Us Postal Service’S Every Door Direct Mail Program, Cole Ehmke

Journal of Extension

In this paper I describe the US Postal Service’s Every Door Direct Mail program which delivers postcards inexpensively to residents within a ZIP code. Extension educators interested in making the most of their advertising dollars can use the EDDM program advantageously. Best practices for advertising campaigns employing this direct mail option are provided.

Critical Competencies Of 4-H Camp Staff For Achieving High Performance, Laura S. Jeuck, K. S. U. Jayaratne, Mitzi Stumpf-Downing, Harriett Edwards, Katherine Mckee

Journal of Extension

Camps provide a substantial opportunity for youth to develop important life skills. Identifying and training staff on critical competencies are essential to achieving the desired outcomes for camp participants. The purpose of this study was to determine the most critical competencies of the 4-H residential camp staff for achieving high staff performance. The modified Delphi technique was used to achieve study objectives. The Delphi panel of this study consisted of 23 4-H camping experts from across the United States. This three-round Delphi study led to identify 15 critical competencies that will be useful in standardizing 4-H camp staff training programs.

Long-Term Outcomes Of Early Adult 4-H Alumni, Nicole Marshall-Wheeler, Roshan Nayak, Anne Iaccopucci, Steven M. Worker

Journal of Extension

Very little has been published reporting on long-term outcomes experienced by young adults (aged 19 to 34 years old) who participated in 4-H youth development programs. We adopted Gambone et al.’s (2002) framework advancing three long-term outcomes for early adulthood: economic stability, health and well-being, and community involvement. With cross-sectional survey methods, we compared long-term impacts between 693 California 4-H young adult alumni and 373 young adults in a U.S. general population sample who had not participated in 4-H. The results demonstrated that 4-H alumni report more positive long-term outcomes than the U.S. general population sample. The study contributes to …

Inclusion And Trust In Community-Engaged Scholarship: A Case Study Of A County Visioning Project, Ava Ryan, Mark Edwards, J. Dusti Linnell

Journal of Extension

In recent decades, local governments have sought to increase community engagement in collaborative governance processes, such as community visioning and strategic planning, to develop policies that are inclusive and supportive of those who live in the community. A key component of the community visioning process is the inclusion of diverse community members and stakeholders which can enhance the effectiveness and legitimacy of the process in addition to providing an opportunity for civic engagement. We review how trust was an essential component required for developing strong community engagement in a community visioning project in Tillamook County, Oregon.

Exploring The Possibilities Of A Standardized Questionnaire For Assessing Residents’ Needs, Amy Harder, Diane Craig, Glenn Israel, Matt Benge, Olivia Caillouet

Journal of Extension

Creating a standardized needs assessment instrument and methodology that can be shared across the Extension system can lead to increased capacity to identify the needs of our clientele. The purpose of our study was to determine if a questionnaire originally created to assess needs in Utah could be used to identify priority areas for programming as perceived by the residents of Florida. Data were obtained from individuals who opted into survey panels administered by Qualtrics. Adapting the Utah questionnaire resulted in the identification of four priority areas and saved organizational resources by decreasing the time needed for instrument development.

Lessons Learned For Engaging Latino Families In Community-Based Programs, Alejandro Reyes Peralta, Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque, Marla Reicks, Silvia Alvarez De Davila, Darya Soltani

Journal of Extension

A family-skills program for Latino fathers and youth was implemented to prevent youth obesity. Lessons learned focused on practices to address barriers to engagement and retention among fathers and youth within the Latino community. Program development issues included selection of organizations, facilitators, language, and delivery methods. Implementation issues included timing and location. Cultural issues regarding learner needs, and teaching and implementation methods need to be considered. Using the lessons learned, Extension professionals can create impactful programs that engage and retain Latino fathers and youth.

Skill Up Tennessee: Job Training That Works, Christopher T. Sneed, Sreedhar Upendram, Clint Cummings, Janet E. Fox

Journal of Extension

Employment and training services offered through Extension are part of and continue a long tradition of policy-focused employment and job training. This paper chronicles the successes of UT Extension’s work as a third-party partner in the delivery of workforce development programming geared toward individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The paper begins with an overview of the federal program and a discussion of how Tennessee forged a state-level partnership for the delivery of workforce services. Data showing program success including number of participants served, supportive services offered, and economic impact are highlighted. Finally, lessons learned are outlined.

The Future Of Extension Programming Post-Pandemic: The Need For Diverse Approaches, Andrew Zimbroff

Journal of Extension

The Covid-19 pandemic has been highly disruptive to Extension programming. Online programming has emerged as one of the primary approaches for maintaining engagement with the communities and populations Extension serves. Some have even suggested that it might become the default programming method, even after it is safe to return to in-person programming. In this commentary, I discuss some of the current limitations and challenges inherent in online-only programming -- ones that are often overlooked by Extension personnel. Further, I discuss key factors that Extension personnel should take into account when considering online programming for any future professional efforts.

Toward Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Outreach And Engagement In Extension Education: Expert Consensus On Barriers And Strategies, John Diaz, Cody Gusto, Lendel K. Narine, K.S.U Jayaratne, Colby Silvert

Journal of Extension

Barriers to the successful implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education and outreach initiatives are being documented across higher education institutions as DEI policies and protocols are gaining attention. Despite growing attention to promote DEI in higher education institutions, there remains a need to examine barriers preventing DEI efforts in a systematic way, particularly in Extension education contexts to formulate strategies to promote DEI. We present an expert, consensus-based framework to identify the most salient barriers to successful DEI implementation in Extension. We also discuss opportunities for Extension practitioners to overcome salient barriers with tailored mitigation strategies.

