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Hartnell College Salinas, CA

Kristen Arps Program Coordinator

Dr. Susan Pheasant Director

iAgriculture: Ag Career

Exploration in the Field

Agricultural Business & Technology Institute

CTE Fall Conference

Rancho Mirage, CA

November 20, 2014

Agenda �  Introduction � Context � Program Overview � Process: Design, Plan, Implement � Assessment: Outcomes and Feedback � Reflection: Lessons Learned � Questions and Discussion

iAgriculture: Ag Career Exploration in the Field

What is iAgriculture? � Ag career exploration program � Not-For-Credit activities/workshops � For community college and high school

students � Experiential learning � Local agribusiness operations � Four-year university ag programs � Pilot funding: NIFA Grant


Context


pic of the CAT??

Hartnell CC District � Salinas Valley – “Salad Bowl of the World” � Approx. 15,000 students annually

(unduplicated) � 3 campuses � A Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) � 65% of students are Latino/Hispanic � Many first-generation college students


Hartnell CC District � 85% receive federal and/or state

financial assistance � 90% unprepared for college level math � 85% unprepared for college level English � Less than 10% of adults in District have

a bachelor’s degree or higher � 39% of adults over 25 years old in District do not

have a high school diploma


Agricultural Business & Technology Institute Approx. 600 students enrolled in Ag courses

Degree Programs �  A.S. in Agriculture

�  Ag Business emphasis �  Ag Production emphasis �  Sustainable Ag emphasis (in progress)

�  Horticulture Technician emphasis (in progress)

�  A.S. in Advanced Diesel Technology �  A.S. in Ag Industrial Technology (in progress)

Certificates also available in the above areas.


Agricultural Business & Technology Institute

Certificate Programs �  Agricultural & Industrial Technology Program

�  Industrial Mechanics Certificate �  Industrial Technician Certificate

�  Food Safety Certificate �  Welding Technology Certificate �  Automotive Technology Certificate


iAgriculture

Program Overview


Program Goals Increase students’ awareness and knowledge of: � Careers and career pathways in agriculture � Programs and courses � Themselves � The agriculture industry


Program Design � Workshop series including guest speakers and

field trips/site visits to local agribusinesses and transfer schools w/ ag programs

� Classroom activities to provide framework for group discussion, personal reflection, and professional development (during iAg Week only)

�  iAg Week: 1 full week in August before school started (5 days, 9am-5pm daily)

� Monthly activities during Fall semester, including field trips and visits to transfer schools

� Certificates of Participation issued


iAgriculture

Implementation Process


Process Overview � Logistics �  Industry/Agency Outreach � Marketing and Recruiting � Curriculum � Assessment


Logistics � Scheduling � Transportation � Food � Classroom space � Authorization forms � Thank you gifts


Industry/Agency Outreach “We’ve been waiting for you to ask!”

Contacts made via: � Hartnell Foundation Ag Steering Committee � Ag Institute Program Advisory Committees � AgKnowledge � Service organizations � Cold-calls � Referrals � Personal Interest/Life-long Learning


Marketing & Recruitment iAg Week Pre-program marketing and recruitment:

�  Press release �  Local media via our PR person �  Industry contacts emailed, asked to post for

employees �  Flyers �  Summer classes

Post-program publicity: �  President’s Weekly Report �  KION news


Marketing & Recruitment iAg Fall Semester

Pre-program marketing and recruitment: �  Flyers �  Faculty asked to promote (some gave extra credit) �  Class visits �  Counselors �  Student leaders and student clubs (Ag Ambassadors) �  Emails sent to industry contacts (to post for employees) �  Started to build database of “Ag Enthusiasts” and did

most recruiting via email

Post-program publicity: �  President’s Weekly Report �  Steering Committee and Program Advisory Committees


Curriculum/Activities Site Visits �  3 Large-scale grower operations: berries, leafy

greens, mushrooms �  2 Small-scale organic farms �  2 Flower production companies: orchids, cut flowers �  3 Laboratories: food safety testing, pest

management/disease control, berry breeding/genomics

�  2 Ag machinery fabrication/manufacturing plants �  1 Terminal/wholesale market: floral (pending)

