For this week, I will be doing step 4 of the proposal, which is: Goal, Objectives, and tasks.
While I have already blogged about my goal and objectives, I have yet to talk much about tasks. Additionally, the previous blogs that contained my goal and objectives needed some editing and revision. Hopefully once this part is done, I will be able to successfully move on to step 5 of the proposal, which is: Evaluation and Sustainability. Most of the following may seem repetitive, but it is based on revsions made on previous work.
Goal: To prevent serious injury or death of the youth of Arkansas that work or live on farms.
Objectives: To help the youth of Arkansas understand the dangers of living or working on the farm.
To train the youth of Arkansas better and safer practices of living and working on farms.
Tasks: The tasks required to accomplish this goal are many. The first thing that must be done will be to determine what the most crucial topics are. Once this is done, a knowledge pre-test will be administered at a farm safety workshop.
In the first step of determining what the needs are, a Delphi study will be used in an effort to identify (from an expert panel of farmers, extension agents, and secondary agriculture instructors) what the most crucial needs are. Those items that are listed by the expert panel will move to round 2 of the Delphi. Round 2 will consist of listing the items from the previous round and aksing the panel what their level of agreement is that each item should be included in a farm safety program. Once that round is completed, the third round will commence.
The third round will consist of asking the expert panel if they would like to reconisder any item that was previously deemed not necessary for the farm safety program. It will be in this round that the expert panel will have the oppurtunity to reconsider any previous decision that was made.
The fourth and final round will be to determine the level of importance for each item when including those items in the program. This will be done a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the most important.
It will be with this method that topic areas will be selected for the farm safety program.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Update and fixed things from last week
Since my blog last week was sub par, I decided to do it again and at thenend I will give an update of the progress I have made. I'm not sure if I will be able to tune in this week for class, Wednesday is a travel day for me to a seminar/conference.
The University of Arkansas - Division of Agriculture seeks funding to support a three-year effort to address the safety of youth in Arkansas who live or work on farms. This educational program will contain 4 objectives: 1 - To educate youth on achieving safer practices around machinery, 2 - To encourage youth to achieve safer practices around animals 3 - To create an awareness of dangers and consequences of poor consequences, and 4 - To create a suitable knowledge base so that youth can teach other youth while working on farms.
As an update for my project, I have identified a faculty member who is familiar with this grant who has stated that she is willing to serve as principle investigator. Also, I have started indentifying some keywords to include along with specifics that the USDA looks for in their grants. The timeline will need to be updated to meet a couple of the changes that were made. I am also indentifying some statistics to include in proposal.
The University of Arkansas - Division of Agriculture seeks funding to support a three-year effort to address the safety of youth in Arkansas who live or work on farms. This educational program will contain 4 objectives: 1 - To educate youth on achieving safer practices around machinery, 2 - To encourage youth to achieve safer practices around animals 3 - To create an awareness of dangers and consequences of poor consequences, and 4 - To create a suitable knowledge base so that youth can teach other youth while working on farms.
As an update for my project, I have identified a faculty member who is familiar with this grant who has stated that she is willing to serve as principle investigator. Also, I have started indentifying some keywords to include along with specifics that the USDA looks for in their grants. The timeline will need to be updated to meet a couple of the changes that were made. I am also indentifying some statistics to include in proposal.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
First Paragraph
Agriculture is an ever-changing facet of the way we live our lives. However, one thing that does not change is the way it can affect lives in an unintentional negative way. How do we know that the youth involved in the industry are using the best practices possible?
The University of Arkansas seeks to educate youth so that they can be aware of the safest farm safety practices available. Old methods of farming and agriculture production need to be updated and youth need to be aware of the lurking dangers that can be found daily. Hundreds of lives are lost each year. In most cases, these deaths could have been prevented if a proper educational system was in place. How many more lives are going to be lost while we keep turning our heads to dangers that are preventable?
The University of Arkansas seeks to educate youth so that they can be aware of the safest farm safety practices available. Old methods of farming and agriculture production need to be updated and youth need to be aware of the lurking dangers that can be found daily. Hundreds of lives are lost each year. In most cases, these deaths could have been prevented if a proper educational system was in place. How many more lives are going to be lost while we keep turning our heads to dangers that are preventable?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Timeline
I have created a timeline that I believe will be helpful in developing this proposal. These are basically some plans that I have put together in an effort to map out some plans for the future in terms of the grant itself.
