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Journal of Extension

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Assessing One-Year Health Impacts From Wildfires In Rural Communities: Roles For Extension In Promoting Wildfire Preparedness And Recovery, Marc T. Braverman, Sandi Cleveland Phibbs, Emily Jane Davis, Amanda Rau, Elijah Penner May 2025

Assessing One-Year Health Impacts From Wildfires In Rural Communities: Roles For Extension In Promoting Wildfire Preparedness And Recovery, Marc T. Braverman, Sandi Cleveland Phibbs, Emily Jane Davis, Amanda Rau, Elijah Penner

Journal of Extension

Wildfires can produce health impacts that persist for years in affected communities. This article describes an Extension-led study of health impacts in rural Oregon communities one year after a destructive wildfire. Data collection included key informant interviews (n=36), an online survey (n=80), and three focus group interviews with survivors (n=23). Mental health, exposure to contaminants, physical stress, food insecurity, and other issues were frequently identified health concerns. Survivors’ difficulties in dealing with housing displacement significantly exacerbated health challenges. We describe potential roles for Extension in addressing wildfire risk and mitigating health impacts, including a description of the Oregon Fire Program.


Market Days For Older Adults: Addressing Healthy Aging Among A High-Risk Population At The Downtown Farmers’ Market, Allyson Brothers, India Luxton, Cheryl Noble, Sue Schneider, Alison O'Connor, Yuqin Jiao May 2025

Market Days For Older Adults: Addressing Healthy Aging Among A High-Risk Population At The Downtown Farmers’ Market, Allyson Brothers, India Luxton, Cheryl Noble, Sue Schneider, Alison O'Connor, Yuqin Jiao

Journal of Extension

Market Days for Older Adults is a Colorado State University Extension program that supplies low-income older adults with fresh produce purchased from market vendors at the local farmers’ market. Designed for low-income seniors, this program aims to enhance nutrition while building a sense of community and connection. Program evaluation data from the first four years of the program demonstrate evidence of program feasibility, including high levels of participant satisfaction and program utilization. We also assessed a set of healthy aging indicators (diet quality, social connection, functional health, and well-being) to drive future work. Implications for Extension professionals are discussed.


Parental Experience In 4-H And Its Effect On Youth Reenrollment, Jolynn Miller, Kendra Lewis, Jeannette Rea Keywood, Tim Ewers, Kali Trzesniewski, Sarah Hensley May 2025

Parental Experience In 4-H And Its Effect On Youth Reenrollment, Jolynn Miller, Kendra Lewis, Jeannette Rea Keywood, Tim Ewers, Kali Trzesniewski, Sarah Hensley

Journal of Extension

Youth experience many benefits from participating in the 4-H program. It is unclear, however, what role parents play in their child’s reenrollment in the program. This study uses data from a multi-year multi-state study of youth retention in 4-H to examine the effects of parental expectations and experience on their intent to reenroll their child after their first year in 4-H. Results show a relationship between parental expectations and experiences on continued involvement. This study can be used to help 4-H programs recruit and retain more youth, as well as by other Extension programs to understand retention issues.


Kid Eats App: Supporting Parents And Children Cooking Together, Amy S. Muise, Gabrielle A. Longo, Pamela N. Martinez, Umekia R. Taylor, Linda E. Torv, Barbara A. Chamberlin May 2025

Kid Eats App: Supporting Parents And Children Cooking Together, Amy S. Muise, Gabrielle A. Longo, Pamela N. Martinez, Umekia R. Taylor, Linda E. Torv, Barbara A. Chamberlin

Journal of Extension

Kid Eats is a free app for iPad encouraging children and parents to cook together at home using fruits and vegetables. A preliminary study with parents and children showed children enjoyed using the app and that it provided useful information to support children’s involvement in the kitchen, including guidance around safety concerns. Every family in the study voluntarily completed at least one of the recipes with their child at least once following the in-person activity. Parents reported that their children actively asked to cook the recipes from the app and felt the app helped increase their time spent cooking with …


