Non Technical Summary
The agricultural industry is one of the most hazardous in the U.S., where it is important to provide workers with education about the hazards and best recommended practices for preventing injuries. Teen workers (aged 14-17 years old) are 4.4 times more likely to be fatally injured on farms and ranches, than their teen counterparts working in other occupations.This project seeks to expand the reach of educational resources and training programs available to youth audiences, specifically on agricultural safety and health topics. Our project team will engage agricultural, educational and youth development professionals to effectively design and evaluate farm safety curricula for youth workers in a manner appropriate to their learning styles and preference styles. Evaluations will examine blended modes of learning to measure the effectiveness of student knowledge and skill-based competencies, including face-to-face, on-line, and Virtual Reality environments. Another important facet of the project accounts for the needs of instructors - and their professional development - as they search for curriculum to include in their classrooms or community programs. The ultimate project goal is to align SAY resources for maximum adoption within formal and non-formal agricultural education settings. To accomplish this the primary objective will be to offer multi-faceted training programs around the U.S.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
723	6010	3020	25%
723	6050	3020	75%

Knowledge Area
723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
6010 - Individuals; 6050 - Communities, areas, and regions;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Goals / Objectives
In the up-coming cycle, the project will prioritize training efforts to promote and market the SAY Clearinghouse resources, with a particular focus ontrain-the-trainer programs. In the case of tractor and machinery safety certification, the goal will be to enhance educators' awareness and capacity to deliver agricultural safety education to youth audiences--whether in classroom settings or community-based programs--within their geographic regions.To achieve this,regional training workshopswill be conducted, aligned with USDA regional zones. Each workshop will be supported by astate-based coordinator from a land grant university, who will collaborate with the state project staff to identify suitable conference facilities and secure necessary equipment, including tractors and machinery for hands-on training.Workshop Structure. Each one- or two-day workshops will include approximatelyfour hours dedicated to hands-on training. Additionally, the agenda will feature apanel of regional practitionerswho have successfully implemented youth safety training programs or developed innovative training formats. While the workshops will follow a consistent structure--emphasizing learning, networking, and discussion of current safety training issues--each will be tailored to reflectregional priorities and influences.Methodology. The project budget includes funding for SAY project staff and regional consultantsfrom land-grant universities to collaboratively plan the workshop and identify/develop the curriculum resources that will be highlighted. Travel expenses are covered for both national and state coordinators to attend the trainings, as well as up tothree additional panelists/trainers per site.Participant recruitmentwill be conducted regionally through organizational listservs, state-level conferences, and in-service events. The target is to recruit70 participants per region, totaling350 participantsacross all five workshops.Evaluation. Datawill be collected at each site and aggregated for inclusion in the final report. Participant feedback will inform future regional training efforts and help refine the delivery of agricultural safety education.The overarching goal of these workshops is to foster content support fortrainers, equip them with high-quality resources, and strengthen their ability to deliver impactful safety training to youth under the SAY brand.

Project Methods
The methods include:Development of atraining workshop curriculum, which will include PowerPoint presentations with speaker notes, a suggested list of panel presenters, public policy guidelines (including Department of Labor Hazardous Occupations Order for Agriculture, OSHA, etc.), knowledge assessments and equipment skill-course rubrics, and a directory of additional resources and personnel contacts.Conduct regional train-the-trainer workshops around the U.S. to teach or administer youth tractor and equipment safety programs, and market the SAY Clearinghouse resources for classroom and community-led workforce training programs.Develop and analyzesurveysonparticipant feedback after they completed a train-the-trainer program; data will be analyzed for formative and summative reports.