Masters Thesis

Investigation of the factors in which first-year non-elective and fourth-year agriculture students enroll in high school agriculture classes

The purpose of this study was to investigate self-reported reasons why high school students (a) enroll in agriculture courses for the first time and (b) continue to enroll in agriculture courses during their fourth year of high school agricultural instruction. An additional purpose was to compare the reasons first-year agriculture students enroll in their agriculture class to the reasons fourth-year seniors enrolled in their agriculture class. Demographic differences across the two groups were also compared. This study used descriptive research methods. The target population involved agriculture education students at two high schools in Galt, California. A questionnaire was developed and administered to 276 students. The findings of the study are as follows: (a) the students came from mostly rural and suburban living areas, are enrolled in mostly agriculture science courses and come from families with and without production agriculture backgrounds; (b) first-year students enrolled in their current agriculture class because it sounded fun and interesting, it seemed more hand-on, to participate in FFA activities, and because they preferred agriculture teachers; and (c) fourth-year students enrolled in their current agriculture class because it sounded fun and interesting, it seemed more hands-on, to participate in FFA activities, to learn a specific skill or trade, and because they preferred agriculture teachers. Fourth-year students scored higher on nearly all items as compared to first-year students, with 10 items demonstrating statistically significantly differences across the two groups. Understanding enrollment factors allows agriculture programs to enhance recruitment strategies in order to retain more students.

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