Nature For New Minnesotans: A Minnesota Master Naturalist Program Connecting Adult English Language Learners To The Outdoors, Lucas Fitchen Rapisarda, Britt M. Forsberg May 2025

Nature For New Minnesotans: A Minnesota Master Naturalist Program Connecting Adult English Language Learners To The Outdoors, Lucas Fitchen Rapisarda, Britt M. Forsberg

Journal of Extension

English language (EL) learners, many of whom are immigrants, face economic, social, and cultural constraints when accessing Extension programming. NFNM is an innovative program that seeks to address these constraints by developing and implementing place-based natural history curriculum for adult English language (EL) learners in the authors state. This article describes the program development process for NFNM and shares important lessons learned during the process.


Cannabis Impacts On Native Lands: On The Need For Inclusion Of Native Perspectives In Extension Work, Jeremy Sorgen, Seth Larosa, Jennifer Sowerwine, Van Butsic, Peter Nelson, Melanie Mccavour, Shasta Gaughen, Anna Starkey May 2025

Cannabis Impacts On Native Lands: On The Need For Inclusion Of Native Perspectives In Extension Work, Jeremy Sorgen, Seth Larosa, Jennifer Sowerwine, Van Butsic, Peter Nelson, Melanie Mccavour, Shasta Gaughen, Anna Starkey

Journal of Extension

This article highlights the need for Cooperative Extension to increase awareness of Tribal concerns around activities that impact land, natural resources, and water. A research team at UC Berkeley worked with a Tribal Advisory Committee to conduct a survey of Tribal representatives’ perceptions of cannabis impacts on Native lands and cultural resources. The results show that there is widespread concern among Native communities about the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation, especially to water quality, access, and availability. These concerns underscore the need to include Native communities in Extension’s agricultural and natural resource activities across all regions and sectors.


Enhancing Extension Professionals’ Career Trajectory: Evaluating The Western Extension Leadership Development (Weld) Program, Andree Walker Bravo, Lendel K. Narine, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Elizabeth Sparks, Wesley Alford May 2025

Enhancing Extension Professionals’ Career Trajectory: Evaluating The Western Extension Leadership Development (Weld) Program, Andree Walker Bravo, Lendel K. Narine, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Elizabeth Sparks, Wesley Alford

Journal of Extension

The Western Extension Leadership Development (WELD) program, implemented in 2001, is a longstanding professional development program targeting Western State Extension leaders, however, the impacts of the WELD program and experience on the participants had never been evaluated. A retrospective evaluation was completed in 2020 for the 243 participants in WELD between 2001 and 2018. The 2020 WELD evaluation suggests that WELD participants tended to agree that participation in WELD led to an increase in leadership abilities and partnerships. Future recommendations include aligning WELD program components to professional competencies identified.


Exploring Extension Agents' Understandings Of Local And Resilient Food Systems, Hannah Dankbar, Brooke Matusko May 2025

Exploring Extension Agents' Understandings Of Local And Resilient Food Systems, Hannah Dankbar, Brooke Matusko

Journal of Extension

Currently, there is a focus on bolstering local food systems to support overall food system resilience. Local and resilient food systems, though related, are distinct concepts. Their use in food system development is complicated by varying interpretations. Data from a survey of North Carolina Extension agents, a group of food system practitioners, identified a range of definitions of these terms. The results underscore the complex landscape of local food system development and identify a need to build on conceptual understandings within the Extension community and establish shared understandings within food system development efforts.


Evaluation Of The Development Of Critical Life Skills As A Result Of Participating In Texas Youth Horse Judging Programs, Ashley N. Dibbs, Jennifer Zoller, Chelsie Huseman, Scott Cummings May 2025

Evaluation Of The Development Of Critical Life Skills As A Result Of Participating In Texas Youth Horse Judging Programs, Ashley N. Dibbs, Jennifer Zoller, Chelsie Huseman, Scott Cummings

Journal of Extension

Competitive judging teams are valued forms of extracurricular learning tools for many youth students. Unfortunately, unless individuals have direct involvement in these programs the benefits often go unnoticed and undocumented. A survey was designed to assess self-perceived life skill development from current and past horse judging participants, as well as youth life skill development observed by adults. Participants identified critical thinking, decision making, and public speaking as the highest rated life skills developed. Adults ranked self confidence, critical thinking and decision making as the skills they observe develop most frequently.


