Agricultural awareness of eleventh grade students in rural schools

The knowledge and perception of agriculture held by students and adults, often referred to as agricultural literacy, has received increasing emphasis in the literature. The need for agricultural literacy is evident when examining the changes that have occurred in agriculture in the United States. In the late 20th century, over 97 percent of all U.S. workers were free to manufacture and provide services, while 97 percent were involved in agricultural production. The consuming public has little knowledge of where and how food is produced and consumer groups are raising questions about the safety of the food supply (National Research Council, 1988). In addition, media reports of food contamination and related illness have focused concern on the safety of the food supply. The level of knowledge about agricultural practices and related perceptions by U.S. consumers has created a concern about the quality and safety of our food supply (Birkenholz & Stewart, 1991). is not a set of skills or a finished state; it is an attitude toward the world ” (p. 354-355). Frick and Spotanski (1990) wrote, “literacy usually refers to a minimal level of reading and writing skills ” (p. 6). Agricultural Awareness The value of literacy is important because, “People make sense of literacy as a social phenomenon,... literacy lies at the root of their attitudes... and their actions ” (Barton, 1990, p. 7). Public policy affecting agriculture and society is directly affected by societal goals. These goals are being decided by people who have little knowledge about agriculture, how it relates to society and its economic and global significance to our natio