Strengthening of graduate curriculum for domestic and international extension and related change agents to work with small farm clients

The purposes of this curriculum strengthening study were to develop two academic programs in the Department of Agricultural Extension Education: 1) one for preparation of change agents planning to work with domestic small farm clients, and 2) the other for preparation of those planning to work with small farm clients in less developed countries (LDC's). To develop these programs of preparation, inputs concerning professional duties, academic preparation and the knowledge and skills important for work with small farm clients were obtained from 19 Tennessee Extension small farm program staff members and from 12 former Agricultural Extension graduates with subsequent experience in LDC's. Personal interviews were used to collect domestic information and a mail questionnaire was sent to the former graduates doing work inter-nationally. Library research was used to formulate a framework for curriculum strengthening and to provide background on small farm clients and programs. Major findings from the survey of Tennessee staff included: 1. Domestic respondents considered preparation in the subject matter areas of sociology and vegetable production to be at least very useful to their work; although they had received only some or little preparation in these areas. 2. Domestic respondents indicated having received more preparation in the subject matter areas of beef, dairy and general education than they felt was needed for their work. 3. Seventy-nine percent of the domestic respondents considered on farm demonstrations to be an effective activity for small farm work. 4. One to one contact was considered the most successful method for small farm work by 95 percent of the domestic respondents. Domestic respondents indicated that knowledge and skills were needed in the following areas for effective work with small farm clients: a) vegetable and fruit production and marketing; b) pork production and management; c) farm management and agricultural marketing systems; d) understanding rural social systems; e) methods and procedures for transferring information and skills to small farmers; f) general agricultural science and the interdependency of its subdisciplines; and g) understanding the small fanner's needs, interests and abilities. Major findings from the survey of international change agents included: 1. Respondents to the international survey were divided into four occupational groups. One-third of the respondents were doing some type of Extension work, one-third were students, 17 percent were academic professors and another 17 percent were involved with religious work. 2. Administration, supervision and other types of non-direct client contact activities accounted for the greatest amount of professional time identified by respondents. 3. Change agent preparation needs for work with small farm clients in LDG's were difficult to identify due to the wide range of tasks performed by the change agents and varying professional levels in their respective organizations. 4. Respondents to the international questionnaire indicated that knowledge and skills were needed in the following areas for effective work with small farm clients: l) supervision and administra-tion; 2) professional education; 3) general agriculture with emphasis in the student's areas of anticipated responsibility; 4) understanding small farmers' needs, and 5) being able to work with people. Major implications of the study included: 1. Learning objectives and learning experiences to meet these objectives were proposed, with particular applicability to Tennessee, to meet the anticipated professional needs of students in the Department of Agricultural Extension Education to be change agents working with small farmers in the United States. 2. Learning objectives and learning experiences to meet these objectives were proposed to meet the anticipated professional needs of students preparing in the Department of Agricultural Extension Education to be change agents working with small farmers in LDC's. Recommendations for use of findings and future study were also made.