INVESTIGATING COMMUNITY FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF RURAL 11THGRADE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE STUDENTS’ CHOICE OF CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE

Abstract

This study investigates the links between community contexts/factors and rural 11th-grade agricultural science students’ choice of careers in agriculture. A logistic regression model was developed and tested to examine the extent to which nine measures of community contexts (i.e., membership in FFA, membership in 4-H, community attachment, community satisfaction, length of residency in the community, positive perception of local community, preference for residing close to nature, and participation in volunteer activities) influence the odds of a student choosing a career in agriculture. The results show that the major community factors influencing the choice of agriculture related careers are membership in 4-H club, participation in FFA, preference for living close to natural environment, opportunity to achieve dream career in the rural community, and participation in volunteer activities within the community.