Abstract:
On April 3, 1970 the first �Agricultural Progress Show� was held atWestern Illinois University (WIU). This event started an annual display of the newest agricultural machinery and technology in the region. Through this activity, club members and other agriculture students have had the opportunity to organize and conduct what has become the largest, totally student-run, agricultural machinery show in the nation, with over 200 exhibitors, 10,000 attendees and a budget in excess of $25,000. To evaluate the educational benefits of this huge undertaking, a questionnaire was sent to 317 WIU Agricultural Mechanization Club members who graduated between 1970 and 2000.
Seventy six percent of those surveyed felt that their involvement in organizing and conducting the Agricultural Mechanization Show had a beneficial or great influence on their skill development in the five areas surveyed. Teamwork skill development was rated as having a beneficial or great impact on 90% of the respondents, while public relations, organizational, and leadership skills developed were considered beneficial or of great impact to 83%, 82% and 77% respectively. Only 45% of the members felt that this activity provided a beneficial or great impact in development of their money management skills. These five skills plus ethics, patience and commitment to task were areas mentioned for future development. Survey anecdotal comments consistently described the involvement in organizing and conducting the Agricultural Mechanization Show at WIU as a positive and beneficial educational experience.
Keywords:
student-run, agricultural machinery shows, assessment
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