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Journal of Extension

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Increasing Positive Perceptions Of Food Irradiation: Appealing To One's Affective Domain, Janet Laminack, Frank Dainello, Shannon H. Degenhart, Tom A. Vestal Aug 2008

Increasing Positive Perceptions Of Food Irradiation: Appealing To One's Affective Domain, Janet Laminack, Frank Dainello, Shannon H. Degenhart, Tom A. Vestal

Journal of Extension

A study tested the effectiveness of experiential learning techniques in food irradiation technology to positively influence understanding in both the affective and cognitive domain. Research shows that food irradiation is a safe food technology effective at reducing foodborne illness, but the adoption rate of the technology remains slow. The short course employed experiential components, such as tours of food irradiation facilities, group activities, and taste-tests of irradiated produce. Data were collected assessing participants' knowledge and perceptions about food irradiation, using Likert-type scales. The short course produced significant gains in participants' knowledge and positively influenced participants' perceptions of food irradiation issues.

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Myactivity Pyramid, Stephen D. Ball, Ellen Schuster, Robin Gammon Jun 2008

Myactivity Pyramid, Stephen D. Ball, Ellen Schuster, Robin Gammon

Journal of Extension

In 2006, University of Missouri Extension released the MyActivity Pyramid, a new conceptual model (graphic) that parallels the USDA's MyPyramid. The new pyramid is a tool designed to help youth accumulate the necessary amounts and variety of activity. The MyActivity Pyramid is intended for use with youth ages 6-11. The MyActivity Pyramid also attempts to classify activities into four categories: 1) Everyday Activities, 2) Active Aerobics, 3) Flexibility and Strength, and 4) Inactivity. Recommendations for the amounts of each category are given. The MyActivity Pyramid was piloted with over 250 youth ages 6-11 in rural and urban areas throughout Missouri.

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Supplement Allows Ranchers To Eliminate Hay Feeding And Reduce Winter Feed Coats, Richard M. Garrard, J. Benton Glaze Jr Jun 2008

Supplement Allows Ranchers To Eliminate Hay Feeding And Reduce Winter Feed Coats, Richard M. Garrard, J. Benton Glaze Jr

Journal of Extension

Winter feeding of beef cows represents the highest single annual cost to producers across the United States, and more specifically in south central Idaho. Typically, producers utilize hay as the sole source of nutrients for their cows during the winter feeding period. In an attempt to decrease feed costs and maintain animal performance, the utilization of a winter feed supplement consisting of a protein source, ground corn and salt was implemented. Results indicate that the use of the supplement was more economically feasible than feeding hay to cows during the winter feeding period.

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Procedures That Improve The Interactive Video: Learning Environment, Pamela Powell, Marilyn Smith, Rod Davis Jun 2008

Procedures That Improve The Interactive Video: Learning Environment, Pamela Powell, Marilyn Smith, Rod Davis

Journal of Extension

A survey to determine the effectiveness of using Interactive Video (IV) as an instructional delivery method is providing Extension educators with guidance to improve the IV learning environment. Participants from three separate IV classes were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to query knowledge gains and participant evaluation of room set-up and facilitation. The evaluation revealed that the better students at distant sites hear and see the instructor during the class, the higher their reported level of increased knowledge. The survey also revealed the need for pre-planning, including education on using the system for instructors, facilitators, and participants.

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How To Ascertain The Impact Of Writing A Newspaper Column, Mary R. Ehret, Nancy Ellen Kiernan Jun 2008

How To Ascertain The Impact Of Writing A Newspaper Column, Mary R. Ehret, Nancy Ellen Kiernan

Journal of Extension

Shrinking resources and the need to know the impact of programs require Extension to identify an effective means for reaching large audiences with research-based information. Media-focused programming such as writing newspaper columns is a delivery method used by Extension, although there is little evidence of its effectiveness in the evaluation literature. A creative evaluation of the Sunday Dispatch news column identified behavior changes made by readers, indicting that a non-face-to-face delivery method can be successful in influencing large audiences.

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A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of The Educational Needs Of Employers And Non-English Speaking Workers In Arboriculture, Robert M. Ricard, Ana I. Legrand, Diane Wright Hirsch, Tricia Gabany-Guerrero Apr 2008

A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of The Educational Needs Of Employers And Non-English Speaking Workers In Arboriculture, Robert M. Ricard, Ana I. Legrand, Diane Wright Hirsch, Tricia Gabany-Guerrero

Journal of Extension

Arboricultural employers and non-English speaking workers were surveyed to acquire information about their outreach educational needs. Results suggest that language barriers sometimes reduce job performance and threaten worker safety and relationships. Respondents stated that employee performance would improve if workers received English language and cultural training. Method of education mattered, with face-to-face learner and educator contact as the preferred method. It is recommended that arboriculture employers and outreach educators provide English language and cultural outreach education opportunities to arboriculture workers whose first language is not English, then follow this with arboriculture training and information (such as pesticide safety).