3 Transfer School Visits

1 Service-Learning Activity


Curriculum/Activities Guest Speaker Presentation Topics: �  Orientation in Food Safety Training in the Field

(train-the-trainer) �  Orientation in Food Safety Sampling and Testing �  Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS/UCDavis) �  Natural Resource Conservation (USDA-NRCS) �  Pest Management with Canine Inspection Teams �  Ag Sales and Marketing �  Ag Law �  Ag Internship Programs


Curriculum/Activities Classroom Activities & Discussions �  Why agriculture? �  Reflection on impressions of agriculture and

personal experiences �  Informational interviewing / professional networking �  Compare/contrast agribusinesses visited �  Compare/contrast ag careers seen �  Games: Ag Career Bingo, Ag Career Race,

Scavenger Hunt, Getting-to-Know-You Bingo �  Career advice received �  Agribusiness best practices observed/learned �  Sampling assignment for lab presentation


Curriculum/Activities iAg Week Binder �  Field Log �  Worksheets for classroom activities �  Job Search Guide �  Informational Interview Guide �  How to Write a Thank You Note �  List of speakers and sites visited �  Hartnell courses/certificates/degrees �  UC & CSU ag transfer schools/degrees �  Small notebooks for notes in field


Curriculum/Activities Field Log (sample components) � Site Visit Record

�  Observations and Reactions �  Lessons Learned / Key Takeaways �  Plan to Research Further / Learn More About

� Career in Focus �  Professional observed �  Description of job/career �  Aspects I liked / didn’t like �  Education/training needed �  Is this career an option for me?

�  Informational Interview Record � Ag Lexicon – Key Terms & Concepts


Assessment iAg Week �  Final written reflections (with prompts) �  Classroom discussions/focus group �  Embedded in curriculum �  Team debrief �  Registration and participation data

Fall Semester �  Qualitative surveys �  Registration and participation data


Assessment iAg Week Final Reflection Prompts: �  How have your ideas, impressions, understandings of

agriculture changed this week (if at all)? �  What did you learn that was completely new to you

this week? �  Is there anything that you wish you had learned

about that you did not? �  How might you use what you’ve learned in your

academic plans? In your professional career? In life in general?

Program Evaluation Prompts: �  Suggestions for content, logistics, recruiting


iAgriculture

Program Outcomes


Participation Great response for pilot program: 49 participants total (unduplicated)

Nearly 8% of Hartnell agriculture students

High no-show rate: 33 registered but did not attend (unduplicated)


Participant Profile

Male 52%

Female 48%

Gender – Almost 50/50

Under 18 7%

18-24 66%

25-39 9%

40+ 9%

Unknown 9%

Age - Average 22 years old

Under 18

18-24

25-39

40+

unknown


Participant Profile


25%

18%

16%

10%

6%

3%

11%

11%

Program/Interest

Ag Production

Ag Business

Food Safety

Hort/Crop Science/Greenhouse

Welding/Fabrication

Marketing/Communication

Ag - General/Other

Unknown

Participant Feedback Participants learned… �  “There are hundreds of career paths in ag from

being scientists to laborers to environmentalists and the list just go on and on.”

�  “There is a broad amount of branches in the ag world.”

�  “There are a lot of other avenues to study in Agriculture.”

�  “All the different types of backgrounds people had and how they ended up in the ag business.”


Participant Feedback Participants appreciated… �  “The opportunity to experience the “hands on” work like getting

into the labs.” �  “Walking through the shops and watching people work.” �  “How humble some of the owners were, how willing to share their

knowledge and experience with us.” �  “Overall meeting great people who really enjoy and love

agriculture.” �  “Being able to talk to people in the ag business who have been

doing it for a while.” �  “Seeing and talking to different people with different backgrounds

that involve Ag.” �  “The communication the professors gave and how friendly the

students are is the atmosphere I want to be surrounded by.” �  “How we are given the opportunity to see our options.” �  “Overall I found everything valuable, meeting the faculty, students

that transfer here, their stories. Most important though, would be the philosophy, learning by doing.”


Participant Feedback Participants found interesting… �  “The differences between the Big Grower vs. the

Small Grower, Organic needs vs. Conventional needs.”

�  “How everyone in the group works together to [reach] one objective.”