Reaching Tomorrow’S Extension Customer: A Food And Health Needs Assessment, Morgan Szczepaniak, Sarah L. Francis, Ruth Litchfield, Ulrike Genschel, Shannon Coleman, Anirudh Naig May 2025

Reaching Tomorrow’S Extension Customer: A Food And Health Needs Assessment, Morgan Szczepaniak, Sarah L. Francis, Ruth Litchfield, Ulrike Genschel, Shannon Coleman, Anirudh Naig

Journal of Extension

The food and health needs and preferences of Iowans (n=452) were examined. The leading food and health information sources were online platforms, social media, and print media. Program topics with high participation likelihood were cooking, food preservation, food safety, and gardening. Short, low-cost, online programs were preferred. Extension use was more likely among those who identified as persons of color, Hispanic/Latino, or were food insecure (p < 0.030). Those with less education and chronic disease were less likely to be interested in Extension programming (p < 0.040). These results provide valuable information regarding future directions for Extension programming.


Annie’S Project: Farming In Cities And The Urban Fringe, Robin G. Brumfield, Deborah L. Greenwood, Madeline Flahive Di Nardo, A.J. Both, Joseph R. Heckman, Nicholas Polanin, Ashaki Rouff, Amy Rowe, Richard Vanvranken, Surendran Arumugam, Ramu Govindasamy May 2025

Annie’S Project: Farming In Cities And The Urban Fringe, Robin G. Brumfield, Deborah L. Greenwood, Madeline Flahive Di Nardo, A.J. Both, Joseph R. Heckman, Nicholas Polanin, Ashaki Rouff, Amy Rowe, Richard Vanvranken, Surendran Arumugam, Ramu Govindasamy

Journal of Extension

Annie’s Project, is a nationally recognized educational program for women farmers focused on five areas of risk management: marketing, production, financial, human, and legal. Some challenges are common to all farms, while some are unique to urban locations. We added urban-focused topics including short-term leases, contaminated soils, water availability, indoor production, and access to capital and resources to develop Annie’s Project: Farming in Cities and the Urban Fringe. As urbanization spreads and a greater percentage of farmers across the United States are women, our curriculum can be used to address needs that are unique to farmers in urban …


Evergreen Products Training Yields Additional Income Results, James M. Delprince, Patricia R. Knight, Jeff Wilson, Anthony Bowden, Lauren C. Nickels, Laura H. Downey May 2025

Evergreen Products Training Yields Additional Income Results, James M. Delprince, Patricia R. Knight, Jeff Wilson, Anthony Bowden, Lauren C. Nickels, Laura H. Downey

Journal of Extension

Christmas tree growers can increase farm revenue through the design, marketing, and sales of value-added evergreen products. Three value-added training sessions in growing, designing, marketing and cold storage of evergreen wreaths, garland, and arrangements were conducted. Of the eighty tree growers invited to participate, twenty-six sought training. Sixteen followed up with post-holiday sales reports, 8 of whom generated sales of $6585 on 177 units with an average sales price of $35 per unit. Extension professionals can provide education, training, and market connections to help tree growers develop and increase value added product sales.


Faculty Roles And Responsibilities Supporting Extension Health Initiatives: Suggestions To Maximize Campus-Field Partnerships, Christine A. Fruhauf, Maria Delgado, Sue Schneider May 2025

Faculty Roles And Responsibilities Supporting Extension Health Initiatives: Suggestions To Maximize Campus-Field Partnerships, Christine A. Fruhauf, Maria Delgado, Sue Schneider

Journal of Extension

The past several decades of Extension scholarship have addressed topics related to creating pathways for stronger campus-field based connections. Several attempts have been made to support such efforts, including creating content-driven teams of research/teaching faculty and Extension professionals; state-wide tours where campus-based faculty and administrators visit with Extension staff in their county offices and in the field; and making new campus-based faculty and staff hires with a percentage of Extension appointments. Although these strategies have merit, addressing how these initiatives can support the goal of strengthening the work of campus- and field-based faculty to influence the mission of land-grant institutions …