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An Exploratory Study Of Farmers' View On Aquaculture Development In Indiana, Kwamena Quagrainie, Steven Hart, Paul Brown Apr 2008

An Exploratory Study Of Farmers' View On Aquaculture Development In Indiana, Kwamena Quagrainie, Steven Hart, Paul Brown

Journal of Extension

The study reported here involved a mail survey of Indiana aquaculture producers to determine the level of Indiana aquaculture and what producers thought were constraints to aquaculture development. Aquaculture is a minor part of Indiana's agricultural economy. Suggested constraints were generally ranked as significant, but the top three constraints were identified as high start-up costs, lack of well-established market for aquaculture products, and high costs of day-to-day operations. Consequently, research and Extension programming has focused on funding aquaculture businesses, analyzing market potential, assessing aquaculture's place in the general seafood industry, and developing value-added aquaculture products.

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Breaking The Bonds Of Isolation: Can Home-Based Education Increase Social Support Levels?, Dawn A. Contreras Apr 2008

Breaking The Bonds Of Isolation: Can Home-Based Education Increase Social Support Levels?, Dawn A. Contreras

Journal of Extension

Historically, Extension educators have used home-based education to teach people. Studies have suggested that emotional connectedness between the individual and home visitor can reduce isolation, build social support, and increase resources (Green & Rodgers, 2001). The study reported here investigated the influence of a home-based parent education program on perceived social support levels of 122 parents involved in a treatment or control group. Analysis showed that post-test scores for the treatment group were significantly better than the control group. The results suggest that home-based education can be a way for Extension educators to increase social support for clientele.

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Creating Quick And Easy Displays For Extension Events, Karen M. Ensle Apr 2008

Creating Quick And Easy Displays For Extension Events, Karen M. Ensle

Journal of Extension

Creating quick and easy displays for Extension can be an effective method for reinforcing and disseminating research-based information to consumers. A display of nine power point slides is an effective way to influence consumers. The slides can be laminated and mounted on foam board or displayed on traditional, fabric-covered display panels. Using computer-generated slides allows easy sharing through e-mail to other professionals. Displays can be prepared easily and inexpensively and are effective in reaching consumers with the newest information on a "hot" or traditional topic.

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Developing And Utilizing Visual Tools To Assist Pork Producers In Employee Training In The Evaluation Of Sow Body Condition, Robert Fitzgerald, Kenneth Stalder, Locke Karriker, Colin Johnson Apr 2008

Developing And Utilizing Visual Tools To Assist Pork Producers In Employee Training In The Evaluation Of Sow Body Condition, Robert Fitzgerald, Kenneth Stalder, Locke Karriker, Colin Johnson

Journal of Extension

The article describes development of a bilingual poster to assists pig producers in classifying body condition scores (BCS) in sows. Sows of the lowest body condition score were purchased, fed for 96 days, and photographed as each sow incrementally increased to the maximum BCS of 5. Pictures from two sows of each BCS of 1 through 5 were professionally arranged on a poster and published in a nationally distributed swine magazine. The poster was designed to assist producers in employee training at the farm level. Similar posters could be developed to improve selection and/or management skills in other livestock species.

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The Use Of Radio Broadcast, Internet, And Podcasting In A Family Life Education Program, Suzanna Smith, Donna Davis Apr 2008

The Use Of Radio Broadcast, Internet, And Podcasting In A Family Life Education Program, Suzanna Smith, Donna Davis

Journal of Extension

This article discusses the use of three technologies in an Extension family life program: a professionally produced radio program, Family Album Radio, available to stations nationwide; an Internet presence through a companion Web site; and a podcasting feature making the program available to subscribers via the Internet. We explain the development of the program through a partnership across several units at a major land-grant institution and provide evidence of the program's success, using data from the program's Web site traffic. We conclude with a discussion of the potential of this multifaceted program for family life education.

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Increasing Efnep Program Outreach And Enhancing Program Content Through Local Partnerships, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati Apr 2008

Increasing Efnep Program Outreach And Enhancing Program Content Through Local Partnerships, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati

Journal of Extension

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) has been shown to be a cost-effective investment of federal dollars. The funding for the program has not increased significantly since the 1980's. Growing rates of poverty in cities like Cleveland have increased the demand for the program. This article describes some innovative strategies that EFNEP in Cuyahoga County, Ohio has used to enhance program quality and expand program outreach.