For those who don't know, I'm applying for a USDA funded grant that is specifically for youth farm safety. It's certainly an important topic for many Americans. Many lives are lost each year and injuries occure almost daily. My hope is that we can hopefully make some changes and prevent these tragedies from occuring. Much of what I plan to do on the timeline is in 2 week increments. I believe that this gives me an oppurtunity to get a fair amount of work done during each 2 week span.
March 1, 2010 - Meet with other faculty members with the University of Arkansas that have some experience with USDA funded grants. These individuals are especially helpful in the area of farm safety as they have received similar funding for projects and areas such as the one I am attempting to receive funding. Hopefully will identify some focus areas I had not been aware of previously. Also during this meeting, dates will be set for training programs.
March 15, 2010 - By this point, I would like to have a more concrete problem statement identified.
March 29, 2010 - Have any web instruments that need to be created done by this time
April 1, 2010 - Begin collecting any data that needs to be collected
April 15, 2010 - Conduct any follow-ups (if necessary)
May 1, 2010 - Begin to write up results and make any clrifications for justification at this time
May 15, 2010 - Receive notification that grant was funded. (I know this is probably a bit soon, but going to shoot for this date and make future adjustments if they are deemed necessary)
June 1, 2010 - Begin to develop currriculum based on needs found in research
June 15, 2010 - Locate and/or identify individuals to act as instructors in farm safety training programs. (This could include myself as instructor if necesary)
June 30, 2010 - Should hopefully have all instructors identified and confirmed by this point. Most of these individuals will be extension agents.
July 1, 2010 - Begin to develop learning materials for the workshop. Curriculum should be straight forward and somewhat simple to follow.
September 1, 2010 - Conduct first workshop. These workshops will be conducted on a weekly basis around the state of Arkansas. Each session will last approximately 2 hours in the evening. There will also be sessions on Saturday for more hands-on activities.
October 1, 2010 - Begin to train other extension personnel as needed to conduct workshops around Arkansas. (My goal is to have several people working on this project and for it to become a valued program within the Division of Agriculture for the University of Arkansas.
Run statistical analysis of evaluations from workshops for justification of future workshops and funding.
December 31, 2010 - The first section of youth farm safety workshops will be completed.
For those who don't know, I'm applying for a USDA funded grant that is specifically for youth farm safety. It's certainly an important topic for many Americans. Many lives are lost each year and injuries occure almost daily. My hope is that we can hopefully make some changes and prevent these tragedies from occuring. Much of what I plan to do on the timeline is in 2 week increments. I believe that this gives me an oppurtunity to get a fair amount of work done during each 2 week span.
March 1, 2010 - Meet with other faculty members with the University of Arkansas that have some experience with USDA funded grants. These individuals are especially helpful in the area of farm safety as they have received similar funding for projects and areas such as the one I am attempting to receive funding. Hopefully will identify some focus areas I had not been aware of previously. Also during this meeting, dates will be set for training programs.
March 15, 2010 - By this point, I would like to have a more concrete problem statement identified.
March 29, 2010 - Have any web instruments that need to be created done by this time
April 1, 2010 - Begin collecting any data that needs to be collected
April 15, 2010 - Conduct any follow-ups (if necessary)
May 1, 2010 - Begin to write up results and make any clrifications for justification at this time
May 15, 2010 - Receive notification that grant was funded. (I know this is probably a bit soon, but going to shoot for this date and make future adjustments if they are deemed necessary)
June 1, 2010 - Begin to develop currriculum based on needs found in research
June 15, 2010 - Locate and/or identify individuals to act as instructors in farm safety training programs. (This could include myself as instructor if necesary)
June 30, 2010 - Should hopefully have all instructors identified and confirmed by this point. Most of these individuals will be extension agents.
July 1, 2010 - Begin to develop learning materials for the workshop. Curriculum should be straight forward and somewhat simple to follow.
September 1, 2010 - Conduct first workshop. These workshops will be conducted on a weekly basis around the state of Arkansas. Each session will last approximately 2 hours in the evening. There will also be sessions on Saturday for more hands-on activities.