Pursuing Antiracist Public Policy Education: An Example Connecting The Racist History Of Housing Policy To Contemporary Inequity, Craig W. Carpenter, Tyler Augst, Harmony Fierke-Gmazel, Bradley Neumann, Richard Wooten

Journal of Extension

We review the antiracism concept and contextualize it in Extension public policy education and the Extension system itself. Despite public policy education having a long history in Extension on a wide variety of issues, missing from this programming is the pursuit of antiracism. As a programmatic example, we review some historical causes of present-day housing inequities and an associated example approach for pursuing antiracism in housing policy education. Finally, we conclude by noting additional opportunities to pursue antiracism in Extension public policy education. In doing so, we emphasize that public policy education cannot be “nonracist” if it is not antiracist.

Maximizing The First-Year Planning Period For Scholarly Publications: Implications For Prospective Cyfar Grant Recipients, Sothy Eng, Manca Sustarsic, Nancy Ooki, Heather Greenwood, Christine Hanakawa

Journal of Extension

One of CYFAR's unique features is the built-in planning year for all grant recipients. We present our evaluation team’s approach during year 1 to establish a foundation and plan for scholarly publications during funding years 2–5. The systematic literature review provided the team with a better understanding of the culture and context of the project’s target population. Collaboration between PI/Co-PI and Evaluator served as a powerful tool to achieving this goal. Not only does this model benefit future CYFAR grant recipients’ and Extension professionals’ curriculum development and program evaluation, it can also inform recruitment efforts and community partnership development.

Shiny Apps: The Evolution Of Extension Tools From Spreadsheets To New Interactive Dashboards, Allan Fabricio Pinto Padilla, Terry Wayne Griffin

Journal of Extension

The Interactive web dashboard is the newness with characteristics and features that are replacing the status quo downloading spreadsheets. RStudio is the program used to create Shiny Apps dashboards with R. We explain some of those features so that Extension specialists can adopt the methodology, engage stakeholders, and help them understand and apply results to their production systems, although we do not explain the creation process step by step. Our approach offers not only a useful and modern way to disseminate information to empower decision-making, but also a safe environment in which data can be automatically updated and users cannot …

The Development Of A Backyard Composting Project Through Community Engagement, Donald J. Scully, Jeffrey A. Young, Bryan J. Hains, Kristina Hains

Journal of Extension

It can be argued that public forums are a valuable and essential tool for Cooperative Extension professionals. This article narrates the innovative use of the public forum action steps outlined in Kahl’s (2016) “A Convener’s Guide to Hosting a Public Forum”. The primary objective was to address illegal dumping and littering concerns with the Extension professional's role to engage the community. The resulting “Backyard Composting Project” demonstrated that public forums are valuable in creatively engaging urban audiences. Ultimately the authors illustrate how a community concern can be addressed using innovative programming to reach what Extension considers to be …

Prioritizing Professional Development At The Interface Of Natural Resources And Agriculture, Katherine J. Starzec

Journal of Extension

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 and interest in staying up to date on 18 different natural resource topics. Responses to a statewide survey were analyzed using the Borich model. Results indicate priority professional development needs related to soil health; effects of climate; invasive species, harmful algal blooms; and groundwater, surface water, and air quality.

Virtually The Same? Understanding Virtual And F2f Farmer Audiences, Laura Witzling, Eric Williams, Dara M. Wald, Jacqueline Comito, Elizabeth Ripley

Journal of Extension

Agricultural and extension educators frequently employ a variety of methods to provide farmers with information about conservation practices. The introduction of virtual programming brought on in response to the COVID-19 pandemic set the stage for analysis of farmer outreach preferences with respect to face-to-face (F2F) versus virtual outreach. Using survey data of individuals who participated in field days in Iowa, we segmented participants based on their F2F or virtual attendance. We compared the groups based on key variables such as water quality concerns, communication behaviors, outreach preferences, and demographics. Our work suggests that a broad and dynamic communication strategy, including …

Live Well, Eat Well, Be Active With Diabetes Curriculum Improves Type 2 Diabetes Management, Lauren Amaya, Dana Baldwin, Kathy Enyart, Arleen James, Tommie M. James, Penny R. King, Jan Maples, Lindy Peterman, Sara Randolph, Dea Rash, Kelsey Ratcliff, Joy Rhodes, Jessica Riggin, Janis Risley, Danette Russell, Janice Hermann

Journal of Extension

Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease with several modifiable lifestyle factors. The Extension ‘Live well, Eat well, be Active with Diabetes’ curriculum provides four 90-minute lessons teaching individuals to live well, eat well, and be active with diabetes. Fourteen Extension educators implemented and evaluated the curriculum with 107 participants. Participants reported the program helped them feel better able to take care of their health. We observed significant differences in participants’ retrospective pre and post ‘Live well,’ ‘Eat well’ and ‘be Active’ total scores. Extension has a unique opportunity to educate individuals so they may better manage their diabetes.

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

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.

Fafsa Completion: Considerations For An Extension-Led Statewide Nudge Campaign, Portia L. Johnson, Kacee Ross, Emily Hines

Journal of Extension

Eight U.S. states have enacted legislation that mandates high school seniors to act on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduation. At least 10 other states are considering implementing similar FAFSA requirements. While proponents of the law believe it will affect postsecondary education and the workforce positively, dissenters argue that the policy is an unfunded mandate that taxes students and parents without offering adequate resources. This article synthesizes existing literature related to policy-related nudge campaigns to provide an Extension-led, cost-effective strategy to achieve the FAFSA mandate’s goal and improve citizens’ FAFSA completion behavior.

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

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.