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Building Extension's Capacity Through Knowledge Of Global Aging Issues, Debra M. Sellers Feb 2008

Building Extension's Capacity Through Knowledge Of Global Aging Issues, Debra M. Sellers

Journal of Extension

A willingness to explore the global stage can improve and embellish Extension program development, implementation, and evaluation methods. Understanding various models of aging from around the world builds capacity and invites the cultivation of innovative responses in local communities. China is instructive to those interested in expanding their perspectives of older adult programming due to its large population, aging society, culture, and political reforms. Insight into Chinese efforts and the possible applicability of that response to Extension programming is shared through observations from the Seminar in Aging conducted by the American Society on Aging in Beijing in May 2007.

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Designing A Bone Health And Soy Focus Group Discussion Guide Based On The Health Belief Model, Sharon F. Robinson, Mary K. Bielamowicz, A. Shanna Rodgers, William W. Wong Feb 2008

Designing A Bone Health And Soy Focus Group Discussion Guide Based On The Health Belief Model, Sharon F. Robinson, Mary K. Bielamowicz, A. Shanna Rodgers, William W. Wong

Journal of Extension

Focus groups were used to assess the knowledge and skills of women in order to support curricula development. The Health Belief Model was applied to the discussion guide to enhance focus group findings and applications. Constructs related to perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers; cues to action; and self-efficacy were probed. Focus group findings revealed that women may have a limited understanding of osteoporosis risk. Perceived barriers such as negative perceptions to soy consumption were also noted. Cues to action were identified and integrated. Basing focus group discussion guides on model constructs may enhance focus group results and their applications.

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Joe By The Numbers 2007, Laura Hoescher Feb 2008

Joe By The Numbers 2007, Laura Hoescher

Journal of Extension

In JOE by the Numbers I report on the 2007 submission and readership rates, and announce JOE's current acceptance rate. I also call your attention yet again to one of the most interesting features of the JOE site, the Top 50 Most Read Articles lists. In February JOE I cite five excellent articles and mention the topics discussed in many more.

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Usda Csrees' Role In Broadening Support For An Aging Nation, Shirley A. Gerrior, Caroline E. Crocoll Feb 2008

Usda Csrees' Role In Broadening Support For An Aging Nation, Shirley A. Gerrior, Caroline E. Crocoll

Journal of Extension

The aging of America is of major public concern and has far-reaching implications for the nation and for rural communities. In particular, older Americans in rural areas face a wide array of challenges that negatively affect their health and quality of life. Working with its land-grant university and the Cooperative Extension System partners, USDA CSREES is strategically directed and uniquely positioned to address many of these challenges through effective research, education, and Extension activities.

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Meeting The Needs Of Rural Caregivers: The Development And Evaluation Of An Alzheimer's Caregiving Series, Sandra Bailey, Lynn Paul Feb 2008

Meeting The Needs Of Rural Caregivers: The Development And Evaluation Of An Alzheimer's Caregiving Series, Sandra Bailey, Lynn Paul

Journal of Extension

Caregiving for a chronically ill person is challenging. On a daily basis, managing chronic illness requires balancing illness needs with day-to-day tasks. Informal caregivers such as friends and family members often disregard their own health needs, focusing on the loved one for whom they are caring. Additionally, caregivers generally begin caregiving without any information or training. To meet the needs of caregivers of Alzheimer's patients, Family and Consumer Science specialists developed a 5-week caregiving series. Evaluation data found that the caregivers gained more knowledge about caregiving and felt more comfortable in their caregiving roles after participating in the series.

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Relax! It's Just A Dandelion: Perceived Benefits And Barriers To Urban Integrated Pest Management, Mrill Ingram, John Stier, Elizabeth Bird Feb 2008

Relax! It's Just A Dandelion: Perceived Benefits And Barriers To Urban Integrated Pest Management, Mrill Ingram, John Stier, Elizabeth Bird

Journal of Extension

Pesticide misuse in urban gardens contributes to pollution of lakes and rivers, ill health of humans and other organisms, and disruptions of ecological balances. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been successfully used in agriculture for over 20 years, but its adoption by landscaping professionals has been slow. The 2-year project described here undertook baseline research into attitudes about IPM in the Lake Monona watershed, Wisconsin. Resulting data led to a social marketing strategy including prototype materials to assist professional landscapers in discussing IPM with clients. Materials were piloted on a Web site and with watershed groups.

