The Significance of Vaccine Education in Vaccination Status

In recent years, more of the general population of the United States has become skeptical about vaccines and overall vaccination numbers have declined. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccines have become somewhat of a controversial topic due to varying opinions about the adverse reactions and effectiveness of vaccines. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between a person’s overall knowledge of vaccinations and a person’s vaccination status by asking a series of questions about the science used in vaccines and identifying the participant’s vaccination status in regards to influenza and Covid-19. This study also asked participants to rate their expected knowledge level and compare this with their answers to the questions regarding the science behind vaccines to determine if the lack of vaccine education plays a role in vaccination status. After participants completed the study, they were given the option to receive information further educating them about vaccines. This study found that how much a person cares about getting vaccinated is a major factor in vaccination status, rather than knowledge level. Participants that received higher scores on the knowledge test tended to have stronger opinions and stick with them, resulting in consistency among their vaccination histories

OH002 Hughie Butler Oral History

Hughie Butler, a resident of Fulton, Kentucky, discusses his experiences in the United States Navy during the First World War. Included in the discussion are such topics as basic training, overseas travel, the 1918 flu epidemic, and the everyday life of a sailor during the war. Mr. Butler also describes the attitudes the French people toward American soldiers and cultural change on the home front following the war

OH093 Charlotte O. Barker Oral History

Charlotte O. Barker was a public teacher and lifelong resident of Murray, Kentucky. She describes growing up in small college town during the Great Depression, the Second World War and the immediate years that followed. She mentions the family values of her parents and the general attitude of people in Murray during the depression years. She further discusses recreational activities during her childhood and teenage years, public education in the 1930s and public utilities available during 1940s in Calloway County, Kentucky. She concludes by discussing the deaths of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy and how it affected her life

OH125 Ananais Whittemore Oral History

Ananias Whittemore discusses his childhood while growing up in a African American household in rural Graves County, Kentucky during the first half of the 20th century. He describes the segregated school he attended as a child, daily activities and working in the clay pit alongside his father. He explains the process of growing sugar cane and made making molasses. He began skimming and making molasses with his father at the age of five. He remembers selling molasses for twenty-five cents per gallon. After school, he began working in the clay pits at age fourteen where he worked ten hours a day making 18 cents an hour. He also worked at the local sawmill for a brief time. Whittemore also discusses the two churches that he served as a preacher for and his work in the ministry

OH126 Norvel J. Williamson Oral History

Norvel J. Williamson talks about his early life in Paducah, Kentucky during the first half of the 20th century. He recalls the Great Depression, the flood of 1937 and his early years in school. He mentions that many were financially wiped out after the flood of 1937. During the flood, Williamson carried sandbags to the levy at Hickman. During the Great Depression, his father worked for Illinois Central Railroad and later for the Work Progress Administration. He reflects on working for the railroad and the growth of labor unions. He describes Noble Park and Stewart Nelson Park and white black relationships in the city prior to the civil rights movement. He mentioned that blacks had access to the public libraries and were able to attend white churches

OH106 Olivia B. Gaines Oral History

Olivia Gaines describes her life as an African American woman in Paducah, Kentucky. She discusses her childhood in a very religious household and how her mother was responsible for construction of the first restrooms at Burks\u27 Chapel in Paducah. She describes her neighborhood as a mixture of black and white families and that there were never any racial problems. She mentions the business and civic activities of her brother Manuel Bolen. She describes his involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Joe Hale murder case. She also mentions that her brother and the NAACP. worked on removing segregation signs at local business and public buildings

ONLINE LEARNING IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION: EXPLORING STUDENT MOTIVATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS ONLINE PROGRAMS

In recent years, there has been a rise in online degree programs and online education. Online degree programs are a valuable option for students who are unable and/or choose not to complete a degree at a college or university in the traditional, on-campus format. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the reasons or factors that influenced students to pursue a degree in a 100% online format, as well as, the “lived experiences,” perceived benefits of, barriers to, and “tradeoffs” students encountered pursuing a degree in an online format. The population for this study consisted of 10 undergraduate students enrolled in one of the two online agriculture degree programs (AgriScience Technology or Agribusiness) offered through the Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University, two faculty members that have experience teaching online agriculture courses through the Hutson School of Agriculture, and two administrators with involvement in the planning, development, and implementation of online degree programs at a college or university. The research instrument for this study consisted of semi-structured interviews with questions designed to capture the reflections, experiences, and perspectives of the participants regarding online degree programs and online education. For this study, a qualitative data analysis software (NVivo 15) was used to assist in the process of data analysis. As P-20 education continues to grow and evolve with changing technology and the needs of students, online degree programs and online education will continue to be an innovative force in higher education

Soil Property Changes As Effected By 3 Soil Amendments

Manure applications on agricultural production fields have been common practice throughout Kentucky and the United States for many years. Understanding how the type of manure applied and application style alter the soil properties can help growers manage their soil better. The research objective was to study manure applications and the changes of soil properties as a result of the different types of applications. The soil properties that were studied in this research are soil water holding capacity, soil pH, soil organic carbon, and macroporosity. Four replications were taken in each field with two depths taken at each site. During the study, undisturbed soil cores and disturbed soil samples were taken from 0 to 7.5 and 7.5 to 15 centimeters deep throughout the fields. This study was conducted on fields located in Henry County, Tennessee and Calloway County, Kentucky in silt loam soil types. This study was conducted on four fields, one with swine manure injected, swine manure applied with a splash pan, poultry litter spread, and traditional dry fertilizer applied. The data was analyzed, and it was determined that the field with splashpan applied manure had lower soil organic carbon levels at 2.279% with the next lowest being 2.369%. It was also determined that the field with traditional fertilizer applied had the highest SOC level in the top 7.5 cm of soil at 3.930%, but was on the lower end of SOC levels in the 7.5 to 15 cm depth at 2.505%

OH016 Paul Hornbeak Oral History

Paul Hornbeak, a 94 year old veteran of both World Wars, discusses his wartime experiences in the First World War. He served with a company of bakers during the war and worked with his brother as a businessman between the wars

Teachers Stay and Go: The Impacts of Agriculture Education Teacher Retention in Georgia

Agricultural education teachers are vital in shaping students\u27 academic and social development while supporting Georgia’s largest economic sector. Despite their importance, the retention of qualified agriculture teachers has remained a persistent challenge since the 1970s (Camp, 1995). This study examined the factors influencing teacher retention in Georgia’s agricultural education programs, to identify actionable strategies to reduce attrition. Findings revealed that supportive workplace environments, strong student relationships, professional learning communities, and mentorship opportunities are key motivators for teacher longevity. Financial incentives and targeted professional development emerged as effective retention tools (Guffey & Young, 2020). In contrast, high levels of stress, particularly among female educators, were linked to extended work hours, lack of administrative support, and difficulty maintaining work-life balance (Daniel, 2023). These stressors were identified as primary contributors to burnout and early career exits. As agricultural education continues to face workforce instability, this study underscores the need for systemic interventions that address the root causes of attrition. Strategies focused on reducing workload, strengthening administrative support, and promoting gender-responsive retention efforts are essential to sustain a qualified and committed teaching force. Without a comprehensive and proactive approach, Georgia’s agricultural education programs risk ongoing instability, diminished student outcomes, and long-term impacts on the agricultural workforce pipeline