Climate Resilience For Organic Vegetable Growers In The Midwest: Views, Needs, And Priorities Of Technical Service Providers, Natalie Hoidal, Greta Gramig, James Dedecker, Nicholas Frillman, Katie Black, Sarah Hayward, Rue Genger May 2025

Climate Resilience For Organic Vegetable Growers In The Midwest: Views, Needs, And Priorities Of Technical Service Providers, Natalie Hoidal, Greta Gramig, James Dedecker, Nicholas Frillman, Katie Black, Sarah Hayward, Rue Genger

Journal of Extension

As organic vegetable production becomes increasingly important in Upper Midwest food systems, Extension programs and partners must rise to the challenge of supporting growers with climate resilience. These growers are uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts, and addressing this challenge requires a networked approach. We report on a needs assessment and social network analysis process with technical service providers across the region to define the challenges, needs, and opportunities for building individual and institutional capacity to address climate change with growers. Results highlighted several focus areas, including improved communication, better access to funding, sound information, and cultural appropriateness.


Natural Resource Enterprises - Income Diversification And Conservation Practices Implemented On Private Lands In The United States, Daryl Jones May 2025

Natural Resource Enterprises - Income Diversification And Conservation Practices Implemented On Private Lands In The United States, Daryl Jones

Journal of Extension

Wildlife-related recreation is popular with Americans spending over $150 billion dollars annually. I have conducted educational workshops (>100 events) to train U.S. landowners in natural resource enterprises development offering recreational hunting, angling, and nature tourism excursions along with conservation management practices to enhance wildlife habitats on their lands. To measure impacts, I conducted a comprehensive mail survey study with participants since 2010. Findings revealed that landowners who initiated these enterprises earned annual incomes and implemented conservation practices on properties. More training for landowners is recommended to increase income diversification and conservation of wildlife habitats and stewardship on private lands.


Strategies To Overcome The Unique Challenges Faced In Conducting Focus Groups In Extension, Vikram Koundinya, Amulya Rao, Cristina Chiarella, Deepa Srivastava, Mary Holz-Clause, Teresa Spaeth, Eleanor Haworth, Kit Alviz, Lajoy Spears, Rebecca Witinok-Huber, Natalia Pinzón, Yulia Lamoureaux May 2025

Strategies To Overcome The Unique Challenges Faced In Conducting Focus Groups In Extension, Vikram Koundinya, Amulya Rao, Cristina Chiarella, Deepa Srivastava, Mary Holz-Clause, Teresa Spaeth, Eleanor Haworth, Kit Alviz, Lajoy Spears, Rebecca Witinok-Huber, Natalia Pinzón, Yulia Lamoureaux

Journal of Extension

Focus groups are commonly used in extension. Extension professionals can encounter unique challenges when conducting focus groups. Extension literature is replete with best practices for conducting focus groups, but there is a lack of systematically documented practical challenges and strategies for overcoming them. We share the challenges we have faced over the past 13 years while conducting focus groups with different participant groups in extension globally and strategies that can be used to overcome or navigate these challenges. The ideas presented in this paper can provide valuable assistance to extension professionals who utilize focus groups for research and evaluation purposes.


"Adults Taking Over": Lessons From A Case Study Of Food Security Events In Positive Youth Development Organizations, Rebecca Mott, Tanner Adkins May 2025

"Adults Taking Over": Lessons From A Case Study Of Food Security Events In Positive Youth Development Organizations, Rebecca Mott, Tanner Adkins

Journal of Extension

This case study describes youths’ roles in meal packing events and food drives associated with 4-H and FFA organizations in Missouri. Findings suggest the idea of a local event often stemmed from a youth who had participated in a meal packing event on a state or national level. However, youth perceived that once they expressed their idea, the planning and organization of the event tended to be “taken over” by an adult while youth carried out concrete tasks at the event. This research adds to the literature base calling for enhancement of awareness, knowledge and understanding of Youth-adult partnerships.