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Pots, Pans, And Kitchen Equipment: Do Low-Income Clients Have Adequate Tools For Cooking?, Patti Landers, Cheryl Shults Feb 2008

Pots, Pans, And Kitchen Equipment: Do Low-Income Clients Have Adequate Tools For Cooking?, Patti Landers, Cheryl Shults

Journal of Extension

The survey reported here described and summarized the kitchen equipment and tools present in low-income homes and summarized interests for nutrition education and recipes. Food Stamp applicants in three Oklahoma counties (rural, suburban, and urban) completed a pictorial survey of 24 household items related to cooking and answered questions about nutrition education. Over 97% homes surveyed had adequate equipment for cooking. Respondents were willing to spend 30 or more minutes preparing food and wanted help with planning meals and food budgets. Most desired recipes were for meats, vegetables, and casseroles. Forty-six percent of respondents used the Internet.

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Eat Smart. Play Hard™ San Luis Obispo: A Nutrition And Fitness Pilot Program For Young Children And Their Adult Buddies, Shirley S. Peterson, Dana E. Gerstein, Krista Mugford, Rachael Willey Feb 2008

Eat Smart. Play Hard™ San Luis Obispo: A Nutrition And Fitness Pilot Program For Young Children And Their Adult Buddies, Shirley S. Peterson, Dana E. Gerstein, Krista Mugford, Rachael Willey

Journal of Extension

Eat Smart. Play Hard™. San Luis Obispo!, a multi-component primary prevention program targeting low-income, Hispanic children 6-8 years, focuses on promoting healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors using an innovative child-adult buddy system approach. The child-adult buddies participate in multiple activities to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables, and level of physical activity and decrease their consumption of sweetened beverages. The results of the pilot program show high program satisfaction and improvements in dietary and physical activity behaviors. Such programs provide an opportunity to establish and promote healthy behaviors among young children and ultimately prevent overweight development.

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Families And Community Partners Learning Together To Prevent Obesity, Lyn Dart, Pamela Jean Frable, Patricia J. Bradley Feb 2008

Families And Community Partners Learning Together To Prevent Obesity, Lyn Dart, Pamela Jean Frable, Patricia J. Bradley

Journal of Extension

Reducing adult and childhood obesity is a shared community responsibility. Extension professionals can play an important role in developing collaborative, interdisciplinary partnerships with multiple community members to help reduce obesity and related chronic disease that disproportionately affect people with limited resources. This article describes how community partners learned to work together in implementing a family intervention pilot program in a low-income urban population at high risk for obesity and related chronic disease. Healthy Weigh/El camino saludable, a successful community-campus partnership, helps families learn to adopt healthy eating and physical activity patterns.

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Strengthening 4-H Youth Consumer Decision-Making Skills: Contest To Community Service, Carrie Ann Olson, Sara R. Croymans Feb 2008

Strengthening 4-H Youth Consumer Decision-Making Skills: Contest To Community Service, Carrie Ann Olson, Sara R. Croymans

Journal of Extension

The University of Minnesota Extension 4-H Consumer Decision Making program strengthens youth consumer decision-making skills by connecting the contest to service learning. The program uses experiential learning to teach youth to make wise consumer decisions. Youth participate in a judging contest where they rank consumer items based on criteria. Youth gain experience in organizing thoughts and defending decisions with oral reasons. Youth also participate in a "group process" activity where they gain experience with decision making as a team member. Participants are also involved in an educational activity with a community service-learning component that allows more in-depth learning.

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Calculating The Economic Impact Of Health Education Programs: Five Tools For Extension Educators, Barbara O’Neill Feb 2008

Calculating The Economic Impact Of Health Education Programs: Five Tools For Extension Educators, Barbara O’Neill

Journal of Extension

Evaluation of Extension health/wellness programming often focuses on positive changes in participants' health practices and changed health status. Increasingly, stakeholders and funders are also requesting analyses of the economic impact of health education programs. In an era of heightened accountability, there is also pressure to compare program costs and benefits. Unlike financial management programs that have built-in economic indicators, health education program impacts must often be calculated indirectly. This article describes five methods to quantify the economic impact of health education programs: participant surveys, time value of money analyses, extrapolation from published cost estimates, cost-benefit analyses, and return on investment.

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Food Safety Education As A Risk Management Strategy, Deborah L. Angell Feb 2008

Food Safety Education As A Risk Management Strategy, Deborah L. Angell

Journal of Extension

What would the consequences be if food at an Extension event caused a food borne illness outbreak? Programs and activities involving the service or preparation of food are common in Extension programs and provide inherent risks that, if not managed, could lead to potential financial loss or harm to people, property, or organizational goodwill. Ohio State University Extension has taken a proactive approach to food safety risk management by adopted Food Preparation/Service Policy and Procedures, requiring training, using The Original Safe Food Handling for Occasional Quantity Cooks curriculum, for all Extension staff and volunteers involved with food programs or events.