�  “To observe how they put their skills into work.” �  “How much engineering goes into the layout and

planning of design and how that template is fabricated based on what the customer wants.”


Participant Feedback Participants determined that… �  “You can absolutely find your passion and find a job

in ag!” �  “What I am studying for is the correct choice for me. �  “It also encouraged me to continue and finish.” �  “I will use what I learned to choose the career that

best fits me.” �  “I was just going to stop at Hartnell, but maybe I really

want to transfer.” �  “Today's trip has pushed me even further into

majoring and pursuing a career in agriculture.” �  “I can make it to transfer to this school and that there

are a lot of opportunities that we can take.” �  “I would also like to come back to my community

and do all the opportunities offered.”


Host/Speaker Feedback �  “It was a great pleasure speaking with your students and I

am excited to hear they enjoyed the exposure to career opportunities in food.”

�  “Please feel free to contact me in the future with any such opportunities or educational programs you might be putting together.”

�  “It was my pleasure. I always like talking to and with students especially about farmland conservation issues and careers in agriculture.”

�  “It a pleasure for me to host your college students at any time my farm is always open for any one that wishes to learn on how to grow organic food. Also keep in mind that at any time you guys need anything related to my experience I'm here to help.”

�  “I hope that you will arrange a similar tour in the future!”


Outcomes/Impact iAgriculture increases student awareness of: �  Career options in agriculture �  Steps necessary to start on different career pathways �  Education and training opportunities available at

Hartnell and beyond �  Agribusiness operations and systems through

experiential learning – which also reinforces classroom learning in ag courses

iAgriculture increases student: �  Experience speaking and networking with

professionals �  Confidence and pride and ability to honor ag

heritage �  Comfort-level and familiarity


Outcomes/Impact iAgriculture increases industry: �  Awareness of the Hartnell Ag Institute programs �  Connection to Hartnell students as potential interns

and employees

iAgriculture offers faculty: �  Opportunities to enhance classroom learning

without using class time or resources �  Connection to industry and current industry

practices


iAgriculture

Lessons Learned, Looking to the Future


What went well? � High student satisfaction

�  Site visits interesting and eye-opening �  Interactive presentations engaging and

informative �  Encouraged and excited about career options

� Classroom activities reinforced learning in field � Wide variety of businesses/agencies and

careers covered, exposed students to a lot � Connections with industry hosts/speakers � Marketing and recruiting � Logistics


What would we do differently? � Daily program evaluation (not just at end of

week) �  Increase activities that encourage critical

thinking and analysis, application to their lives, as well as personal reflection and group discussion (daily)

� Evaluate design and schedule to maximize positive impact: what frequency, how many days, how full each day should be

� More high school student recruitment


What would we do differently? � Vet speakers/plan with them ahead of time

�  Content and format of presentations �  Clear guidelines, expectations, time limits

� Gauge expectations better (students’ and ours) �  How to address no-show issue?

� Coordinators would know more about current student services and resources (both were brand new)

� More use of social media and website (wasn’t set up at that time)


Goals for the Future � Continue agribusiness visits to encompass every

major crop and career within local ag industry, particularly those that correspond to the certificates and degrees offered by Hartnell

� Continue to utilize guest speakers to educate, train and motivate students �  technical content � “soft skills” such as leadership, communication,

professionalism and other employability skills � Continue ag-related service-learning/volunteer

opportunities


Goals for the Future � Continue transfer school visits and provide more

than one visit to each per year � Hold regular agriculture career/education

information sessions at Hartnell and local high schools

�  Include more Monterey County high school students in all activities

� Branch out to site visits in other regions (in CA, in US, international)

�  Incorporate industry and association events and trainings


Goals for the Future �  Integrate into a larger career development

curriculum/program, including internships and resume/interview/job prep workshops

�  Integrate into the curriculum of relevant courses � Participation of at least 20% of Hartnell

agriculture students � Become a core pillar of the Ag Institute


Questions and Discussion


Contact us: Kristen Arps Susan Pheasant, Ph.D. [email protected] [email protected]

Thank you to the following for making iAgriculture possible: National Institute of Food & Agriculture

Hartnell College & Dr. Zahi Kanaan-Atallah, Dean of Advanced Technology Grower Shipper Association Foundation Monterey County Ag Commission Office

Darlene Din

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