Engaging Generation Z: Exploring Volunteering Preferences And Influential Factors For 4-H Programming, Gemma Miner, Roshan Nayak, Cheryl Butterfield, Donna Schwarting, Stacey Macarthur May 2025

Engaging Generation Z: Exploring Volunteering Preferences And Influential Factors For 4-H Programming, Gemma Miner, Roshan Nayak, Cheryl Butterfield, Donna Schwarting, Stacey Macarthur

Journal of Extension

This article presents research findings on Generation Z (GenZ) individuals’ motivation and preferences as volunteers. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, gathering data from 910 Gen Z individuals aged 18 and older across six states. Gen Zers prefer volunteer opportunities related to education and social impact, influenced by an organization’s mission and values. Support and personal commitment are crucial in their decision-making process. They exhibit diverse perspectives on volunteer engagement duration, emphasizing purpose-driven efforts. This research provides valuable insights for effective recruitment and retention strategies for engaging Gen Z volunteers in meaningful opportunities.


From Data To Action: An Adaptable Crosstabs Template For Participatory Survey Data Analysis, Natalia Pinzon, Vikram Koundinya, William O'R Dowling, Ryan Galt May 2025

From Data To Action: An Adaptable Crosstabs Template For Participatory Survey Data Analysis, Natalia Pinzon, Vikram Koundinya, William O'R Dowling, Ryan Galt

Journal of Extension

We present a practical and accessible template for quantitative survey data analysis designed for non-academic researchers in order to facilitate engagement from community collaborators. The template, created in Google Sheets, is mainly for computing cross-tabulations, but it also displays frequency distributions and p-values for determining statistical significance. The template allows collaborators to record their observations and questions, promoting an efficient yet interactive review process and fostering a democratic analysis environment. Based on our own experience using this template for a data party, we highlight its effectiveness in promoting collaborative data interpretation, decision-making, and the actionable use of survey findings.


Expanding Extension Involvement Through An Undergraduate Life Skills Course, Stacey F. Stearns, Aditi Rao May 2025

Expanding Extension Involvement Through An Undergraduate Life Skills Course, Stacey F. Stearns, Aditi Rao

Journal of Extension

Extension traditionally involves undergraduate students through experiential learning and internships. We sought to develop a new model, and created an undergraduate life skills course for students in our college that featured Extension educators as guest lecturers in areas aligned with their specialty. Universities have a stable population of potential program participants, volunteers, and employees. It is imperative that we raise awareness about Extension while the students are enrolled in our institutions. Creating a for-credit undergraduate course that teaches life skills through Extension programs has tangible benefits for both the students and the Extension system.


Gardening Through The Pages: Making A State-Specific Catalog With Community Science Data, Stephen Stresow, Stephen Reiners, Ashley Miller Helmholdt May 2025

Gardening Through The Pages: Making A State-Specific Catalog With Community Science Data, Stephen Stresow, Stephen Reiners, Ashley Miller Helmholdt

Journal of Extension

Taking a page from commercial seed catalogs, Cornell Garden-Based Learning created a state-specific catalog using top-rated vegetable varieties. Taste, yield, ease-to-grow, and overall ratings were collected over the past decade through community science garden programs. The catalog combines the reputable, research-backed information Extension information with the marketability of a seed catalog. This project streamlined information across multiple sites into a single document while presenting it in a novel way (for Extension). We note how we collected data, created it, feedback from gardeners, and offer suggestions for improvements.


