Agricultural Awareness and Perceptions of Freshmen at West Virginia University. (Paperback)

Increased dependence on technology and further removal from agricultural practices has given rise to a decrease in agricultural literacy among members of society, which has established a need for advancement in educating individuals about the basic concepts of agriculture. This study was designed to determine the knowledge of agriculture possessed by incoming freshmen at West Virginia University (WVU). The data collected for this study were obtained from 403 freshmen participants who reported their responses to 35 Agricultural Knowledge, 35 Agricultural Perceptions, and 24 demographic statements and questions on an instrument administered during multiple First Year Orientation courses at WVU. It was revealed that all students lacked a good understanding of agriculture, but students with an agricultural background and who were enrolled in a major in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences were more knowledgeable about and possessed more positive perceptions of agriculture than their counterparts.