The Center for Home-Based Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University developed from collaborative efforts of extension, government agencies, business associations, and the vo-tech system. It provides education, directories, information services, and other assistance to people interested in establishing businesses in their homes. (SK)

Britain's decision to commercialize the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service has implications for extension programs in other countries. If programs now offered were commercialized, extension would no longer be an agency responsive to the public interest as a whole but would be driven by interests of paying clients. (JOW)

Includes "Public Policy Education: A Path to Political Support" (Boyle, Mulcahy); "Accepting the Challenge" (Bolen); and "Expanding the Extension Horizon" (Carpenter). (JOW)

A telephone survey of 200 farm operators regarding adoption of innovations found 52% were early adopters or early majority adopters and 48% were late majority adopters or laggard. Importance of scientific research, learning about new concepts, and use of sources other than extension were factors distinguishing the categories. (SK)

Children and teenagers now have more money at their disposal and influence family spending. Formal and informal consumer education is essential to enable them to function appropriately in the marketplace. (SK)

A New York State project created a water quality database for private drinking water supplies, using the statewide educational program to collect the data. Another goal was to develop this program so rural residents could increase their knowledge of water supply management. (Author)

Puts the label "at risk" in perspective as it relates to youth. Points out that today's adolescents have lower rates of suicide, unwed pregnancy, drug abuse, smoking, and drunk driving than young and middle-aged adults. Suggests that extension youth education moves toward a condition-focused, resiliency model that recognizes the vitality and…

Focus groups arranged by local Native American Master Gardeners on two Minnesota reservations determined community interest in extension-horticulture programs. Topics of interest included food preservation and historical Native-American uses of plants. (SK)

A training program provided food-safety updates for certified food-protection-management instructors via the Trans-Texas Videoconferencing Network. A survey of 89 participants found videoconferencing was as effective as face-to-face instruction. Food-safety knowledge substantially increased. (SK)

Migrant-farm-worker youth learned about employment and educational opportunities in agriculture through a 4-H-sponsored conference. The conference was developed by a partnership of university extension, community organizations, schools, and private industry. (SK)

Surveys sent to 233 extension agents in New York received 112 responses; 21% had natural resources as a primary responsibility. There was greater interest in water resource topics than in forest management topics; rankings differed by agents' programming responsibilities. Several new areas were identified for which there is no current Extension…

This survey of cooperative extension educators focused on the relationship between viewer interaction and acceptance of programs delivered via satellite. Discusses program effectiveness, relations between the extent of audience interaction and levels of acceptance (cognitive, affective, and behavioral) of programs, and the need to place greater…

Thompson and Lamble describe the evolution, role, and characteristics of university extension, identifying uncertainty and confusion about the field. They compare community and instructional orientations and synthesize concepts of extension and public service. Lauzon's response suggests the need to account for the changing context of university…

Internet inservice training was offered to 150 county Extension agents representing six southeastern states, who used Web-based materials, an online pretest/posttest, and listserv discussions. Questionnaire responses indicated that most agents were very receptive to this method. Pretest/posttest scores show that the training resulted in a…

A survey of 208 Ohio county extension agents revealed a somewhat high level of customer orientation, commitment to customer service, and positive attitude toward continuous quality improvement. Paraprofessionals had higher customer orientation than professionals or support staff; women's customer orientation was higher than men's. (SK)