Progress 04/01/24 to 03/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:This annual report covers the period from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. Over this period, the MASP team accomplished various goals as outlined in the project proposal. The MASP project has two goals. The first goal is to enhance labor force participation in the US agricultural sector through educational efforts designed to increase the awareness of careers in the agricultural sector. The second goal is to research various issues related to the US agricultural workforce, including the causes of misconceptions about agricultural jobs. These goals will be reached through specific objectives as described below. Objective 1: Implement a replicable system that will expose students to agricultural knowledge, regardless of their majors. This objective was implemented through the following activities. 1. Scholarship Program CSU awarded 19scholarships out of 48 applications received from June 2024through January 2025. Changes/Problems:The project team has completed most of its work. However, due to some unavoidable circumstances, some of the participants' expenses were not used. Originally, we had a large amount to be given to students for participation in AP project surveys. However, due to the inability to provide gift cards to all participants of the surveys, the project team decided to reallocate those funds to provide more scholarships to students. Finally, the subrecipient still has remaining research work to complete. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through academic and professional conferences i.e. Southern Economic Association, North American Regional Science Association International, and American Association of Agricultural Education. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to continue on scholarship program and submit research papers for publications.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishment during Reporting Year The Education goals were met 100%. 19scholarships were awarded. As far as the research goal is concerned,progress has been made andresults are already being presented at conferences. Overall Accomplishments of the Project Goal 1: Enhancing the labor force participation in the US agricultural industry Education Component The project target was to collect 200 surveys and complete 200 Agricultural Projects (AP)completed in two years (Year 1 and Year 2)- We met the target and collected 494 surveys and completed 483 AP projects in Year 1 and 2. The second target was to award 20 scholarships. We met this target as well and were awarded a total of 41 scholarships (22 in prior years and 19 this reporting year). Another target was to help students participate in networking events. The project team organized some virtual events and took students to other events, i.e. Ohio Farm Science Review. Goal 2: Analyze various issues related to the US agricultural workforce, including causes of misconceptions about agricultural jobs Research Component The project goal is to complete 5 research projects. We have completed 85% of the work on those projects. Several of them have presented preliminary findings at conferences.
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Progress 04/01/23 to 03/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:This annual report covers the period from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. Over this period, the MASP team accomplished various goals as outlined in the project proposal. The MASP project has two goals. The first goal is to enhance labor force participation in the US agricultural sector through educational efforts designed to increase the awareness of careers in the agricultural sector. The second goal is to research various issues related to the US agricultural workforce, including the causes of misconceptions about agricultural jobs. These goals will be reached through specific objectives as described below. Objective 1: Implement a replicable system that will expose students to agricultural knowledge, regardless of their majors. This objective was implemented through the following activities. 1. Scholarship Program CSU awarded 10scholarships out of 28applications received from June 2023through January 2024. 2. Agricultural Networking Twonetworking event opportunities were given to students. MASP team took the students to visit Farm Science Review, a statewide event organized by Ohio State University. MASP team also a virtual event in Fall 2023. Agricultural Industry Professionals from CSU extension shared information on their career paths, career opportunities in their field, career advice, and transitioning from college to the workplace. A Q&A was held giving students opportunity to interact with those professionals. Changes/Problems:The project team has completed most of its work. However, due to some unavoidable circumstances, some of the participants' expenses were not used. Originally, we had a large amount to be given to students for participation in AP project surveys. However, due to the inability to provide gift cards to all participants of the surveys, the project team decided to reallocate those funds to provide more scholarships to students. Finally, the subrecipient still has remaining research work to complete. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As mentioned earlier, twonetworking events wereorgnized. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through academic and professional conferences i.e. Southern Economic Association, North American Regional Science Association International. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue working on research projects and scholarship program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Education goals were met 100%. 10 scholarships were awarded and students particiapted in 2 networking events. As far as the research goal is concerned, much progress has been made and preliminary results are already being presented at conferences.