Supporting Local-Food Businesses To Conduct E-Commerce During Covid-19 Through Remote Student Internships, Angel Cruz, Barry Nash, Daniel Holloman, Joyce Yao Mar 2025

Supporting Local-Food Businesses To Conduct E-Commerce During Covid-19 Through Remote Student Internships, Angel Cruz, Barry Nash, Daniel Holloman, Joyce Yao

Journal of Extension

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global lockdowns changed the way food was accessed and prepared. These changes at the consumer level impacted farms and fisheries of all types and sizes. To compensate for the loss of larger markets and restaurant revenue, small-scale food producers pivoted to direct marketing to remain viable during the pandemic. However, not all businesses and producers had the time, skills or flexibility needed for a direct marketing business model. To support producers, the North Carolina Local Food Council developed a new internship program: Remote Internship to Support Enterprises (RISE) for Local Foods. The …


Perceived Healthfulness Of The Environment Of Communities With Low Income: Focus Groups And Interviews With Extension Nutrition Educators, Elder Garcia Varela, Jamie Zeldman, Jade Mcnamara, Jesse S. Morrell, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Melissa D. Olfert, Tandalayo Kidd, Kendra Kattelmann, Geoffrey Greene, Karla P. Shelnutt, Sarah Colby Feb 2025

Perceived Healthfulness Of The Environment Of Communities With Low Income: Focus Groups And Interviews With Extension Nutrition Educators, Elder Garcia Varela, Jamie Zeldman, Jade Mcnamara, Jesse S. Morrell, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Melissa D. Olfert, Tandalayo Kidd, Kendra Kattelmann, Geoffrey Greene, Karla P. Shelnutt, Sarah Colby

Journal of Extension

This study explored Extension nutrition educators’ (NEs) perceptions of community members’ challenges and opportunities for achieving a healthy lifestyle. NEs represented various communities with low income across nine states. NEs across locations identified similar barriers (i.e., lack of access and availability of healthy and affordable foods; access to transportation; and financial insecurity) and opportunities (i.e., trustworthy and free nutrition education resources and programs; and access to food banks, food pantries, and health care professionals) that prevented or facilitated a healthful lifestyle. Future research should explore key community stakeholder and community member perceptions to guide the development of community-driven interventions.


Customer Journey Mapping: A New Tool In The Extension Educator’S Toolbelt, Christopher Sneed, Heejin Lim, Michelle Childs, Megan B. Leffew Feb 2025

Customer Journey Mapping: A New Tool In The Extension Educator’S Toolbelt, Christopher Sneed, Heejin Lim, Michelle Childs, Megan B. Leffew

Journal of Extension

Customer journey mapping can be used to gain a complete understanding of customers by charting touchpoints across pre-purchase, purchase and post-purchase stages. By lifting customer journey mapping out of traditional retail settings and applying it to farm retail enterprises, customer journey mapping can be a powerful tool in the Extension educator toolbelt – a tool that can be utilized when educating producers in group settings or individual consultations. This article offers an introduction to the customer journey mapping tool. A case study and tips for using journey mapping concludes the article.


Leveraging Community Partnerships And Resources To Address Food Insecurity In A Rural County During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kristen Johnson, Amy Elizer, Karen L. Franck, Soghra Jarvandi Feb 2025

Leveraging Community Partnerships And Resources To Address Food Insecurity In A Rural County During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kristen Johnson, Amy Elizer, Karen L. Franck, Soghra Jarvandi

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals are skilled at connecting with community partners and community members to identify needs and address challenges. This paper outlines how Extension professionals quickly responded to address rising rates of food insecurity in a rural Tennessee County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an extensive network of state, regional, and local partners, Extension professionals and partners planned and implemented mobile food distributions through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families program. These Extension-led efforts resulted in sustainable, community-driven initiatives to improve food insecurity. Lessons learned can help Extension professionals respond to emerging needs.


Increasing The Awareness Of Land Grant Extension Service To Ethnic Minority Students: Collaborative Programming Of Kansas State University College Of Agriculture And K-State Research And Extension Service, Raymond Thomas, Dr. Zelia Z. Wiley, Dr. Lonnie Hobbs Jr., Summer Santillana Feb 2025

Increasing The Awareness Of Land Grant Extension Service To Ethnic Minority Students: Collaborative Programming Of Kansas State University College Of Agriculture And K-State Research And Extension Service, Raymond Thomas, Dr. Zelia Z. Wiley, Dr. Lonnie Hobbs Jr., Summer Santillana

Journal of Extension

An important pre-condition to diversifying the workforce of land-grant extension services is access to qualified ethnic minority individuals with an awareness and interest in pursuing extension careers. This paper highlights an example of collaboration between the K-State Research and Extension office and an educational research program at Kansas State University to expand the awareness and knowledge of the functions and career opportunities in extension to ethnic minority students. The result of this study indicates the collaboration increased the perceived knowledge of extension to the students, leading to an ethnic minority student attending graduate school with an emphasis on extension services.


