About Us
Project Background
Launched in 2005, the Agricultural Awareness Initiative was created as a special initiative of Florida Legislature to increase knowledge regarding agriculture and natural resources statewide. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida received nonrecurring funds to support the iniative. The Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, one of several UF/IFAS units to receive a portion of these funds, developed a pilot project to examine current activities, needs, and potential approaches for more effective agricultural awareness programming.
Project Mission
To increase the ability of Extension faculty, opinion leaders, and producers to deliver agriculture and natural resources awareness messages and programs.
Project Goals
- Catalog other agriculture and natural resources (ANR) awareness programs throughout the United States.
- Develop an action plan to support an Ag awareness pilot project in central Florida.
- Assess knowledge of ANR awareness programs by county Extension faculty and other stakeholders, as well as their preferences for various types of Ag awareness educational media.
- Develop key message materials and support programs for IFAS Extension faculty and other target audiences.
- Develop an Ag Awareness mini-grants program.
- Conduct a preliminary assessment of the ANR awareness effort and provide recommendations for future program directions and activities.
Needs Assessment
According to Extension agents, what specific statewide barriers and opportunities exist concerning Florida Agricultural and Natural Resources (AGNR) Awareness efforts? This was a key question among the Florida AGNR awareness taskforce, and the 2006 AGNR Awareness needs assessment survey helps answer it. The survey questions stemmed from (a) input from the AGNR awareness taskforce, and (b) three in-depth interviews with UF/IFAS Extension administration. The survey was administered to 321 Extension agents on September 5, 2006 and closed on September 26, 2006, with a final response rate of 58 percent (n = 186). Findings demonstrate (a) the top issues facing counties across Florida, (b) existing AGNR programs/events in each county, (c) top sources used by agents in attaining AGNR information, (d) Extension agent level of involvement/interest in AGNR awareness, and (e) specific AGNR awareness-type information needed in Extension. Results from this survey are being used to develop and implement key components of the Florida AGNR awareness initiative.
Click on the following link to review the full needs assessment results.
AG-NR Awareness Project Needs Assessment Results
