ERIC Number: ED075696
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1972-Nov
Pages: 16
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
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EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Why Farmers Persist in or Drop Out of Young Farmer Instructional Programs.
Matteson, H. R.; Thompson, J. F.
A study was conducted to determine why some young farmers continue to attend Wisconsin's five-year (part-time) instructional program and others drop out. Specifically, both groups were compared in personal characteristics, satisfaction regarding in-class instruction, satisfaction regarding on-farm instruction, and relevance of program to student's needs. Mail questionnaires were sent to a random sample of everyone enrolled for at least one year since 1967; returns totaled 75 for dropouts and 195 for continuing students. It was concluded that: (1) dropouts were generally older and more established in farming--they were interested less in developing problem-solving abilities than in acquiring the most recent technological information; (2) respondents generally were satisfied with their instructors' teaching abilities; (3) general agreement existed that feeds and feeding, crop production, soils and fertilizers, and farm records should receive the most emphasis; (4) respondents were generally satisfied with the administration of the in-class instructional program; (5) more respondents placed greater emphasis on the on-farm instructional part than on the in-class part; and (6) two-thirds or more in each group indicated their needs were almost or completely met by these programs; reasons for dropping out were primarily of a personal nature. (KM)
Descriptors: Adult Education, Adult Farmer Education, Adult Programs, Agricultural Education, Dropout Attitudes, Extension Education, Program Effectiveness, Research Reports, Rural Extension, Student Attitudes, Surveys
University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Bulletin Bldg., 1535 Observatory Dr., Madison, Wis. 53706 ($0.15, plus postage); Wisconsin Residents from County Extension Agents (free)
Publication Type: N/A
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Authoring Institution: Wisconsin Univ., Madison. Coll. of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
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