Economic Impacts and Program Involvement in Agricultural Mechanics Competition Projects in Texas

Abstract

Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is a well-documented, valuable, and integral part of agricultural education programs (Bryant, 2003; Cheek, Arrington, Carter, & Randall, 1994; Deyoe, 1953; Dyer & Osborne, 1996; Moore, 1988; Roberts & Harlin, 2007). Cole and Connell (1993) found that there was little research regarding the economic value of SAEs; they suggested that measuring the cost and economic benefits of SAEs would provide valuable information in communicating additional benefits of SAE programs. Hanagriff, Murphy, Roberts, Briers, & Lindner (2010) suggested economic values are best derived from measuring spending and that research should be undertaken to understand the economic value of educational programs, especially in high cost areas such as agricultural mechanics. This study found that 45% of agricultural education program are involved in agricultural mechanics show projects, which potentially relates to $5.5 million in direct spending and $10 million in economic impacts. Additionally, programs with agricultural mechanics show projects recognize greater participation in agricultural mechanic SAEs, are more active in using record books, are larger in program size, and recognize greater financial support.