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The Sloppiness Must Stop, Laura Hoelscher Dec 2007

The Sloppiness Must Stop, Laura Hoelscher

Journal of Extension

In "The Sloppiness Must Stop," the editor wages war on sloppiness and carelessness. In "December JOE," the editor calls attention to a few prevalent themes and interesting articles in the issue.

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Research To Action: A Campus-Community Partnership To Address Health Issues Of The Food Insecure, Kimberly Greder, Steven Garasky, Susan Klein Dec 2007

Research To Action: A Campus-Community Partnership To Address Health Issues Of The Food Insecure, Kimberly Greder, Steven Garasky, Susan Klein

Journal of Extension

A university-community partnership assessed the food security and health status of food pantry participants in a midwestern urban community. Eighty percent of households surveyed were food insecure, and 40% experienced fair or poor health. The sample experienced higher rates of chronic disease than the general population. A nutrition education program designed to meet specific nutrition and health-related needs of pantry participants was developed. Implications include training pantry staff about chronic disease and its relationship to nutrition, identifying pantry foods that provide positive health benefits, and developing consumer publications focused on selecting and preparing pantry foods when one has chronic disease.

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Perceptions And Preferences Of Extension Programming And Sources Among Extension Users And Non-Users: 10 Kansas Counties, Kristina M. Boone, Linda Sleichter, Rick Miller, Sharon Breiner Dec 2007

Perceptions And Preferences Of Extension Programming And Sources Among Extension Users And Non-Users: 10 Kansas Counties, Kristina M. Boone, Linda Sleichter, Rick Miller, Sharon Breiner

Journal of Extension

County Extension personnel are challenged to serve the public while facing changing population density and diversity. Moreover, needs and satisfaction vary among Extension clients and non-clients. With this in mind, 10 of the most populous counties in Kansas, with the aid of a university researcher, conducted an evaluation to determine programming needs of both clients and non-clients. Findings indicate that non-clients and clients prioritize programming differently and prefer different delivery mechanisms. The results have allowed these counties to tailor their programming and marketing efforts to these two unique groups, while also serving as a basis for a collective marketing plan.

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Use Of The Plate-Waste Method To Measure Food Intake In Children, Cheryl C. Jacko, Jocilyn Dellava, Karen Ensle, Daniel J. Hoffman Dec 2007

Use Of The Plate-Waste Method To Measure Food Intake In Children, Cheryl C. Jacko, Jocilyn Dellava, Karen Ensle, Daniel J. Hoffman

Journal of Extension

Childhood overweight is increasing in the U.S. and is often associated with excess food intake. Because children consume at least one meal in school approximately half the days each year, it is important to develop accurate and cost-effective methods to measure food intake in schools. We compared the aggregated plate waste method with actual weighed food measurements. The aggregated plate waste measurements were similar to the energy and macronutrient intake determined by weighed food measurements. The plate waste methodology is a simple and accurate method that can be implemented by Extension professionals and teachers to assess children's energy intake.

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The Role Of Extension In Assisting School Districts To Implement And Monitor Their Local Wellness Policies, Daniel A. Mcdonald, Evelyn Whitmer Dec 2007

The Role Of Extension In Assisting School Districts To Implement And Monitor Their Local Wellness Policies, Daniel A. Mcdonald, Evelyn Whitmer

Journal of Extension

This article explores the role of Extension in assisting school districts to implement and monitor Local Wellness Policies. The authors include an outline of the basic requirements of the law and a description, based on their experience, of how school districts can implement and support their wellness policies. Information on various research-based resources available to schools and teachers are provided.

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A Practical Tool For The Evaluation Of Extension Programs Presented To Older Adults, Ksu Jayaratne Dec 2007

A Practical Tool For The Evaluation Of Extension Programs Presented To Older Adults, Ksu Jayaratne

Journal of Extension

This article presents a practical tool for the evaluation of Extension programs presented to older adults. The survey method is not practical to collect evaluation data from older adults due to their physical limitations. This evaluation tool is an especially designed box used with plastic tokens. The evaluation box was tested and found accurate and easy to use. It is a practical alternative for the survey method in special situations. The evaluation box is appropriate to collect evaluation data from older adults and illiterate audiences. This tool can be used to evaluate exhibits as well.

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