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Progress 04/01/22 to 03/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Progress of goals and specific objectives: This annual report covers the period from April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023. Over this period, the MASP team accomplished various goals as outlined in the project proposal. The MASP project has two goals. The first goal is to enhance labor force participation in the US agricultural sector through educational efforts designed to increase the awareness of careers in the agricultural sector. The second goal is to research various issues related to the US agricultural workforce, including the causes of misconceptions about agricultural jobs. These goals will be reached through specific objectives as described below. Objective 1:Implement a replicable system that will expose about 200 students/year to agricultural knowledge, regardless of their majors. This objective was implemented through the following activities. 1. AP Projects The implementation of AP projects in non-agriculture courses is another major element of this project's educational component. AP projects are being integrated into various non-agricultural courses to expose students to agricultural knowledge and address some of their potential misconceptions about the industry. This component of the project will address the failure of numerous existing agricultural scholarship programs that have targeted only agricultural students and is designed to help students appreciate and understand the factors and dynamics that determine the supply of goods and services in this specific sector. AP projects were implemented at Central State University (CSU) and Prairie View A &M University (PVAMU) in the Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 semesters. 86 projects were completed at PVAMU and 114 at CSU. 2. Scholarship Program CSU awarded 3 scholarships out of 16 applications received from June 2022 through January 2023. PVAMU awarded 4 scholarships out of 37 applications received during the same period. 3. Agricultural Networking One networking event was organized. About 40 students were in attendance. Agricultural Industry Professionals shared information on their career paths, career opportunities in their field, career advice, and transitioning from college to the workplace. A Q&A was held giving students opportunity to interact with those professionals. Changes/Problems:We could not disseminate the survey to the relatives due to lack of response and potential cyber security issues. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As mentioned earlier, one networking event was orgnized. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through academic and professional conferences i.e. Southern Economic Association,North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, and American Association of Agricultural Education. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue on AP projects, surveys, and research products to meet our target for year 3. Additionally, we will have students participating in networking events in year 3.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We provide performance metrics in this subsection. The Education and research goals were met at 100%. As reported above, of the 200 expected surveys, we were able to collect responses from 314 individuals. Of the 200 AP projects expected, we collected 200 projects. As far as the research goal is concerned, much progress has been made and preliminary results are already being presented at conferences.
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Progress 04/01/21 to 03/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Progress of goals and specific objectives: This annual report covers the period from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022. Over this period, the MASP team accomplished various goals as outlined in the project proposal. The MASP project has two goals. The first goal is to enhance labor force participation in the US agricultural sector through educational efforts designed to increase the awareness of careers in the agricultural sector. The second goal is to research various issues related to the US agricultural workforce, including the causes of misconceptions about agricultural jobs. These goals will be reached through specific objectives as described below. Objective 1: Implement a replicable system that will expose about 200 students/year to agricultural knowledge, regardless of their majors. This objective was implemented through the following activities. AP Projects Project members incorporated AP projects in various courses. Students enrolled in those courses have been exposed to agricultural knowledge regardless of their majors through a new module. That created module presents facts related to the US agricultural sector, such as, but not limited to, the agricultural sector's contribution to the US GDP, deficient labor force participation from the youths, and the looming increasing demand for agricultural products and foods. These students had to complete and submit an assignment (AP project) through which they had to identify jobs at the intersection between their majors and agriculture. AP projects were implemented at Central State University (CSU) and Prairie View A &M University (PVAMU) in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters. 93 projects were completed at PVAMU and 72 at CSU. Scholarship Program This project component intended to address the failure of numerous existing agricultural scholarship programs that have targeted only agricultural students. Most of the existing agricultural scholarship programs face a lack of applications. Scholarship application was advertised both at CSU and PWAMU. A total of 44 applications were received at PVAMU and 26 at CSU. 3 finalists were selected at PVAMU and 2 at CSU. Agricultural Networking This task will start in the second year of the project. We have identified some events for students to attend. Implementation will take place in the second year. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through academic and professional conferences i.e. Southern Economic Association. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue on AP projects, surveys, and research products to meet our target for year 2. Additionally, we will have students participating in networking events in year 2.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We provide performance metrics in this subsection. The Education goal was met at 93% while the research goal was met at 100%. As reported above, of the 200 expected surveys, we were able to collect responses from 208 individuals. However, of the 200 AP projects expected, we collected only 165. As far as the research goal is concerned, much progress has been made and preliminary results are already being presented at conferences.
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