Beer And Biology, A Perfect Pairing: Using Beer To Spread Awareness About Invasive Species, Samuel Nutile, Adam Simpson, Sara Stahlman, Lynne E. Beaty Feb 2025

Beer And Biology, A Perfect Pairing: Using Beer To Spread Awareness About Invasive Species, Samuel Nutile, Adam Simpson, Sara Stahlman, Lynne E. Beaty

Journal of Extension

Managing the spread of introduced invasive species relies on educating recreationists that currently or potentially harbor such species. By partnering with a local brewery, we developed the Lagers for Lakes Draft Series to facilitate outreach about aquatic invasive species in Erie, Pennsylvania. To date, Lagers for Lakes drafts and associated launch events have reached over 230 individuals and increased awareness of invasive species by 86%. With the materials provided here and the lessons learned from these events, we hope similar outreach efforts can be developed elsewhere to educate and minimize the spread of invasive species.


Outcomes Of A 4-H Stem Learning Enrichment Program Using Video Storytelling, Dena Seidel, Marissa Staffen, Lamia Abdallah, Xenia Morin Feb 2025

Outcomes Of A 4-H Stem Learning Enrichment Program Using Video Storytelling, Dena Seidel, Marissa Staffen, Lamia Abdallah, Xenia Morin

Journal of Extension

This article shares research outcomes and recommendations for replication of a Food, Agriculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) pilot project that successfully supported high school aged youth involved in a new 4-H special interest program. The goal of the program was to recruit and engage underserved youth in STEM learning through the production of food systems video stories in partnership with university plant scientists and science communication researchers and storytellers. This pilot offers an experiential method for underserved youth to engage in STEM learning through science storytelling that features youths' own bio-cultural food system knowledge.


Findings From A National Assessment To Support Implementation Of Cooperative Extension’S 2021 National Framework For Health Equity And Well-Being, Diana Charbonneau, Kerry Gabbert, Latoya O'Neal, Dawn E. Burton, Maggie Jones, Kate Katzman, Roger Rennekamp Feb 2025

Findings From A National Assessment To Support Implementation Of Cooperative Extension’S 2021 National Framework For Health Equity And Well-Being, Diana Charbonneau, Kerry Gabbert, Latoya O'Neal, Dawn E. Burton, Maggie Jones, Kate Katzman, Roger Rennekamp

Journal of Extension

Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being provides a roadmap for improving the health of communities. Core concepts include installing health equity a systemwide value and catalyzing community-level changes that ensure all people have an opportunity to be as healthy as they can. This article presents findings from a national readiness assessment for implementing the Framework across Extension. Results from a literature scan, national survey, and regional listening sessions identified internal facilitators and barriers to adoption. The article provides ideas for how Extension practitioners can engage in this work and shares an action plan developed from assessment results.


Offal Wildlife Watching: Connecting Hunters, Wildlife Researchers, And The Public Through Participatory Science, Ellen M. Candler, Grace Milanowski, Amy Rager, Joseph K. Bump Feb 2025

Offal Wildlife Watching: Connecting Hunters, Wildlife Researchers, And The Public Through Participatory Science, Ellen M. Candler, Grace Milanowski, Amy Rager, Joseph K. Bump

Journal of Extension

Offal Wildlife Watching is a participatory science project that engages deer hunters in wildlife research. The goal of the project is to better understand the ecology of scavenger species that visit deer gut piles across Minnesota. We asked hunters to deploy remote cameras at white-tailed deer gut piles that resulted from their freshly killed deer. Thus far 117 hunters have contributed images and recorded at least 49 different scavenger species. This project is a natural fit in Extension programs and can easily be adapted to other hunted species, biomes, and locations.