Amy Jones Dr. Neil Knobloch Dr. Kathryn Orvis Dr. Levon Esters

According to the National FFA Organization… “The role of career development events is to motivate students and encourage leadership, personal growth, citizenship and career development” (2006, p. 5) (Radhakrishna, 2006, Lepper & Greene, 1978; Weber & McCullers, 1986; Johnson, 1914 ) personal skills and goals and career development (Blakely, 1993) Competition Mixed Results

Horticulture Industry Certification – Professional Landcare Network – American Society for Horticultural Sciences – Botanical Gardens – Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association Horticulture Degree Programs – Approx. 54 on-campus Horticulture Careers – Wide Variety – Various Degree Requirements

The purpose of this research study was to explore youth’s… KnowledgeMotivation Learning Experiences and to describe relationships between Youth Motivation Coach Motivation Learning and Preparation Youth’s Performance in a competitive out-of-school horticulture career development experience.

Youth Motivation -Intrinsic Value -Utility Value -Attainment Value -Cost -Self-Efficacy Youth Motivation -Intrinsic Value -Utility Value -Attainment Value -Cost -Self-Efficacy Pre-CDE Educational Experiences Coach Motivation -Intrinsic Value -Utility Value -Attainment Value -Cost -Self-Efficacy Learning and Preparation -Learning Resources -Preparation Time Pre-CDE Educational Experiences Coach Motivation -Intrinsic Value -Utility Value -Attainment Value -Cost -Self-Efficacy Learning and Preparation -Learning Resources -Preparation Time CDE Outcomes CDE Performance -General Knowledge Exam -Identification Exam -Product Evaluation Exam CDE Outcomes CDE Performance -General Knowledge Exam -Identification Exam -Product Evaluation Exam

Expectancy-Value Theory Self-Efficacy Expectancies and Values achievement perseverance completion (Eccles & Wigfield, 2002) Personal beliefs thoughts/feelings motivation behaviors (Bandura, 1994)

Youth Motivation Six themes of how Oklahoma secondary agriculture teachers motivated their students to participate in CDEs Russell et al. (2009) Students’ motives to participate in CDE were different than their teachers’ motives (Croom et al., 2005) Six themes of how Oklahoma secondary agriculture teachers motivated their students to participate in CDEs Russell et al. (2009) Students’ motives to participate in CDE were different than their teachers’ motives (Croom et al., 2005) Preparation Visits to garden centers and greenhouses were the main preparation aid, followed by videos and slides, websites, textbooks, and university’s living laboratories (Poskey et. al, 2005) Performance Demographical differences between low and high performers at a Livestock Evaluation CDE (Theiman et. al, 2010) Competition Of the four specific organizational elements of CTSOs (leadership, community service, competitions, and professional development) competition had the most constructive effects (Alfed et. al, 2007)

Exploratory, descriptive study QUAN + qual Questionnaire distribution Performance – General Knowledge Exam 80 questions (800 Points, 36%) – Identification Exam 100 specimen (1000 Points, 45%) – Product Evaluation Exam 8 classes (400 Points, 18%)

Youth motivation, 28 items (Post-hoc reliability 0.64 – 0.89) learning resources and preparation, 21 items demographics, 5 items Coaches motivation for having youth participate, 29 items (Post- hoc reliability ) learning resources used to help youth prepare, 19 items demographics, 9 items

Youth Gender (n = 57; 2 missing)Male:51% Female:49% Class StatusUnderclassmen:54% Upperclassmen:46% Years Participated in Hort CDE159% 2 or more41% Other CDEs besides Hort?Yes66% Coaches Gender (n = 6; 1 missing)Male:50% Female:50% Participated as youth:Yes83% Coach descriptionAgricultural Teacher/FFA Advisor100% Years Coaching Hort11.33 years (SD = 14.82)

Youth were motivated to participate in a competitive horticulture career development event *Note: Scale: 1 = None, 2 = A little, 3 = Somewhat, 4 = Quite A Lot, 5 = A Great Deal

Relationships between Youth Motivation and Youth CDE Performance CDE Performance General Knowledge Exam Identification Exam Product Evaluation Exam Total CDE Exam Score Youth Motivation Intrinsic 0.35*0.34* * Utility * * Attainment * * Cost Self-Efficacy 0.33* * Note. *Practically significant = medium effect size and youth motivation was related to performance of horticultural competencies Youth were motivated to participate in a competitive horticulture career development event

Coaches’ motivation was related to youth motivation Relationships between Youth Motivation and Coach Motivation Coach Motivation IntrinsicUtilityAttainmentCostSelf-Efficacy Youth Motivation Intrinsic Utility.52**.28.36* Attainment Cost Self-Efficacy.33* Note. Practically significant = *medium effect size or **large effect size

Relationships between Coach Motivation and Youth CDE Performance CDE Performance General Knowledge Exam Identification Exam Product Evaluation Exam Total CDE Exam Score Coach Motivation Intrinsic.50**.57** ** Utility.48*.50** ** Attainment.48*.53** ** Cost Self-Efficacy -.39*-.57** ** Note. Practically significant = *medium effect size or **large effect size and youth performance of horticulture competencies Coaches’ motivation was related to youth motivation

Time spent preparing for the horticulture career development event and learning resources used by youth were related to youth’s overall performance of horticultural competencies. Relationships between Learning Resources and Youth CDE Performance Exam General Knowledge Identification Product Evaluation Total CDE Score Learning Resources Old Tests or Quizzes.42*.40* * Flashcards.22.31* Classroom Aids/Real- Life Materials.31*.36* * Preparation Time With Team Alone Total Hours.30*.39*.31*.34*.43* *.42* Note. *Practically significant = medium effect size

However, youth did not perform horticultural competencies at a level required to be a certified horticulture manager or technician in the horticulture industry.

Coaches clinic – create learning environments that build competencies self-efficacy – build youth’s competencies assessment tools of the event career and certification guidelines Learning resources and assessments should reflect – university course requirements – industry certification programs

Due to the small population and nature of the study… Participants and contexts – replications into events with similar contexts – replications into events with differing contexts Measurements and impacts – coaching strategies and learning resources prior to event – preparation of youth for future careers, including STEM careers

My Family and Friends Dr. Neil Knobloch Dr. Kathryn Orvis Dr. Levon Esters Graduate Students YDAE Thank you!