October 1, 2010 - Begin to train other extension personnel as needed to conduct workshops around Arkansas. (My goal is to have several people working on this project and for it to become a valued program within the Division of Agriculture for the University of Arkansas.
Run statistical analysis of evaluations from workshops for justification of future workshops and funding.
December 31, 2010 - The first section of youth farm safety workshops will be completed.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the youth of Arkansas an oppurtunity to become more aware of the dangers of working and living on farms. Farm safety education is important to the health and wellness of the youth of Arkansas. Without proper education and training, lives are in danger of being lost.
The problem that many readers may have with this statement is that it's somewhat vague. Additionally, it's difficult to grasp the true urgency of this situation just by reading this statement. Quite frankly, it may be hard for the reader to take it seriously. Many people think of farm safety as a simple plan of keeping kids safe around the house out in the country. That's simply not the case. It's a serious issue and thousands of lives are lost.
Hopefully, I can be more specific and grab the audience's attention a little more with a revised statement.
The problem that many readers may have with this statement is that it's somewhat vague. Additionally, it's difficult to grasp the true urgency of this situation just by reading this statement. Quite frankly, it may be hard for the reader to take it seriously. Many people think of farm safety as a simple plan of keeping kids safe around the house out in the country. That's simply not the case. It's a serious issue and thousands of lives are lost.
Hopefully, I can be more specific and grab the audience's attention a little more with a revised statement.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Needs Statement
I'm behind on my Needs Statement for class, so I figured I'd add it before I move on to the next thing.
Youth Farm Safety is an ever growing concern within the agriculture community.
During 2004, a youth was helping his family around the farm. The young man was hitching a hay wagon to a family owned truck. When the young man lifted the hitch off the ground to hook onto the ball, the hay wagon began to roll forward. Before the youth could get it hitched, the trailer pinned the youth between the hay wagon and truck, crushing the youth's head. This caused the young man to lose his life instantly.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, during the years of 1995 and 2002, 907 youths died while working on the farm. These youth were between the ages of 16 and 19 years old. During the year of 2006, there were an estimated 22,900 injuries occuring to youth who either lived on, worked on, or in some cases were only visiting farms. About half of those injuries were to youth who were living on the farms. Over 10,000 of the injuries reported were to youth between the ages of 10 and 15 years. Thus, it is vital to begin educating the youth of the United States at an early age. The most common types of injuries seen were fractures (27%)and cuts (21%). The body parts most commonly seen injured were the arm (19%), leg (16%), and hand, wrist, and finger (14%).
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommend that time should be devoted to disussing farm safety with children. They also recommend to teach children how to handle and work with animals safely.
Youth Farm Safety is an ever growing concern within the agriculture community.
During 2004, a youth was helping his family around the farm. The young man was hitching a hay wagon to a family owned truck. When the young man lifted the hitch off the ground to hook onto the ball, the hay wagon began to roll forward. Before the youth could get it hitched, the trailer pinned the youth between the hay wagon and truck, crushing the youth's head. This caused the young man to lose his life instantly.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, during the years of 1995 and 2002, 907 youths died while working on the farm. These youth were between the ages of 16 and 19 years old. During the year of 2006, there were an estimated 22,900 injuries occuring to youth who either lived on, worked on, or in some cases were only visiting farms. About half of those injuries were to youth who were living on the farms. Over 10,000 of the injuries reported were to youth between the ages of 10 and 15 years. Thus, it is vital to begin educating the youth of the United States at an early age. The most common types of injuries seen were fractures (27%)and cuts (21%). The body parts most commonly seen injured were the arm (19%), leg (16%), and hand, wrist, and finger (14%).
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommend that time should be devoted to disussing farm safety with children. They also recommend to teach children how to handle and work with animals safely.
Monday, January 25, 2010
My Organization
For this week's blog, I have decided to complete the third option, which was "finding your organization to represent."
For me, it was pretty easy to choose my organization. I work for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture as the Horse Extension Specialist. I work with the youth and adults of Arkansas in mostly horse related activities. Thus, UA - Division of Agriculture is who I will be writing on behalf of.
For me, it was pretty easy to choose my organization. I work for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture as the Horse Extension Specialist. I work with the youth and adults of Arkansas in mostly horse related activities. Thus, UA - Division of Agriculture is who I will be writing on behalf of.
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