STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARD ANIMAL-DERIVED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND HOW THEY AFFECT SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Patricia A. Nordstrom, Project Assistant

The purpose of this study was to 1) assess the students ’ attitudes, perceptions, and interests in agriculturally related issues, 2) ascertain the differences in attitudes between scholars with and without prior agricultural experiences, and 3) determine tfparticipation in a 2-week course on animal agriculture had an effect on the students " attitudes, perceptions, and interests through the use of pre- andpost-course surveys. The students in this study were participants in the Pennsylvania Governor 's Schoolfor Agricultural Sciences (PGSAS). Within the 5-week PGSAS program, students completed a 2-week unit titled “Contemporary Issues in Animal Agriculture. “Results indicated thatgenerally all students, with or without agricultural experience, had a more positive view of agriculture and increased knowledge of agriculture upon completion of the course. Results also indicated that the effects of the course were the greatest on students with no prior agricultural experience