172 - Scenario-based Training Is an Effective Tactic for Teaching Applied Livestock Management Practices to Extension Personnel

Developing livestock and equine trainings to empower county Extension agents is challenging, especially when spanning in-person and online delivery modules. Real life application of training concepts is difficult, particularly when participants have varied backgrounds and experience. Thus, we assessed if scenario-based training modules were an effective training method across in-person and virtual formats. The same scenario-based training was delivered at three, regional in-person trainings (n = 42), and one virtual training (n = 32). Training format consisted of four, species-specific lectures addressing various production topics. Small groups then developed recommendations for a specific scenario, followed by a debriefing session consisting of group reactions and specialist recommendations. Topic-area application to county programs, instructor effectiveness, and overall benefit of the training session were evaluated (Qualtrics, in-person n = 26, 62% completion; virtual n = 17, 53% completion). Data were assessed using analysis of variance and mean comparisons (α=0.05), with Tukey’s pairwise post hoc analysis where appropriate (STATA 16). Across all sessions, likert scale responses (1=poor and 5=excellent, n = 43) indicated lecture sessions were applicable to county areas of need across material content (mean±SD, cattle=4.71±0.57, equine=4.64±0.50), teaching effectiveness (cattle=4.77±0.42, equine=4.75±0.43), and overall quality (cattle=4.68±0.57, equine=4.67±0.51), respectively. Scenario-based training benefit was not influenced by the number of times an agent had attended in-service training on livestock species, agent appointment (youth vs. adult educator), or training location (p >0.05). Attendance at previous in-service trainings (cattle P = 0.005; equine P = 0.013) and agent appointment (cattle P = 0.0006; equine P = 0.05) had a significant impact on the number of questions agents reported to have received on scenario topics in the last 12 months. More topic area questions were reported by agents with adult education responsibilities and previous training attendance. Based upon these results, scenario-based training is an effective in-person and virtual training tool for 4-H and adult Extension agents of varying experience.