A COMPARISON OF STAKEHOLDER CHOICES OF FARM SAFETY TRAINING TOPICS FOR UTAH YOUTH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the beliefs of farmers, practicing and pre-service agricultural education teachers, and secondary students concerning the content for farm safety instruction for Utah youth. The stakeholder groups believed youth should receive farm safety education in various topics within the machinery and facilities, rural-based hazards, and livestock categories of instruction. Within the livestock category, the stakeholders agreed or strongly agreed youth should receive instruction in working with and around horses, dairy and beef cattle. The machinery and facilities safety topics they strongly agreed or agreed should be taught were tractor, machinery, electrical, pto, augers and elevators, ATVs, grain bins and silos, and facilities safety. Topics they believed should be taught within the rural-based category were pesticides, fencing, stacking hay, and irrigation and canal safety. Stakeholder groups differed in the levels of belief concerning the need to teach youth farm safety. Other than for farm safety topics within the machinery and facilities category, pre-service and practicing secondary agriculture teachers placed the greatest importance on the need for teaching farm safety topics to youth. Secondary students with farm or non-farm backgrounds consistently indicated the lowest priority for teaching farm safety topics to youth.