Perceptions of Agricultural Education Instructors of the Relationship of Shooting Sports in Agricultural Education

Abstract

As agricultural education has diversified to include courses and units on natural resource management, skill development activities and competitions related to this area have become more common for students and FFA members. This study was designed to assess the relationship between shooting sports and the agricultural education program. More specifically, this study sought to describe agricultural education instructors who sponsor a shooting sports program through the FFA and determine their perceptions related to their students’ participation in shooting sports activities. Agricultural education instructors agreed that shooting sports is a valuable activity to the agricultural education program. Forty percent of the respondents indicated that curriculum related to fish and wildlife management was most related to shooting sports and firearm safety. Recommendations resulting from this study include future research about understanding the relationship between agriculture education and shooting sports.