The Big City, Big Country Road Show (BC2BC) is a 2.5-year project designed torecruit non-traditional populations, urban and minorities, into post-secondaryagricultural science degree programs. Through experiential learning, BC2BC introducesstudents to various agricultural communications skill sets in an effort to broadenstudents? views of opportunities in agriculture. This study attempted to measure Texasurban high school students? perceptions of agriculture as a subject, a college major, anda career, before and after participation in the BC2BC program in summer of 2007. Thestudy also looked at students? perceptions of careers attainable with an agriculturaldegree and students? general agricultural knowledge levels, self-reported and tested.Pre?and post?test mean comparisons revealed positive increases in student perceptionsof agriculture and an increase in self-reported agricultural knowledge levels afterworkshop participation. The results of this study have implications for year two BC2BCworkshops and may serve as a potential model for recruitment programs ofunderrepresented populations into colleges of agriculture.
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