Abstract:
Students enrolled in agriculture and biology classes were surveyed to determine their interest in pursing a baccalaureate degree in horticulture at a four-year university. A questionnaire was sent to agriculture and biology instructors at fifty high schools in northwestern Illinois, northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Students were asked several questions pertaining to horticulture. A total of 1000 questionnaires were mailed. Of the 451 surveys received, about 47% of the high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors indicated that they were interested in horticulture. About 41% of the students interested in horticulture wanted to work in landscaping, 20% greenhouse, 14% florist shop and 7% in turfgrass management. Over 70% of the students indicated that they wanted to own and operate their own horticultural business. About 50% of the students indicated that they preferred to combine an emphasis or minor in Agribusiness or Business Administration compared to agronomy (19%), biotcchnology (14%), plant breeding and genetics (13%) or comprehensive horticulture (2%) with their horticulture degree. The above information was used to develop a major in Ornamental Horticulture.
Keywords:
horticulture survey, high school students, agriculture and biology students
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