With a focus on the Commonwealth of Virginia, we reviewed literature and data associated with the prevalence and persistence of women's engagement in agriculture from youth-focused programs through to college and employment in order to learn which models of outreach may best attract women to and retain women in agricultural careers. We found that…

This article is a concise, comprehensive overview of the history of sustainability and sustainable design. The goal is to provide a ready-made lesson plan on the history of sustainability in its many forms: development, conservation, energy, manufacturing, design, agriculture, business, cultural/societal, and environmental science. The articles in…

Background: Design and training methods for instructors on integrating experiential learning continues to be a challenge in high school education. Purpose: This work reports on research concerning the current status, available resources, limitations, and capabilities of high school teachers implementing experiential learning in a technical and…

Leadership inquiry lacks robust studies designed to understand processes as opposed to outcomes. This qualitative case study explored the process of reflection through blogs to evaluate the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) program. We open-coded blog entries for reflection on capacity building and competency development…

This reflective essay provides the theoretical foundations for the Falls Church City Public School (FCCPS) System's new Academy for Sustainable Thinking. Students in the marquee sustainability education program learn and develop an appreciation for the basics of growing food and the importance of water in an urban area through integrated…

The FNS Research Corner provides a continuing series to summarize recently completed and current research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the area of child nutrition. Summaries of recently completed research projects and in-progress research are provided in this article.

With an evolving and expanding agricultural industry, it is crucial to provide future professionals with valuable experiences and skills in problem solving, communication, and teamwork. Agricultural summer programs for secondary students, which provide cooperative learning experiences with a focus on group work and problem solving, aim to help…

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded pilot grants to 10 States--California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington--to test innovative strategies for providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T). As part of the pilots, all grantees…

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded pilot grants to 10 States--California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington--to test innovative strategies for providing employment and training services through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP…

STEM education has become essential in the United States, and agriculture allows for a great opportunity to teach STEM education in a fun, hands-on manner. The Virginia Southern Piedmont Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SPAREC), in partnership with King Arthur Flour, has created a program that reinforces what is taught in the classroom…

The UN declared 2010 the "International Year of Biodiversity" (IYB). A survey was undertaken at the end of this year in the Washington D.C. metro area (n = 180). Thirty-eight point nine percent of the participants had not heard of the term "biodiversity". Only 36.7% could correctly define "biodiversity". Almost no one…

A curriculum framework to support the integration of academic content to support students' development of 21st century skills including critical thinking and problems solving skills is notably absent from agricultural education. An integrative agricultural education framework is conceptualized through a review of literature in STEM education to…

Globally, colonization has been and continues to be enacted in the take-over of Indigenous land and the subsequent conversion of agriculture from diverse food and useful crops to large-scale monoculture and cash crops. This article uses a land education analysis to map the rise of the ideology and practices of Manifest Destiny in Virginia.…

Continued agricultural productivity hinges on understanding how to manage soil resources. A 2-week undergraduate introductory-level module: "A Growing Concern: Sustaining Soil Resources Through Local Decision Making" was collaboratively developed through the InTeGrate Project. InTeGrate modules and courses engage students in grand…

Corn clubs played an important role in improving agriculture at the turn of the 20th century. Corn clubs were local organizations consisting of boys who cultivated corn on one acre of land under the supervision of a local club leader. The purpose of this historical research study was to document the organization, operation, and outcomes of corn…